C25K - Run 4

Today's run marked the beginning of Week 2, which brought increased walking, increased jogging, and a new interval mix!

Week 2 starts with a brisk 5-minute warmup walk, then alternating 90 seconds of jogging and 2 minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

I started the run later than I typically do. The colors of the sunset were spectacular as they reflected off the fall colors of the turning leaves on all the trees along my route. It was unspeakably beautiful. And the smells were so wonderful.

Other than the unfortunate circumstance of starting my girly crap just before heading out - and the cramps associated with that crap kicking in just about halfway through the run - tonight went really well. The stitch in my side showed up at about the 20 minute mark, but disappeared very quickly. Also, I ran further again! It was another 10th of a mile extra. I'm sure it's because I'm running longer but I'm still pretty excited about it.

The end result was 2.27 miles in 25 minutes.

C25K - Run 3

I'm not sure why but today's run was accompanied with labored breathing. I mean, really - really - labored. I don't think it ever returned to normal and it felt like I was breathing really cold air even though it was 75 degrees out. Weird.

Some great news though!

I woke up this morning and almost all the soreness in my muscles was gone! 

Today's run was the last of the brisk 5-minute warmup walk, then alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of brisk walking - for a total of 20 minutes.

The stitch in my side didn't show up until the 20 minute mark (another 5 minute improvement)

The end result was again 2.25 miles in 25 minutes. Even as tired and out of breath as I was, I had a huge smile on my face when I realized I was passing my typical "finish" place and still had a minute to go on the timer! 

I'm still improving so I feel good about the results. Today was the last of Week One. Thursday I will start with Week Two, which is longer runs and longer walks. Just when my body was getting used to this one. Keep on pushin' on!

C25K - Run 2

I was really not sure how today's run would feel. My body has been experiencing post-Insanity workout type pain yesterday, and even worse today. It hurt to do anything. My shoulders, back, sides, abs, butt, thighs, legs and foot. Yup, literally my entire body!

Today's run would either loosen up my muscles or feel like torture for 25 minutes.

Today's run was the same: a brisk 5-minute warmup walk, then alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of brisk walking - for a total of 20 minutes.

So, how did the "run" feel? My muscles loosened and felt great before the warmup was done. I didn't get the stitch in my side until about 15 minutes in (a 5 minute improvement from the first time). My lungs never felt like they were on fire and I never felt like I was going to throw up. Improvements!

The end result was again 2 miles in 25 minutes. I did my post-run cool-down stretches and quickly realized the pain in my body was still very present. I think I need to borrow a friend's foam roller and just deal with the pain of working those out.

All-in-all I felt good about today. I got out there and ran even though I was still hurting. I also improved in many areas. Monday is my last of this routine.

Success! The wheels are turning :D

After nearly a month of not doing any workouts, I finally got in the first day of the C25K schedule!

The first 3 "runs" consist of a brisk 5-minute warmup walk, then alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of brisk walking - for a total of 20 minutes. I was running to a specific beat so I kept a consistent pace throughout. I did have trouble keeping my pace to the beat of the jogging portions. I don't know if my stride is just different from what they created the BPM for, or if I should be running faster, or slower? I couldn't imagine running slower though. I knew I was supposed to be jogging so I was doing that. I felt like I needed to jog in slow motion to keep up with the beat, or run to hit on every 1/2 beat - so I just jogged at what I felt was a normal pace and ignored the beats for those parts.

I downloaded the mp3 tracks from the Podrunner Intervals site. Honestly, if it weren't for this mix, I'm certain I would not have kept the pace I kept. If anyone else needs this sort of help but you don't care for the techno type mixes, check out http://www.c25k.com/ for other mixes (even podcasts) available.

So, how did the "run" feel? My thighs started burning about 4 minutes into the warmup, but then the burning went away by the time I finished the first jog. The burning in my legs was gone. The burning in my lungs had just begun. I was very grateful for that 90 second brisk walk! I had my breathing back to normal just in time for the alarm to sound that it was time to jog again. All in all, the whole run lasted this way until my very last interval of walk/run/walk. I had to really mentally push myself to stay in pace with the beat for brisk walking. The end result was 2 miles in 25 minutes, which I'm pretty sure is further than I've ever gone since I was a sophomore in highschool (1994!)

