Another Step

Still following along with the beginner running plan.

This week is the start of 2 sets of 8 &1s. It felt good to be able to run 'that long' (yes, I know some people would skoff at 8 minutes being thought of as long)

I am happy that I stuck with it this long (this is week 8). If I stick with it for a year I will be so far ahead of where I am now. Just have to conquer winter. A year from now I will be a strong runner again.

Gently, gently I go. Giving my body a chance to adjust without injury. Not worrying that I should be trying to train for a 10K or a half or doing hill repeats. Nope nope. Just working along slowly but surely, not skipping runs. Getting it done.

Going Gently

Another set of 3x6&1s done.

I am going at this running business gently. I am playing with fire running at my current weight. My joints are not pleased but have not launched a full scale revolt.

If it takes me a whole year to get up to the level of being able to *start* training for something like a half marathon then so be it. If I can make it a year without a running injury I will be victorious! I am not in a rush here. I just want to be fit again and injury free.

6 year old is at daycamp today. 4 year old is home. I wanted to run during the day before supper etc so I risked taking the 4 year old on her bike while I ran. This time she could actually keep up with me and did not throw a hissy fit 2K from the car like she did a few months ago. Yesssssssssss Freedom!

Running Upgrade

Hey people!

Got another run in yesterday (Monday). This week I got upgraded to 3 sets of 6 &1s.

Running 6 minutes is a challenge. I got to run with the husband yesterday. Thankfully he jogged along with me (when I knew full well he could likely walk as fast as I was running)

At one point I was whining about how hard it was. He pointed out that if I kept it up in a few months I would be able to look back and think. "Remember when running 6 minutes was hard".

I look forward to that. Just have to keep putting in the miles in a regular fashion like I am doing now.

Friday etc.

So, it seems I am neglecting my blog as of late.

Never fear those that are following along with me. I am on the exercising wagon.

For about a month I have been running every other day. Basically doing the RR's Learn to Run Plan.

This week I am up to 5&1's.

Now that I have a month of solid exercise habit forming I must look to the other more important area that has always been my nemesis. That's right folks. Caloric intake.

I know all about how to track it, log it, plan it. Somehow I need to just do it.

The winds of change are blowing in. School is starting. I am heading back to work after 2 months off. My sister is dragging my heiney back to the personal trainer to do double sessions with her (And I am soooooooo dreading that, since I have lost all the type of strength fitness and put on a muffin top to boot).

Anyways... I'm still at it people!

Mon / Tues / Wed

Hmmm.... I am getting to be a blog slacker.

Monday: Not sure? Did I even do anything? hmmmm.... Totally drawing a blank.

Tuesday: Run day. Upgraded to 4 sets of 4 &1s. 6 year old came along on his bike and it worked out fine.

Wednesday: Biked 20 kms pulling the 4 year old on the trail-a-bike. According to my Garmin I burned 740 cals in 20.5 kms, 1 hour 28 minutes. Highlight of ride: stopping to chase tiny gophers around (the 4 year old, not me). Poor little rodents! Oh well, being prey I guess they are used to it.

Had my yearly checkup. Complained bout my sore foot (the foot that has been sore since delivering my daughter 4 years ago when I then proceeded to walk around my house a lot barebook on ceramic tiles and hardwood for the summer). Doctor said he thought it was a Morton's neuroma, and referred me to a podatrist. When I told the husband, he related astory about one of his former running buddies who developed such a thing and had to give up running forever. Nooooooooooooooooo....... Maybe there are some orthotics in my future.

Maybe I should aspire to be a cyclist not a runner. Aside from the fact that there are not fun 5K type cyclcing things to do... Ah well. I'll carry on with my beginner running plan for now.

Sunday- Got 'er done.

Run: did 5 sets of 3 and 1s.

Next week on to 4 sets of 4 & 1s.

