The Ups & Downs of Training (not just hills!)

So Saturday I was feeling pretty good. Did 6 miles rulking, 3 to 1 ratio. The longer I run continuosly, the more humble I become. I figure for a middle aged woman I am in pretty good shape comparatively speaking (even to some mid twenty year olds!) but this has DEFINATELY humbled me! It was a hard run on Saturday, but I felt pretty good when I finished. My left ankle was feeling a little sore while running, but I figure it was because of adding another minute. May ankle was still sore at home, so I put on my "comfy sandals" for the day. I was walking through my kitchen and I slipped on some water on the floor. As gracefully as I could I stuck my other foot out (toe down, like a ballerina - not sure why though!) and now my right big toe is totally black and blue. Of course I also tried to stabalize with my already sore ankle. So guess what? It's Sunday morning and my ankle is still not right...might be a tendon or something. I'll be going to the doc tomorrow to check it out. I am not real happy about this, but I guess I will pick up when I can. Sticking to my own saying of "Never Stop Starting! Right???

I feel like "Debbie Downer"!! LOL! It's frustrating even though I know I will be fine and back on track soon. I guess this is the ups and downs that come with training for something your body is not used to!

That's the update for now. I promise the next blog will have a more positive spin to it!! Thanks for "listening"! :)

WHY???

Sometimes when I am rulking I wonder WHY am I doing this...then I remember MANY things...SMOB dress, gut, butt, thighs, the challenge to do something REALLY out of my COMFORT zone, and then I realize that I'm VERY lucky that I CAN do this. We have been given these bodies to care for, whether we are fit, unfit, tall, short, skinny, overweight. Just setting small goals to get started is what you need to do. Obtainable goals. That's how my runs have been. I may not run a mile straight, but I can run 2-3 minutes straight now, and I can make it to a visual goal when I choose too. These are obtainable goals for me right now and each week I try to give myself a little more challenge (with the help of my co-horts!). So try something simple and pat yourself on the back and give yourself a WOO-HOO when you do it!!

So, this weeks update. Tuesday I worked until 7:30 and was pretty sure I would do nothing when I got home as I was tired and had to pick up dinner on the way home. We STILL do not have a fridge, etc. due to lightening strike...living out of a cooler. FUN! Anyhow - I decided when I was driving up my street (thinking about the photo's of my gut I have) that I was going to do this. Pulled in the drive, made my daughter take the food in (if I had set it out, I would not have gone) and told my family I was going for my run...it was HARD...I was tired and I had the "wrong" mindset about not wanting to do it. I believe that you can really affect ANY workout by your mindset! I'm going to have to work HARD at that with this running stuff! LOL!

As for my rulk today....I asked my crazy running friend Julie for a 5 mile route by my house...she in turn asked her crazy son Donnie....so I kind of ran the route they gave me. I did an out and back with part of the route as I decided not to run on the Seymour Lake Road curves...so I will have to drive the route to get the exact mileage. Of course, I FORGOT that I would have to run UP the hill I came down on the way out. So I am VERY thankful for the crazy Richmond Runners, in a sick sadistic sort of way! LOL! Actually, I AM lucky to have access to them for help! It's like having my own personal running advisors!

Now I have to get better focused on my core circuit. I've been slacking on that. Once I get rid of the layers of fat on my lower body, then the core muscles will show if I can keep at it!

Okay...time to wake up...now that I've bored you to tears! But, this is great therapy for me! LOL! Enjoy your weekend! I have Friday as my work out day off! Yippee! LOL! Back at it saturday morning and Sunday afternoon though!

Send me your thoughts, comments, questions! (Is ANYBODY reading this??? LOL!)

Off and running.....

Motivation

4 miles rulked Sunday with my friend"Ja-nay-nay". She LIKES to run! So we ran until I wanted to walk, then walked until I wanted to run. Feeling a little more sore today, but I didn't stretch anywhere close to what I have been after my rulks. (We had company and I just didn't think doing yoga in the living room while they were watching the Tiger game was the right thing to do!! LOL!)

