Hey Fellow Couch Potatoes and/or Fellow Athlete Wannabees!
It has been 6 weeks since my last post, and I apologize for my lack of writing. It just seems it has been one thing after another. So, let's talk about my running progress. Well, it has been pretty much null and void! As you may remember, I developed bronchitis at the beginning of July and didn't run for over a week. Just as I left better and started running again, the weather took a nasty turn. The heat became unbearable. I'm sorry, but I am not a true athlete. I am a middle aged, overweight woman who will not subject herself to running in such brutal weather conditions. Nor will I get up at the unbelievable hour of 5 a.m. to run! I like my sleep way more than any type of physical activity! Then just as the weather was about to break, I developed an intestinal virus that last 10 days! Now, I never get sick. Sure I have the occasional day when I don't feel good, but I don't get down and out. Until this summer, I hadn't been sick with the flu since 1997! I have my theories for this, but it is a post of my other blog. So, hence, I hadn't run in over 3 weeks.
I started back on Monday, August 8. I decided to start the program over. So, I started with Week 1, Day 1 which was a combination of run 60 seconds, then walk 90 seconds. I'm happy to report that I completed it with no problems! I was surprised! I was sure I would struggle somewhere. But the lungs were good, the stomach was good. The only thing that revolted was my hips. Like Shakira, my hips don't lie either and they were hurting all day on Monday! I ran again this morning and had great success as well. It really helped that the temperatures were cool and the humidity to a minimum.
I did notice that my 5K playlist is getting boring! It's the same 15 songs over and over. If you any of you have any suggestions of song titles, I would love hear them. I mostly listen to sports radio talk shows. (The Fan 97.1) Why? I have no flipping idea!! But I can tell you everything you need to know about Terrell Pryor, the NBA and NFL lock outs, drafts and trades, etc. So, I am not up to date on current music and need some help!
That's it for today! I have so much to do to get ready for school. I promise to stay in touch with more consistency. To my fellow 5K runners, please don't give up. We are in this together and we will conquer!
Denise Running?????
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Another Day in the LIfe of a C25K Runner
Good Morning Peeps! I just wanted to let you know that I had a great training session today. I do not call it a run yet because there is definitely more walking than running! I worked out with my friend Kendra. We have partnered up to run our first 5K together. Our last attempt at training together was a complete disaster! One, it started raining on us. I mean it freaking poured. We stopped and turned around and went home. Neither of us has that athlete mentality where you keep going at any cost. Real runners would have kept going! Two, I had run the day before. BIG mistake! I thought I knew better than the program when they said do NOT run consecutive days!
The goal today was to keep up with Kendra and not make a fool of myself. Kendra is 10 years young and a bit leaner than me! I am happy to report that I kept up with her. Now, that's not to say she didn't dummy down her training to make me feel better. If she did, I stay thanks! I'll take the victories any way I can. If not, then woot woot for me! I can hang with the younguns!
I will be taking the next two days off. Then on Friday I will graduate to week 2! I'm scared!!! The running/walking intervals are 60/60. I don't know how that will work!!! I like my 90 second walk intervals!!! Kendra started week 2 last week. She says it is rough. (BTW, she did dummy down for me! She went back to week 1 just for me! OR perhaps she is secretly grateful to me for getting her out of week 2.) Makes one think!
So here's to completing Week 1! It only took a month!!!! Make week 2 go better!
Until next time,
deniserunning?
The goal today was to keep up with Kendra and not make a fool of myself. Kendra is 10 years young and a bit leaner than me! I am happy to report that I kept up with her. Now, that's not to say she didn't dummy down her training to make me feel better. If she did, I stay thanks! I'll take the victories any way I can. If not, then woot woot for me! I can hang with the younguns!
I will be taking the next two days off. Then on Friday I will graduate to week 2! I'm scared!!! The running/walking intervals are 60/60. I don't know how that will work!!! I like my 90 second walk intervals!!! Kendra started week 2 last week. She says it is rough. (BTW, she did dummy down for me! She went back to week 1 just for me! OR perhaps she is secretly grateful to me for getting her out of week 2.) Makes one think!
So here's to completing Week 1! It only took a month!!!! Make week 2 go better!
Until next time,
deniserunning?
Friday, July 1, 2011
Running Swagger and other Milestones!
I just completed Day 2 of Week 1...for like the 5th time now! However, we are going to erase those earlier days from our memory and are focusing on this new week. So, I started this week on Wednesday. I completed all eight of the 60 second running intervals. OOPS, I did it again! In addition, I had some HUGE milestones attached to it!
#1. Until today, I usually had to look at my phone to see how many more seconds were left for each running interval. Today, however, I actually made it through 4 of them without looking!!! How exciting is that?
#2. I always set a visual goal for my running intervals. It just makes it easier for me then to wait for the my "running coach" to tell me when to stop.I need to fill those long seconds with some kind of distraction. Well, I noticed today that my goals were way shorter than normal. Does that mean I am running better and, therefore, running longer lengths during the interval? Oh my! It's a theory! BTW, I got rid of Ashley and switch to Michael. The little tart was really getting on my nerves! Michael sounds much cuter and finer than her!
