Monday, August 24, 2009

Headed into the second half!

Tomorrow will be the first day of the second half of my 10k training. I'm sure I've mentioned before that I'm using an interval program similar to Couch to 5k. I've really enjoyed how "sneaky" this program has been. Week 6 has me running more than twice what I was running the first week, but I totally didn't notice that I was doubling my time and mileage, because it just adds one minute to each interval each week. Sneaky little program... haha.

To be honest, I'm actually feeling REALLY good! It's surprising to me, and I keep being surprised by how good I feel. I'm really enjoying this experience so far and am excited to take the next step towards running a half marathon. The idea of running 13.1 miles still seems a little unreal to me, but 4 months ago the thought of running for 3 whole minutes seemed like an impossible task. I'm excited to see myself grow physically, mentally and spiritually as I keep taking the next steps forward. And it's a blessing to know there are people supporting me along the way. :)

Only 47 days until the 10k... and 194 days until the half marathon!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Paid someone to kick my butt this week!

That's the most interesting title I could think of for this post. :)

Daniel and I bought a small personal training package through the gym we started going to in April this year, and the last couple months we haven't used our appointments. We each get one appointment a month, so I was able to schedule three PT appointments this week - wee!

It's been a huge blessing to have those once monthly workout sessions where the trainer can show me a couple new exercises, correct any trouble I'm having with form, and help me plan my workouts until the next time I see them. And, knowing that I have one month until I see them again is a huge motivator to stay on top of my workouts! This last month I stopped doing my weight training, mostly out of laziness and feeling overwhelmed that I wasn't doing it "right." Yeah, I'm one of those weird perfectionist types who'd rather NOT to something than do it wrong. Helpful if you're thinking of trying to cut your own hair... not helpful if you're trying to lose weight.

After three sessions with Daina at LA Fitness, I'm fully equipped with a 3x a week weight routine to shape my rear (and arms and back and legs) into gear. After our lower body workout on Tuesday I laughed and told her that I should have been more consistent about working out my legs so that I wouldn't be so tired when meeting her. She asked how long it'd been since I did leg work and I counted.... "uh, two weeks?" She laughed at me and made me promise not to punch her tomorrow morning when I couldn't walk. :)

As big of a financial investment as it is, I'm thankful to have someone experienced there to show me what to do. There are times when you don't need anyone to tell you what to do with your body (like when you're having a baby), and there are definitely times when a knowledgeable expert can save you lots of wasted time... like in losing weight. :)

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Week 4 Down - Only 6 to go!

Day three of 10k training was today, and we had some lovely Oregon overcast weather for it. I love running when it's overcast and chilly! I must be built for the Northwest.

Ethan came with Sheri and I today in his jogging stroller. Usually he loves being in the stroller, but I think the change from being on the trails at Glendoveer to being on the roads in Gresham was rather boring for him. He just sort of chewed on his fingers and stared at us the whole time. He did get to see a cat, however. Which he barked at.

Week 4 went by smoothly, and I'm feeling great! It's very helpful to be able to run outside and not worry about watching a clock. Sheri covers that for us when we run together and I'm able to just enjoy the moment. I've found that when I'm focusing on the clock it puts me in "WHY do I have to do this?!" mode. Running is much more fun when you can just enjoy it and not focus on the time you have left.

I'm getting really excited about the Disney race... only 202 more days! lol. They haven't published the course map yet, so I don't know exactly where we'll be running, but I know it's through parks and along freeways. There will be lots to see!

Friday, August 14, 2009

My Driver's License is no longer lying!

My driver's license has my weight listed as 190lbs. That has been a lie since... oh... about the last two years. Haha. But today it has become the truth! Which means that since my last update I've somehow managed to drop 4 pounds. Wee!

I'm looking forward to turning my DL back into a liar as I continue to lose weight. :)

Yay!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Fun Run with my son & Week 4 Stinkies

Fun Run!

Yesterday when I hopped in the van to go to the gym, I was overwhelmed by how beautiful the day was and decided to take the jogging stroller to Glendoveer and do my run with Ethan. He LOVES the jogging stroller, much more than the regular stroller. When he saw it waiting in the living room he kept poking at it, and trying to figure out how to unfold it and crawl into it. He's so curious. And he was actually happy to be in it and waited patiently while I adjusted and buckled his harness - which is WAY out of character for him. Haha. I'm not sure if he just feels cooler in his sporty looking jogger, or if he enjoys the wind in his face, but either way he was one happy camper. :) I didn't end up completing the 3rd run of Week 3 according to the program, but I could tell I was definitely getting a workout. Between the hills (small... but still hills to a treadmill rat like me), bark trails, and pushing over 30lbs extra in front of me - I could feel my body maxxing out way sooner than it usually does. (In fact, when I'm running at my slow pace without any hills or stroller I feel very comfortable, which is a nice thought - considering my "slow pace" has increased from 4mph to 4.5 in the last month!) No i-pod and no stopwatch on my phone made watching the clock for intervals really horrible... and it was making me focus too much on the time instead of enjoying the run. So I just threw the plan out the window and enjoyed the scenery with my son. I got three more un-timed jogging intervals in before we ended the trail. It was a beautiful morning, and I'm really looking forward to taking Ethan with me on more runs... but probably not on bark trails with hills. :)