This week is run 2 minutes, walk one. That doesn't sound bad at all so we'll see.

Anyhow, my friend was my motivation this time. I was hoping she would forget that we were going to run together, but as luck would have it - she wouldn't let me slack! This is a good thing - so find those friends that will give you the extra push you need at times. As always, I was VERY happy I did it. Getting started (or getting to your exercise class) seems to be the hardest part most of the time. I've been testing that theory for the last year with my schedule change! It seems you can always find something that you think "NEEDS" to be done or even just that afghan and couch calling your name! Just remember how important it is to take care of yourself so you can be of service to others and set a good example! You don't need to run a half marathon to do that either!!! Just get out for a walk around the block!!! I am just now getting back into a routine I embarrassingly must admit! WHAT was I THINKING? LOL!

So I hope something motivates you! A good friend (Thanks Ja-nay-nay!) an inspirational instructor, or maybe just good old fashioned faith to take care of the "temple" God gave us!!

That's all for now....and remember "Never Stop Starting" when you fall off the exercise wagon!

Hugs until next time.....

Hills, Ya' Gotta' Love 'Em (NOT!!)

So my "trainer" and motivator Julie decided we should do some hill work today. Let's just say "Heartbreak Hill" by OHS should be re-named "I hate you Julie" hill!! Although I have to say she even hated herself on about the third time around. Funny thing though...once again I ended up liking it in a sick sort of way!! It was great workout and when I got home I was pretty fired up that I accomplished a ONE HOUR AND ONE MINUTE continuous workout, running 90 seconds and walking 60 seconds throughout (longer run at the end)...and WITH HILLS!!! OH YEAH!! So today I do not feel like the slug I've felt I've been. Even with over 25 years experience in fitness, I actually had forgotten how good it feels to accomplish things you never thought you could accomplish...that's what I get for "stepping (rulking) outside the box" for myself!! So if you're thinking about doing something you think you can't do or don't want to, give it a whirl! Who knows what might happen!! Thanks for the extra push Julie! This would not be happening without you! You NEVER gave up on me, even after I gave you my first three weeks of trying out this running thing a few years ago!! (She promised she wouldn't bug me anymore about running after that time, but she lied! LOL!)

That's all for now, so far so good, onward and upward, and I'll be back with an update soon!

WOO-HOO for WEEK 3!

I did it! 4 mile rulk today! I also am doing some of what I call my EXTREME abs for the SMOB workout! Oh yeah...you know it's working when you sneeze or laugh and you can FEEL IT!! LOL! So today I did a 90 second run, 60 second walk. It was supposed to be 90/90, but I just didn't feel like doing it that way. Not really, it's because my feeble mind can calculate it better at 90/60 than 90/90. So I'm thinking I actually worked a little harder! Don't tell Julie, but I might be starting to like this.....OMG, did I ACTUALLY write that? VERY interesting...and, big news, GUESS WHAT? No shin pain AT ALL today! OH YEAH! OH YEAH! YOU GO GIRL! YOU GO GIRL! (You have to be doing the "stir it up" dance when you read that!) Can you tell my endorphins are still kicked in?? Now we all know when I get some REAL distance in I might have to take back that I might be liking this..we'll just have to wait and see...

That's my news for this week so far. Got a workout coming up Saturday and Sunday too!!! I'm hoping some of my other "peeps" will join us!! Call or e-mail me if you want details!

THANKS for "listening"! Stay tuned for more!

Life Gets in the Way

So I missed my first group training. I spent all day with the seniors at the Tigers game and by the time I got home there was no way I could get there. :( I am disappointed, but I also realize that this will happen. Then I looked at my schedule for this month and the next two Thursdays I will miss also! So I have decided to MAKE SURE I do the same training I am missing on either Saturday or Sunday.