Extra Stuff: Rode bike for 70 minutes with the 6 year old on the trail-a-bike. Even though he is heavier than his sister it was actually easier than pulling her because unlike her, he actually pedals. At one point I stopped pedaling and with him pedaling alone, we were going 20 km/hr. Wowzas!

Eating on the weekend has been not as good as weekdays. Nothing new there :) Moving on.

What I am thinking right now: I am working on making exercise a solid habit again. I am trying not to dwell on how far I have slipped. I would like to lose half a pound a week and get back down slowly. This may sound like a case of "lowered expectations" but at least it would be progress and at least it would not be gaining.

I now know that I will not magically stay at 200 pounds. My body is fully capable of being at 220 and beyond unless I fight it. Not that I want to be at 200. But somehow I thought I could do what I wanted and would go no higher than 200. Not true. At. All!

Thurs / Fri / Sat

Thursday: I don't think I did any excercise... can't really remember? Oh, I think I rode my bike around for a bit with the chilluns.

Friday: Another run of 5 x 3&1s. I still find myself looking at my watch. I never catch myself going "Ooops! I ran more than 3 minutes!"

Saturday: 45 minutes easy on the Eliptical. Just burning up calories brainlessly while watching season 3 of Deadwood. I seem to be dragging that series out forever!

Went to a triathlon today and watched. It made me want to work harder to rid myself of my spare tire. Don't want to be a fat-mom anymore. (nothing wrong with being a fat-mom if that is your thing, I just want to be a slim-fit-mom). A year ago I was a mostly-slim-fit-mom. Time to recapture that and make it stick!

Wednesday

Did my run today (5 sets of 3 &1s)
Did a bit of a walk after that (20 minutes)
Did a bike ride outside on my own tonight too.
Heaven!
Mojo is all present and accounted for.
Need to find mojo superglue.

Monday

It is a holiday here so husband was at home. That left me free to go out at 9am to get my run done. I decided to drive a few minutes from my house and go for a run away from the neighborhood.

This week's run schedule is 5 sets of 3 & 1s. Thats what I did followed by 40 minutes of walking to get me to 60 minutes of exercise.

I am so glad it is summer, no matter what the weather is. It beats -30 any day!

Sunday Cross Training

Sunday morning the whole family went to the city pool. We had a nice time though it was not a real workout for me since I was basically just floating around. I did put on a floatation belt and did about 10 minutes of deep water running while junior was floating around the deep end.

Later we all went out for a bike ride with husband and I each pulling a kid on a trail-a-bike. (bike that hooks onto adult's bike). That took a bit of getting used to and felt a tad wobbly. Pulling them in a trailer feels way more stable but the kids enjoy the trail-a-bike more. The 6 year old prefers to ride his own bike but by sticking them both on a trail-a-bike we could go farther. We were riding for just over an hour and it was a workout for me. My calories burned was not all that high but it was fun and it was good that we were doing something together.

Saturday Run

Did my last set of seven 3 &1s on Saturday.

Next combination: 5 sets of 3 & 1s. (to be done Monday)

Right now I'm running every other day rather than set days of the week. I'm toying with the idea of doing my run, then walking how ever many minutes are left (plenty) to get my workout to 60 minutes. Running back to back days is just asking for trouble at this point (ie. injury) and by doing every other day I would average 3.5 days a week instead of 3. Of course when fall comes and my schedule changes I will probably pick set days but for now it works.

The thought is: a) burn more calories, b) cool down the leggies. sometimes the calves get angry at me for running.

Thursday / Friday

Thursday after being run over by the 4 year old's bike (that sounds worse than it was) I got a call from Hazel asking if I wanted to go for a run.



It was very nice running with her and she signed up for my favourite race this coming November. Yippeee!

Friday I went on the elliptical for 45 minutes. I was going 'easy' but at least I was doing something other than sitting.

Today I'm scheduled for 7 sets of 2 & 1's. Also have to clean the house a bit and get groceries.

Whats for dinner at your house?