Week 5

Bad, bad, bad, blogger-I haven't updated about week 5 at all.

The first two days were great, did the intervals, pushed myself but did't feel that bad. Then Friday I attempted day 3 where you run for 20 minutes solid. Yeah-that didn't happen. Two minutes into the run and my water bottle jiggled out of the holder and dumped all over the treadmill and me. Stopped to clean that up and started up again. Made it to the 10 minute mark and ended up walking for 5 before running another 10.

I was pretty bummed that I didn't hit the goal for day 3-especially since I'd been consistently hitting the marks in the program but hey-everyone has an off day right?

Went back Monday after a lovely and relaxing mother's day weekend to tackle the day 3 beast again. Took my snazzy new water bottle that fits much better in the holder and my do or die attitude. I dialed the treadmill back a little so I was running at 4.5 miles an hour instead of 5, set the treadmill (and covered up the display so I couldn't see the time) and went for it.

When I finally let myself peek at the time to see how long I had left I was thrilled to discover that I was at the 18 1/2 minute mark and almost done. Finished it off and came home absolutely flying-I was so thrilled.

I think that the 20 minute run is more mental than anything else-that first time I was so apprehensive and worried that I couldn't do it that I think I really dragged myself down. When I went Monday telling myself that by god I was going to finish it I did.

So far W5D3 part 2 is the most thrilling day of the program. :-)

Today I went to the fitness center and did 15 minutes on the stationary bike and then did some stretching. I was rather creaky and stiff in the knees for awhile and it was suggested that strengthening the quads would help with that. So far so good as my knees are feeling much better and I don't snap, crackle, pop near as much.

Week 4, Day 4

So very glad I tacked an extra day onto Week 4. This run felt good and when I got to the end of that last 5 minute interval I wasn't desperately counting down the seconds until I could turn down the speed on the treadmill. Got there before the rest of the fitness freaks so got to watch the Bruins game while I worked out which made it all the more palatable.

Did 2.4 miles today and the treadmill says 230.4 calories burned. Amazes me that even though I'm spending basically the same amount of time working out as I did when I was walking the time really seems to fly.

Week 4, Day 3

I haven't run since last Friday as I seem to have caught the Man's tummy bug. So it's been almost a week since I did day 2. Day 3 was doable but I struggled mightily at the the end so I think I'm going to add a Day 4 onto Week 4 just to give the body a chance to get back into synch. Had I not had the sick break I think it would have been fine.

Did 2.49 miles in 35 minutes and Senor Treadmill said that was 232.8 calories. Sometimes I wish Senor Treadmill would tell me 1,200 calories. Not that it would be true but it would sure make me feel good.

My knees are stiff and creaky-oddly more so after not running than they are when I run.

Week 4, Days 1 and 2

Week 4 has 2 cycles of a 3 minute run with a 90 second walk, then a 5 minute run followed by 2 1/2 minutes of walking.

Day 1 was rough but doable. I really wanted to punk out at the 4 minute mark of the last 5 minute run but decided I didn't want to post on my facebook page that I wussed out in the last minute so persevered and finished it off.

Day 2 was pretty rough-I think it was more that I was sleep deprived and worn out than it was the program. I completed all the runs but I did give myself an extra 30 seconds of walking in each cycle.

I'm continually amazed each week that I'm able to do that weeks tasks. Looking ahead at the weeks when I started the program it looked pretty daunting but I'm almost at the halfway point all ready.

I'm also amazed at how great I feel after running. Granted there's been some creaky knees and sore shins but overall I feel so good at the end of each workout. (lol-especially true since I invested in some good sports bras and not the girls are secure!)

Week 3, Day 3

Week 3 completed. (Everyone do a little dance!)

I ended up doing the 90 second/3minute cycle 3 times instead of 2-mostly because I set the timer on the treadmill wrong and I hate stopping the treadmill before time runs out-makes me feel like a slacker.

Today wasn't too bad at all. As usual the first 10 minutes I had to keep talking myself out of wimping out but after that it felt pretty good. I ended up doing 2.41 miles. I knocked my running speed down to 5.0 today and really tried to focus on my form a little. My left shin is still sore and I think it's because I roll my feet when I walk/run so I was trying really hard to not do that.

Treadmill said 261.4 calories.

Week 3 Days 1 and 2

Missed posting for Day 1 the other day so this is a combo. Day one of week 3 was pretty tough-not impossible but the 3 minutes of running was a challenge. I've been setting the treadmill to 30 minutes and doing the run/walk cycles in that time frame but on Day 1 I did the 2 rotations with about 10 minutes of walking on the end. distance ended up being 1.92 miles.