Week 4 Stinkies

Today I started week 4 of the 10k training. This week's intervals are supposed to be (5run/1walk)x6. I cheated a little bit and decided to take 2 minute walking breaks in between to make sure my heart rate stayed below it's max. I've been paying attention to that during my treadmill workouts and have noticed a big difference if I adjust my pacing to keep my heart rate in the "fat burn" zone rather than the "cardio" or max zone. I also noticed today that when my heart rate goes above the max, that's when my face starts to tingle. lol. I've only had my face tingle on me twice while running. Once during my 5k (for the last mile) and once on a Sunday run. Now that I think about it, both of those were in the heat! It's cool to learn that my body's signals have a point and that there is a difference between my body saying, "ow, this is uncomfy!" and "hey goof, you're pushing us too far!" And it's fun to learn the difference and be able to push myself when it's healthy and take a step back when it's truly necessary. I'm learning a ton!

Oh - and I smell. Bad. It was a proud moment when I realized that I was sweating profusely during my runs. I'd never really noticed it before starting this 10k training, and it makes me feel like my body is actually working hard! Like a shiny badge of honor! The only problem is - I let my running clothes sit in my gym bag for two whole days before washing them... oops. And now our laundry soap isn't making a dent in the funk that has settled in. Oh dear...

Friday, August 7, 2009

Week 3 and a fitness update

I did Week3/Day2 today at the gym. I'm feeling really strong and continue to be surprised at myself for not quitting yet. lol. I have a strong history of giving up on physical fitness/sports/etc. It feels really nice to still be going strong so far, though. I haven't been doing weights for the last two weeks though, and I'm eager to get back to them. I get all confused about how many days a week I can/should work which muscle groups and my OCD perfectionist little brain just decides to not do anything. Oye! Gotta' get past that SOON! How about NOW?

In related news, I had my monthly weigh and measure this week. It spread over the course of a couple days but I was pretty excited about the results. I've lost 4 pounds since last month and 5.5 inches. Yay! Since I started working out back in September I've lost 16 pounds total and 26 inches. The funny part of this whole thing, is that since April I've technically "lost" 8 pounds... so how does that math work out? Well... the weight I've been losing since April has actually been the same 4 pounds. I was at 198 the first month at LA Fitness, then lost 4 pounds. Then gained it back, then lost it again. Why do I keep getting stuck here?

I think it must have something to do with not being consistent about working out, not getting enough sleep, and not having changed my diet yet. It's amazing that I've been able to lost 16 pounds just by being active. If I count back farther than when I started in September 2008, back to right after Ethan was born, I've actually lost 56 pounds just by being active.

So - I'm going to be tweaking some things in my diet and trying to get to bed at a consistent time. Today I was thinking about it and realized that by eating and sleeping so erratically, I'm actually shooting myself in the foot and sabotaging all my efforts. If it was someone else sabotaging my efforts I'd get all stubborn and kick their butt. Well... here I go - ready to kick my own butt!

I'm really looking forward to being under 190... I haven't been below that number since I was a sophomore in college. And my long-term goal is to be under 170 before we have another kiddo. We're starting to get the "baby itch" so I'd better get my rear in gear!

Anyone have any ideas/tips for getting my eating under control?

Sunday, August 2, 2009

I'm done with week 2!

Just wanted to let you all know - I'm really doing it! :)

On Tuesday I'll start my first run of week three. I believe the intervals for week three are 6 sets of 5min run/ 1min walk. From there, it slowly builds by adding one minute each week to each interval of running until week eight when it starts condensing the runs together into less intervals. I really enjoy how interval training sort of "tricks" me into running more longer each time. When I get to weeks where there are less intervals (but I'm running at for three times as long as the other intervals were) my focus is always on, "WEE!! I only have to do THREE intervals this time! woohoo!"

This morning was a hard start - I got about 5 hours of sleep and Daniel and I are both still dragging our feet. I used a trick I read on Runners World's website to help me stay focused. Every time I found myself saying, "I'm so TIRED! I don't want to do this!" I'd take it as an opportunity to remind myself that I WAD doing it. "I AM strong! Look at me go!"

Running really is a mind game. And I'm winning! Hahaha.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Uh... I found my shoes...

So Daniel and I were sitting around on this nice warm Saturday discussing dinner plans, and the fact that we still don't know where my shoes are hiding. Then Daniel says, "have you looked under the oven? He's been hiding things in the warming drawer under the oven lately."

So I walked over there, with this strange feeling of certainty. That's exactly where my shoes are... I bet you!

I opened the warming drawer and found my shoes. Sitting in there with a dish towel, brackets for some drawers, instructions for the oven... Oh, and there's a green ring from a stacking toy hiding out in our pan cupboard.

Daniel just let me know that it's not uncommon for him to find his sandals in the warming drawer. Sneaky little hobbits!

In other adorable news, Ethan randomly decided that walking up to people and kissing them on the lips is his new favorite trick. Daniel was his first victim and was in the middle of talking to me when he saw Ethan's funny little puckered-up-fishy-kiss face coming right at him. Too. Much. Cute.