C25K: Week 2 Day 1

It was the first day of week 2 today.  I made it to the gym later than I wanted to because Lil' Joe was napping so it was already 83 degrees outside when I hit the pavement.  But it wasn't that bad and I felt a bit a of a breeze for a little while so again it was pleasant weather.  However, I'm starting to wonder if the weather really isn't that bad or if I just have a good attitude because once again, I know I'm only going to have to run for 1:30 at a time.  I remember from training last year in the heat of May that I have a tendency to get a pretty defeatist attitude pretty fast when the heat and humidity are high.

Anyway, I made it through all 6-90 second run intervals without a problem.  I kept my pace around a 9 min/mile.  I did feel some sharp pain in my inner left quad but I'm hoping with a little bit of good stretching and yoga class for the next 2 days that it will clear out before my run Wednesday evening.

In other news my Prince Charming started his C25K adventure this evening.  He got out and ran W1D1 after the kids went to bed.  So I sat outside and cheered him on as he ran past our house a couple of times.  I really love that we can support each other by talking about the runs but not running together so neither has to feel bad about their pace.  For the record right now, I'm pretty sure I'm faster.  =)  But that won't last for long.  I think by week 3 his long legs start to beat my short stubby ones.

See you Wednesday for W2D2!

C25K: Week 1 Day 3

Well, week one is done!  You know, I'm a little sad about that because week one is obviously the easiest week.  I feel good about how I did this week.  I got out and ran my 3 days without much internal struggle.  I might actually say that I was a little excited to get out there and hit the pavement.  But of course, that's probably because I knew I'd only be running for 60 seconds at a time, 8 times.

It was easier to do it this time then it was last time I did C25K.  So it seems like my overactive imagination is already trying to stress my body out about the ultimate goal of the Disney Princess Half 2013.  By the 6th running interval, a side stitch had set in and my mean imagination started saying cruel things to me about how if I can't run for 6 non consecutive minutes how on earth was I going to run for 3 hours.  Thankfully because the running intervals were so short this week by the time my brain started getting ugly with me the interval was over and I was on my recovery walk.

Eventually my drive started fighting with my negative self image and it was quite the conversation.  I know others who enter a state of running bliss or nirvana.  Instead, I think I enter a state of mental breakdown.  Ha!  I'm not looking forward to longer runs when my drive and negative self image really have time to go at it.  But one thing I heard my drive say today was, "You know, the one thing I like about you is that failure is never an option."  And that's true about me.  When I set my mind to something I'm going to get it done.  It may not be pretty but come hell or high water I am RUNNING the St. Jude Half Marathon this year.  Why?  Because that's what I want to do.  So even though my negative self image is saying rude things to me because I'm having to start back at the most basic of beginners running programs, my drive doesn't care.  My drive is already envisioning me crossing that finish line and having my husband, kids, and a few friends there cheering me in the home stretch.  This long term goal is something that is going to be SO incredibly hard.  And so worth it to.  I just need to make sure I keep cheering for my drive instead of my negative self image when those two start fighting about it.

Now I just need to pick a celebratory 5K that's 8 weeks away to reward myself for finishing this program again.

C25K: 1 week down, 8 to go!

C25K: W1D2

Wednesdays are a tricky day for my running.  I like to run when I go to the Y so the kids can be in the nursery, but on Wednesdays Jen teaches yoga.  It's the only day of the week that she teaches at the Y and she's absolutely amazing so I pretty much move heaven and earth to make sure I don't miss her class.  I get 2 hours in the kid care, but class is 1 hour, and then I spend about 15 minutes kibitzing so that only leaves 45 minutes to change, get out and do the 30 minute workout and then get the kids.  I mean, it can be done but it'd be a bit tight and then we cut into when Lil' Joe needs to eat and getting Sassy to story hour at the library on time.

Anyway, so for now until Lil' Joe switches his schedule again I'm going to run on Wednesdays in the evening after we put the kids to bed.  So at 7:30 I changed into my shoes and grabbed the iPod only to realize that I apparently didn't turn it off and it was dead!  Bluh!  I've never run without music.  Luckily the Garmin was still charged so I was able to use it to time my intervals.  I thought it was going to be horrible having to watch my watch to time my intervals but it wasn't that bad.  I kept all my runs to a sub 10 which is my goal right now.  I know I won't be able to keep that up as the time gets longer but for now I'm pushing myself and doing alright.

C25K: Week 1 Day 1

Here we go again!  It's time to start training.  Actually, I'm not quite sure if it's time as in if I don't start now I won't be ready to run the St. Jude Half in December, but I feel like it's time.  If that makes any sense.  The weather has been beautiful and that's part of what's made me want to get out and get running. I know it's going to be a hot summer now so maybe if I can get the early training out of the way while it's still nice I should be so far into the program by the time the sweltering heat and humidity kicks in that my drive should keep me going to race day.

So today I dusted off my running shoes, got out the SPI belt, and found the iPod that has my Couch to 5K podcasts downloaded on it.  And man was it tough!  I haven't run in almost a year.  The last race I did was the Zoom through the Zoo in May 2011!  I was completely delusional as to how out of shape I am when it comes to running.  The first week of the program is 8-60 second runs with 90 second walk recoveries.  So I figured I go all out and sprint those 60 seconds because after all, it's just a minute.  BWAHAHAHA!  The first run I kept it around 6 min/mile pace.  Then it was 6:30.  Then it was a 7.  Then it was an 8.  Then it was a 9.  Then for the love of all that was holy I just tried to keep it below a 10 for the last 3 runs.  By the 6th set I had a side stitch and just felt pretty pathetic.

But I have to remember, it's a process.  I haven't run in a year and I'm not really a natural runner.  This is something that I push myself to do because I want to do it.  I want to say that I've run a half marathon.  I want to feel that overwhelming pride of accomplishing a goal that seems insurmountable.  I remember doing the C25K program back in 2010 and it was hard then so it's not going to be any different this time around.  What's great is it's going to be just as worth it!

Day 1 down.  Day 2 Wednesday.