Day 2 was a little easier although I was really feeling the 2nd 3 minute run. Kept telling myself I'll just do 15 more seconds and then I can quit, just 15 more seconds and then I can quit, and made it through the whole run. Just did the 5 minute cool down on the end for a distance of 1.74 miles.

Week 2 Day 3

Today-moderate suckiness. My left shin hurt, I was tired, cranky, and not very motivated, and the fitness center was too damn hot. Think this has been the hardest day so far. Persevered and hit 2.76 (I'm not sure how I manage to pick up the .01 everyday since I'm doing the same thing.)


3.6/5.2 seems to be working for me so I've been sticking with that. It's been my observation that for a really slow job at like 4.5 mph actually seems more tiring than going a little faster although I may change my mind when I hit week 7....wait...we're not going to think about week 7 until Week 6 Day 3.

Wednesday-Week 3!

Week 2 Day 2

Day 2 was not nearly as bad as day 1-ok-with the exception of the fact that it was man day at the fitness center and I got stuck watching the endless Tiger Woods golf chatter on ESPN. I never thought there was anything less interesting than watching golf but I now know that listening to people talk about golf is even less interesting than watching it.

Did 2.75 miles at the same pace as normal. The ankles and knees are still snap, crackle, nasty. Lynne suggested cross training on alternate days to strengthen my quads. Hmmmm....that would require doing things on my day of rest...doable I suppose.

The weather has been super nice the last couple days-maybe I can talk myself into getting the bike out tomorrow and going for a ride.

Week 2 Day 1

Started week 2 today which is 90 seconds of running followed by 2 minutes of walking. How can an extra 30 seconds feel like eternity? Harder than week 1 (but then again that's the point right) but not awful.

The treadmill said 2.74 miles with 3.6 mph for the walking and 5.2 mph for the running. It also said I burned 300.8 calories which I think is about 50 more than I usually hit when I walk.

The calorie think isn't overly accurate as you are just plugging in your age and weight and getting the approximate that they think you're burning but it was interesting to see what the difference was.

Week 1 Day 3

Spent the Easter weekend at Grammy's-Saturday got a pretty good workout in the yard raking leaves, sticks, and acorns. Got a big old blister on my thumb too-the agony!

After a great big meal yesterday and too much of Grammy's yummy cooking this weekend I was really ready for a workout.

Day 3 went really well and felt really good. Did 2.72 miles at 3.6 walking and 5.2 running. I think my biggest surprise of the week is that I have more energy the rest of the day with the running than I do normally when I walk on the treadmill. Maybe that's a sign that my old workout was getting a little stagnant and blah.

Had some yummy homemade yogurt with fruit and granola for breakfast.
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html

Week 1 Day 2

Was not even remotely pumped up or interested in running today. After quick perusal of all available excuses not to work out could not locate a plausible one so dragged my butt over to the fitness center. The first 10 minutes I was not thrilled to be moving but once I got going it actually felt really good.

Today ended up at 2.7 miles at 3.6 for my walking pace and 5.1 for my running.

Came home and had some homemade cranberry/blueberry/cherry yogurt and a couple grapefruit. Yummola.

Day 3 won't be until Monday since we're going to Grammy's for Easter so will have to see if I can sneak in a walk or something tomorrow.

Week 1 Day 1

We had breakfast yesterday with some of Neil's friends from DC. One of them-Lynn-mentioned that she was doing the Couch to 5K running program that is supposed to get you off the couch and able to run a 5K in about 9 weeks.

Check it out here- http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

It sounded intriguing so when we got home I looked it up and impulsively decided I wanted to give it a try. I tend to be more inclined to exercise if I'm working toward a concrete goal rather than just the lofty ideals of "being healthy" or "feeling better." Granted I appreciate those things when they happen I just have a hard time dragging myself out of bed for them.

Today was Week 1 Day 1 (w1d1) which is a brisk 5 minute warm-up walk and then alternating between 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

I normally walk a little over 2 miles on the treadmill 3-4 times a week at about 3.8 miles an hour with random incline settings. To start out today I set my walking pace at 3.6 and my running pace at 5.0. I didn't add in the inclines-decided to tackle the running first and the inclines later.

Overall I did 2.64 miles in 35 minutes including the 5 minute warm up and 5 minute cool down on the end. It actually felt really good-I was pretty pumped up when I finished. Tomorrow is a rest and recovery day and Friday will be day 2.