God bless endorphins

When I woke up today I was still very sore from working out but I had planned a 4 mile run today. That is a half mile farther than my usual run because of the Hot 100 goal of increasing my running distance. I was skeptical I would be able to do the entire thing. I put on my running shoes and headed for the door. When I got outside I realized it was really really cold today, an icy cold morning. So I put on a long sleeve shirt and my new hat and started out. I started with a fast paced walk hoping the endorphins would kick in before I finished my 5 minute warm up, no such luck my legs still hurt. I decided to suck it up and start out on the full 4 miles. It was actually an amazing transformation... after only a couple minutes the pain in my legs was gone... Thank You Endorphins!
I finished the entire four miles with a 5 minute walking warm-up and 5 minute walking cool down. To be honest the last mile was a really slow run and if any elderly people with walkers had been out for an early morning stroll they probably would have passed me. I am still glad I finished the entire thing and my legs actually feel better tonight. I still can't lift my arms above my head but I'm ok with that.

Motivation

I seem to be lacking in motivation today... (this seems to happen when I work days). I have become very good at talking myself out of exercising.

Tonight when I left work I was really hungry and on my way to the parking lot some guy comes walking up with about ten pizza boxes. It smelled so heavenly I wanted to turn around and follow him wherever he and the pizzas were going. Of course I didn't but I did have to go to the grocery store where I walked past a display of Little Debbie snack cakes on sale... I am not sure if Little Debbie is a real person but I am fairly certain that she is the devil. Those sugary high fat snack cakes are so affordable I could buy several boxes a week even when I was a poor college student, subsisting mostly on ramen noodles and spaghetti-o's.

So long story short, I didn't give in to the sugar cravings. I bought salad fixings instead. But then when I got home I told myself I did so good not giving into my sugar cravings that I didn't have to work out tonight. See how easy it is?

Any ideas on how to get this lazy girl back in her running shoes while on day shift?

Biking

I started week three of couch to 5K this morning and it went great, I made it through the entire podcast in one try. I was feeling rather proud of myself so I decided to get a little more exercise this afternoon. I figured it would be fun the take my bike some place. When I started out on my bike there was a breeze coming at me but I figured it would get better... well it didn't. As it turns out a chubby girl on bicycle isn't very aerodynamic. The wind pushing against me made it feel like I was peddling up hill the entire distance. When I did actually come to a hill I think I may have technically died for a few seconds. I went and said hello to my mom, took a trip to the mall, and ended up going to see the movie "The Ugly Truth" (It was cute if you like that "boy meets girl...etc.." type of movie). With the wind at my back the trip home was breeze (I apologize for the awful pun... feel free to groan). It may have been difficult but I didn't quit and just turn around, even though I contemplated that idea about every 15 seconds.

Hope you are all having a fantastic week.

Low-Fat Tuesday

This morning, after my fourth couch to 5k, I decided I feel great. When the voice came through my ear phones and asked, "Are you ready for the final run interval?" I no longer wanted to reach through my ipod and smack that guy across the face. I actually was ready to run and I did... through each interval without having to hit the pause button to catch my breath. So when I got home I logged onto itunes and put the second week of couch to 5K on my playlist . I am going to start week two tomorrow morning. I thought it would take me a couple more days but I think I am ready. I will see how it goes. Today I also made some healthy vegetable soup. I never use a recipe I just through whatever fresh and frozen veggies I have on hand into a pot and simmer in vegetable stock for a while. I seemed to have a lot of veggies today so I think I am going to be having soup for the rest of the week... or maybe month (there is a lot).

Day 2 Week 1

I just finished Day 2 of the couch to 5K. Today went much better and I think it is because I was on a walking path rather than a treadmill. I made it through all the running/walking intervals without feeling like I want to quit. The only problem I have is I am not sure my form is right... when I run I feel like I could easily get a grant from the Ministry of Silly Walks (you non-Monty Python fans may not get that reference). I should ask my niece for some pointers. My niece Claire just turned twelve but she is a champion runner. I was at one of her basketball tournaments (yes, she is good at that too) watching her team warm-up. Two girls who had just finished playing came and sat on the bleachers in front of me. They were talking and putting on their street shoes when one of the girls looked up at the Clarie's team. The conversation went like this:

"Hey look. That really good runner is on that team."
"What? Where?"
"Don't you see her? She's the one who ALWAYS wins the mile. (Always was said with a lot of exasperation)
"I don't see her."
"There she is... she has the ball right now."
"Oh yeah. She's fast."

I later told the story to Claire and she got a little mischievous grin on her face and said, "I'm famous." I love that girl.

Day 1 Week 1

Today was day one of couch to 5K... after work I went to the Y and tried it on the treadmill. By minute nine my feet were protesting, "Hey this isn't the routine. We worked all day and now is the time you sit your arse and see what the Gods of Tivo suggested you watch." But my brain wouldn't let me quit. I went through two running intervals and then three. My calves started to join the protest, "Come on, that's good enough, we worked hard all day we deserve to take a break at night." But my brain wouldn't let me quit. By the time I reached the fifth and six running intervals my feet were sore and my brain said, "The feet are making some good points."

I did have to pause my ipod once and walk for a couple minutes, but then I started back up and finished the whole thing. I decided two things. First, the next time I run I am going to forgo the treadmill, I think setting my own pace instead of selecting a pace from a list may be easier. Second, I may need to do the "week one" podcast for more than one week. I will see how Friday goes.

run for fun?

This is one of my nieces, she is six years old and ran her first race this weekend. She did great and was very proud of her new running outfit and the ribbon she received when crossing the finish line.

I have been thinking about exercise today... what do I want to do, what should I do, what can I do? I was reading the Fat (free) me blog and she mentioned the couch to 5 k program. The reason I think running may be something I could get into is because my family has really gotten into running in the past couple years. They spend many weekends participating in 5K's ,10K's and half marathons. They seem to enjoy it and I enjoy going to cheer as they cross the finish line. I can only assume I would also enjoy a good cheer from the crowd. I did some poking around on itunes and found a couch to 5k program that I subscribed to. It suggests starting out with three days a week, so for "Week One" the goal is Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday for the fist podcast. I will reevaluate after week one.

Wish me luck!