#3. Water Bottle Test: I take a bottle of water with me because I get so out of breath. The water usually only lasts through the first 4 intervals. Today, I had H20 for my cool down!!! :)
#4. I am developing some running swagger! That's right, I actually am starting to resemble a runner. Prior to today's work out, my total focus has been on the landmark goal ahead and just making my feet move one in front of the other. Today, my mind actually wondered to my running form. I had a little Blacky Eyed Peas' Boom Boom Pow playing when I notice my hips and arms swaying in some kind of running form!! I was able to forget about my feet and the goal, and just feel the run!! Really? Did I just say 'feel the run'? I just might become a runner yet! Who knew?
Next training day is Sunday morning. Can't wait to see what it holds!
Deniserunning?
PS: If any of you are real runners, I would love some running advice. It can be anything regarding diet, training, workout gear, etc. I am just making it up as I go, so your expertise would most appreciated!
#1. Until today, I usually had to look at my phone to see how many more seconds were left for each running interval. Today, however, I actually made it through 4 of them without looking!!! How exciting is that?
#2. I always set a visual goal for my running intervals. It just makes it easier for me then to wait for the my "running coach" to tell me when to stop.I need to fill those long seconds with some kind of distraction. Well, I noticed today that my goals were way shorter than normal. Does that mean I am running better and, therefore, running longer lengths during the interval? Oh my! It's a theory! BTW, I got rid of Ashley and switch to Michael. The little tart was really getting on my nerves! Michael sounds much cuter and finer than her!
#3. Water Bottle Test: I take a bottle of water with me because I get so out of breath. The water usually only lasts through the first 4 intervals. Today, I had H20 for my cool down!!! :)
#4. I am developing some running swagger! That's right, I actually am starting to resemble a runner. Prior to today's work out, my total focus has been on the landmark goal ahead and just making my feet move one in front of the other. Today, my mind actually wondered to my running form. I had a little Blacky Eyed Peas' Boom Boom Pow playing when I notice my hips and arms swaying in some kind of running form!! I was able to forget about my feet and the goal, and just feel the run!! Really? Did I just say 'feel the run'? I just might become a runner yet! Who knew?
Next training day is Sunday morning. Can't wait to see what it holds!
Deniserunning?
PS: If any of you are real runners, I would love some running advice. It can be anything regarding diet, training, workout gear, etc. I am just making it up as I go, so your expertise would most appreciated!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
I Did It!
Good morning my running peeps! As I told you before, I am using the Couch to 5K app on my iPhone. It CLAIMS I can be running a whole 5K in less than 9 weeks. Well, that's for someone who is obviously an athlete and not a true couch potato! Here is how the program worksl. It is divided into 9 weeks with different goals for each week. It is also based on a 3 runs a week. So the first week begins with a 5 minute brisk walk. Then you alternate 60 second runs with 90 second walks. You do this for eight runs total. Then you end with a 5 minute cool down walk. Now if you do not complete the entire 8 runs, the program somehow knows you didn't and it will give you another running minute. What a bitch, right?
Anyways, I started this program on June 13 and completed 5 days of it before I was diagnosed with a bronchial infection! In the those 5 days I never made it past week 1! Nor did I ever complete the entire 8 running intervals!!! Of course I was also competing with lung guppies for air the entire time!
So, today I decided to try it again. While I'm still on an inhaler twice a day, I have stopped coughing non-stop, the lung guppies are few and far between, and there is only one more day of antibiotic. So why not try it? I decided to just start over with day 1 and see how it goes! I am happy to report that I ran all 8 running minutes and was not penalized with an additional minute!!! It is amazing how well you can do when you can actually breathe! Now let's make it clear that these were not easy runs. I struggled to achieve each and everyone of the those 60 seconds! I would start looking at the phone at about 25 seconds out. But I did not give up and I completed everyone of those suckers! I'm sure to passer bys that I looked like I was dying. There were a couple of coughing spells along the way. And if I'm honest, I have to admit that I even wet myself one time! There was a massive lung guppy hiding in my chest! I'm surprised that no one called the squad on me!! It would have been embarassing to explain that I was just an over weight, middle aged woman with some hairbrained idea that I need to "train" for a 5K!
I will give you a tip that I use with this program. I am a visual person. So, I have to set visual goals. I can't just run until the program's uber bitch says walk! When she tells me to run, I look ahead and select a landmark that I think is 60 seconds away. I won't let myself quit until I get there. The deal I made with myself is this: If I make there and I can keep runnng I will. If not, I stop and start walking before the witch tells me I can! It's not a perfect science because sometimes my distance is too long and sometimes it is too short. Either way though, it helps me pace myself. And one other tip! Sometimes I scare myself because I see my shadow running and I think someone is coming up behind me! Then I realize, that that shadow is me! It is a whole new mindset!