When a committment is made for a workout and life gets in the way, just do the best you can. I have a saying that I really like "Never Stop Starting"! So when you "fall off the wagon" just jump back on and do the best you can. Now I must heed my own words and not wallow in my disappointment...

Stay tuned for more......

So Far So Good

Had my first official meeting with the Crim training on Thursday and as I thought I am in the "slowest" group, which is exactly where I should be (and wanted to!) I was one of the very few that had never run any kind of 5K, Crim, 10K, Half Marathon....I've barely run to the mailbox at the end of the driveway! LOL!



The training program they have us on is a "no injury" program where even at the marathon you are advised to do the run/walk program. Our group leader said when she did the Crim they did the whole thing 30/30 (run 30 seconds, walk 30 seconds) and by the time they got to the second half and end, there were runners that could not keep up with them when they would do the run portion. Also, Jeff Galloway, the creator of this training program, said runners could take up to 7 minutes off their time. It's a VERY interesting concept. I don't think many avid runners would like it, but I think it is a great way to get people to try something they never normally would, like for instance ME RUNNING A HALF MARATHON! LOL! So that night went well and I have a great book to read on training now too!

This morning I just got done with an easy "RULK" since I was only supposed to do 20 minutes according to the schedule I got. I'm sure I did more, but I don't have my "watch/monitor" yet. Hopefully today I will get it. Enjoyed my rulk with my neighbors dogs who I found at the park. It was funny - they recognized me and just decided to run with me. So I took them home when I was done and chatted with my friend. They were tired little poochies! LOL! I also did mypush ups, bicycles, etc. In fact, I took a look at my "before" photo's of my gut, etc. and did an extra set of abs....LOL! So I'll be gazing upon that scary photo throughout this challenge!! LOL!

Last thoughts....this has been humbling. I feel like I'm in pretty good shape for being just over a year away from 50, but changing to this type of workout has made me realize that this is EXACTLY what I needed to do. I crosstrain my body in EVERY way but RUNNING!!! So now I am humbled by the fact that it is HARD for me. That is a GOOD thing! :)

I am excited about this training program......and I'm thinking it just might be the next thing I might be recruiting for.....at least that's how I feel today!! LOL! We'll see after my first big rulk this Thursday. We are going to attempt 3 miles, running 1 minute/walking 1 minute. Depends on our group....so until then I'll be doing my own stuff!

Enjoy your day....I'll be back later this week!



I

"Dedication and Sticking With it!

Okay so I hope that I can keep this up. I actually did my speed workout on Tuesday IN THE RAIN! I even surprised myself! (Did you know you can sweat in the rain? LOL!) So today is the big meeting day for the marathon. Jeff Galloway, former olympic runner will be giving a short motivational speech and then we will be "running" in a group so that they can see what level we are at to set us up with a training group. So I feel like a kid going to school on exam day...LOL!

I'm sure it will be fine......yes, I'm sure it will....hopefully!

I will be preparing myself psychologically all day with my "other Julie" friend shopping for a SMOB (Step Mother Of the Bride) dress for my stepdaughters wedding. (Oh yeah, that's my OTHER reason for doing this CRAZY thing!) So I should be ready to go tonight. No wine at lunch today I guess! :)

That's all for now! Any new runners out there that would like to share with me?
Have an inspirational day! Until next time..........

I SURVIVED!!

Well, I did it! I survived my first training. I am feeling a little fatigue now, but I also feel energized if that makes any sense!! LOL! We did speed training today. Sports conditioning warm up, run/walk, stretch, and finished with push ups, bicycles, and tricep dips! OH YEAH! Julie is working me hard, but not so I hard that I feel discouraged. I have to do this workout two more times this week, along with some other crosstraining! I'm getting some more great ideas for my summer hiking class. (NO whining you know who you are! LOL!)

It feels AWESOME to be back at it! Let's see how I feel this time tomorrow! Hee! Hee!

Onward & Upward toward my goal!