A side note: I really expected it to be "easier" because I've done Insanity (the 1st 3 weeks anyway) and all 30-days of Hip Hop Abs. I don't want to imagine what it would have felt like without those programs priming my body (and mind)!

Green Tea - thoughts?

Lately, I've been tossing around the idea of switching from coffee to tea for multiple reasons. I first began looking into it when coffee started upsetting my stomach. Then I started getting fitness newsletters that touted the benefits of tea as an appetite suppressant (in line with a healthy eating plan) as well as the many antioxidant benefits. So when today's Health Notes article from HyVee was about green tea, I didn't expect to be reading anything I hadn't already learned.

I didn't expect to learn that by drinking at least 3 cups of green tea a day, I could see results of lower LDL cholesterol totals in as little as three weeks.

This is a renewed motivation to get my blood tested. With current test results in hand, knowing I've been taking fish oil capsules for well over my intended one-month test time frame, I'll have something to compare after a month of drinking green tea.

Are you a tea drinker? What do you think of the claims?

Talk it up

I talk a mean game but I'm not showing much promise on the follow-through. Today was beautiful outside, my stomach was back to normal, and I'd had plenty of sleep. I did not go out and run though.

On a better note, Sweetie bought me some lettuce! So I'm not having chicken and frozen veggies this week after all, but chicken and lettuce :D

I need some cooperation here!

I was going to start the C25K today if the weather cooperated. Not only has it been raining all day, but my stomach has been flip-floppy all day as well. 

Sweetie and I went to St. Joe MO today so I could get a haircut and we could visit my sister-in-law who's in the hospital from pneumonia. That 6 hour outing completely exhausted me. A small voice in the back of my brain is saying, "Go. Run. You'll feel better." But I'm not one of those people who you'll see running in the rain, or the cold, or any other weather I wouldn't otherwise be in. I don't understand those runners. Maybe it's one of those things that just "happens" to you when you start running. If so, I'm not in a hurry for it, LOL

The results are in!

I posted my "after" stats of measurements and weight. As I had guessed, not much changed. I lost an inch in my hips and gained half an inch in my bicep muscle - and might have lost 3 pounds. Three pounds could be normal water fluctuation though so that's not really a victory. So I maintained.

I've been planning to start the C25K for 2 weeks now. Last week I wimped out because I got myself all worked up about the possibility of encountering a dog. Sweetie helped me through that fear, or at least helped me come to the realization that we never see loose dogs in our neighborhood so there shouldn't be a concern. And she made sure I knew what to do if I saw a dog that wasn't attacking me yet.

This week I was ready. I had my workout clothes and water laid out every night. I had my alarm set for an hour earlier than usual. And I snoozed the alarm - again and again and again. Every night I'd go to bed with the same affirming thought, "I WILL get up and run in the morning. I will NOT hit snooze." I even went to bed earlier so I wouldn't be so tired in the morning. But every morning turned out the same and I never ran.

I'm thinking if the weather cooperates, I'll get out there tomorrow and just get started with it. I think I've just given my body too much time off and I need a reminder of that excellent endorphin rush to get me going again.

As for meals, I'm going back to frozen veggies with chicken until I run out - which should be about two weeks. I'm out of steel-cut oats so I'll be having peanut butter toast and apples for breakfast for about two weeks as well. Dinner, as usual, will be whatever Sweetie wants but I need to watch my portion control and not cave to second helpings.

Measurements and Weigh-in

September 2011 (one week after completing 30-day Hip Hop Abs workout schedule)

Chest: 33
L Bicep: 10 (11 flexed)
R Bicep: 10 (11 flexed)
Waist: 32
Hips: 36
L Thigh: 18
R Thigh: 19
L Calf: 13.5
R Calf: 13.5

Weight: 144