So, I did it! I made it through the entire program today. I have to admit that I am pretty proud of myself. Given how sick I've been and how long it's been, I was pleasantly surprised.
Until the next time,
Denise Running?
Anyways, I started this program on June 13 and completed 5 days of it before I was diagnosed with a bronchial infection! In the those 5 days I never made it past week 1! Nor did I ever complete the entire 8 running intervals!!! Of course I was also competing with lung guppies for air the entire time!
So, today I decided to try it again. While I'm still on an inhaler twice a day, I have stopped coughing non-stop, the lung guppies are few and far between, and there is only one more day of antibiotic. So why not try it? I decided to just start over with day 1 and see how it goes! I am happy to report that I ran all 8 running minutes and was not penalized with an additional minute!!! It is amazing how well you can do when you can actually breathe! Now let's make it clear that these were not easy runs. I struggled to achieve each and everyone of the those 60 seconds! I would start looking at the phone at about 25 seconds out. But I did not give up and I completed everyone of those suckers! I'm sure to passer bys that I looked like I was dying. There were a couple of coughing spells along the way. And if I'm honest, I have to admit that I even wet myself one time! There was a massive lung guppy hiding in my chest! I'm surprised that no one called the squad on me!! It would have been embarassing to explain that I was just an over weight, middle aged woman with some hairbrained idea that I need to "train" for a 5K!
I will give you a tip that I use with this program. I am a visual person. So, I have to set visual goals. I can't just run until the program's uber bitch says walk! When she tells me to run, I look ahead and select a landmark that I think is 60 seconds away. I won't let myself quit until I get there. The deal I made with myself is this: If I make there and I can keep runnng I will. If not, I stop and start walking before the witch tells me I can! It's not a perfect science because sometimes my distance is too long and sometimes it is too short. Either way though, it helps me pace myself. And one other tip! Sometimes I scare myself because I see my shadow running and I think someone is coming up behind me! Then I realize, that that shadow is me! It is a whole new mindset!
So, I did it! I made it through the entire program today. I have to admit that I am pretty proud of myself. Given how sick I've been and how long it's been, I was pleasantly surprised.
Until the next time,
Denise Running?
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Here we go!
Hi. My name is Denise. I'm 49 years old and I have decided I want to run a 5k. Now mind you that I don't exercise much less run! I'm not an athlete. I had a PE teacher tell me once that it was too bad that I didn't have any athletic abilities because I had the competitive drive for one. So, what made me decided to do this?
Well, I have been creating a bucket list. As I turn 50, I decided there are things I want to do before God calls me home. For some reason, I want to be able to run a 5K. I think it is because I have so many family, friends and co-workers who run and I want to be a part of the that fraternity. So, I mentioned this to someone and they told me about this phone app called C25K. It is called Couch to 5K. Now, I'm not a couch potato. But all of my hobbies are chair based...quilting, sewing, scrap booking, blogging, reading, etc. So I guess that makes me a chair potato!
The program claims I'll be a 5k runner in 9 weeks. I don't' know what planet the author is from, but in my world, not going to happen. I have already done the first day of the program 3 times. I still haven't made it out of week 1 yet, even though I've been doing it for 2 weeks. However, I have been sidelined with a bronchial infection and have not done anything for a week now. So, when I do return, I will be starting from scratch! So I decided this was a great time to start a weekly blog about my progress. I can share all of my trials, tribulations and triumphs with others who run or want to run. May be I can even inspire someone else out there who had a desire to run! I can guarantee I will be completely honest with my struggles and accomplishments. I can also guarantee that you'll laugh your ass off at me! So, if nothing else, I can humor you while you sit on your couch/chair.
So, I hope you check in once a week and jog along side of me!
Until then,
deniserunning?
Well, I have been creating a bucket list. As I turn 50, I decided there are things I want to do before God calls me home. For some reason, I want to be able to run a 5K. I think it is because I have so many family, friends and co-workers who run and I want to be a part of the that fraternity. So, I mentioned this to someone and they told me about this phone app called C25K. It is called Couch to 5K. Now, I'm not a couch potato. But all of my hobbies are chair based...quilting, sewing, scrap booking, blogging, reading, etc. So I guess that makes me a chair potato!
The program claims I'll be a 5k runner in 9 weeks. I don't' know what planet the author is from, but in my world, not going to happen. I have already done the first day of the program 3 times. I still haven't made it out of week 1 yet, even though I've been doing it for 2 weeks. However, I have been sidelined with a bronchial infection and have not done anything for a week now. So, when I do return, I will be starting from scratch! So I decided this was a great time to start a weekly blog about my progress. I can share all of my trials, tribulations and triumphs with others who run or want to run. May be I can even inspire someone else out there who had a desire to run! I can guarantee I will be completely honest with my struggles and accomplishments. I can also guarantee that you'll laugh your ass off at me! So, if nothing else, I can humor you while you sit on your couch/chair.
So, I hope you check in once a week and jog along side of me!
Until then,
deniserunning?
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