Hit the Road Runnin'

Recommittment

2010-02-28T21:42:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am recommitting myself to the cause. Not that I have really uncommitted myself, but I feel like I've been slowly losing my intensity over the last couple of weeks. The 5K is coming up in just over 2 weeks so it's time to step it up. I was a little discouraged last week when I ran on the street and it was a lot harder than the treadmill. I knew there was a difference and that it was going to be harder, but I was surprised by how much more difficult it was. So starting tomorrow morning we're going to dust our self off and really "hit the road runnin'." Ready...GO!

It's Been a While

2010-02-10T20:35:00.000-08:00

Wow. It's been a while since I've given the blog any attention. The last few weeks have been hectic with work and visitors. But don't let that fool ya. I've been keeping up the running the whole time. There's been a few off days, but given the chaos of the last few weeks I've done pretty well. I'm proud of myself.

I had a revelation the other day. I think the reason I am having success with exercising and losing weight this time around is because I am keeping the 2 issues, and the goals I have for both, separate in my head. Yesterday was a good example. I was CRAVING In N Out Burger at lunch. So I decided to bite the bullet and indulge. So that pretty much blew the eating for the day since that one meal had 11oo calories. Yes, I looked it up. In the past I wouldn't have continued with my workout that night because in my mind I would have already "blown" it for the day. But since I have a separate goal for my running, compete in a 1/2 marathon in December, I came home and immediately went to the gym. Now, I know in my head that of course these 2 paths are working towards the same goal, but it helps to keep them separate. It makes things seem less overwhelming, and you don't ruin it for both when one part goes bad for a day. So far it's working so I'm stickin to it!

The date for the 5K is fast approaching and I am starting to feel unprepared. I am going to be running with a couple friends, both of who are ahead of me in training. I know I won't be able to keep up with them, but my competitive side doesn't want to be the slow poke. I just keep reminding myself that it's not a competition and even if I come in dead last I still did it.

The intensity of training this week has really stepped up and my legs were pretty dead today, but I managed to make it through. Tomorrow is another intense day so I'm hoping by Friday I can still walk. :) If I can't at least it's the weekend and I can relax and rest a little.

Halfway done with week 7 and still movin!

Accomplishment

2010-01-19T21:41:00.001-08:00

Today was one of those days that started out with the potential to be another day that slipped by with no exercise and no progress. I meant to get up this morning and go to the gym, but it was rainy and icky outside and I used that as an excuse not to go out. This was compounded by the fact that I didn't do my workout yesterday either. Although I did get to see an amazing victory by my Wildcat basketball team which almost made me feel not as bad. ALMOST! So this afternoon at work I decided that no matter what, rain or shine, I was going to get my workout in tonight. AND I would also do my workout from yesterday that I didn't do. So I came home from work, changed my clothes, put some shrimp in the fridge to marinate for dinner, and headed out into the rain to the gym. Total workout time was 48 minutes with a distance of three miles. Almost 2 miles in I realized that I was going to do a 5k during this workout. A 5k sounds so much scarier than 3 miles. It was a revelation of sorts, that these goals I have set for myself are not that scary. They are attainable. Now, I'm not saying when I think if running a half marathon I kind of have a heart attack, but that is a long term goal and I don't have to do that tomorrow. The immediate goal, of running a 5k in March is definitely attainable, and I feel confident about that now.

A New Week Is Upon Us

2010-01-17T21:29:00.000-08:00

Well..a new week is upon me, anyway. Sunday nights always seem like a fresh start. It's a new week. New possibilities. And another week to stay on track and get closer to my goals. I've purposely kept the focus of this blog away from weight loss because for me that is a personal thing that I am not comfortable putting on the internet. But of course there is an aspect to working out that is helping my weight loss goals as well, which really keeps me motivated to keep up the running.

This week's workouts are longer and the time walking between the running portions is getting smaller. I feel comfortable with short bursts of running, it's the endurance to do distance running that I still am not good at. I know it's early, but I'm impatient and I feel like I should be able to run a marathon by now. Well..not really. But you know, what i mean.

So this week my goals are consistency (that means you Wednesday morning) patience and healthy eating.

I think I'm ready.

Wednesday...Not My Day

2010-01-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday...why do I hate you so? For the past 2 weeks Wednesday has rolled around and I just cannot bring myself to workout. Morning or evening. I don't know what it is about this day. There's nothing special about it...nothing extraordinarily exciting happens...but for some reason my motivation is nil. Thursday rolls around and I'm good to go again. I know it's all mental, and it is my goal for next week to not let a case of the Wednesdays stop me from doing what I need to do. But this week, it got the best of me.

Tomorrow is a new day!

Drama...Of the Runnin' Kind

2010-01-07T21:55:00.000-08:00

Today's Workout: Walk 5 minutes, Run 3 minutes, repeat 2X, Walk 5 minutes

Today was the day. The day I felt tired, and grumpy, and sore and soooooo not in the mood to get up and go out in the cold to RUN. RUN! Ugh! Okay, that was a little dramatic, but my point is that I didn't want to do it. But I did. And that is the good part of this story. I did it, and I didn't die and it wasn't really even that bad. I've never been a big morning person, but there is definitely something to be said for getting up and getting your exercise out of the way. It's done and you don't have to worry about it anymore. It's been a good thing the last few days because it's been a crazy week at work. Usually when craziness at work hits, any exercise/diet plan I have goes out the window. So I'm proud of myself that this week that hasn't happened. (Okay, I have to confess, did I mention that on Wednesday I didn't get up and do my morning routine...? Yea, I slacked. One day! But I got back on track)

My friend Andrea and I have decided to run a 5K in march. I just want to see what the whole race thing is all about. I will be a couple weeks into the 5K program, so I don't know how good I'll do, but it will be a fun experience and I think it's a good idea to get my feet wet with an organized race. There is a 10K at the end of the summer that I have on the calender too. Small intermediate goals will help me stay motivated until the big race in December.

Another week is more than half done and I'm still goin' strong. (Minus Wednesday, but that was a small hiccup :) )

Getting Cold Feet...I Mean Fingers

2010-01-05T21:20:00.001-08:00

Monday Workout: Walk 15 minutes, Run 1 minute, Walk 5 minutes
Tuesday Workout: Walk 5 minutes, Run 3 minutes, Repeat 1X, Walk 5 minutes

For people who think it doesn't get cold in Las Vegas, let me tell ya, IT DOES!!! For the past two mornings I've gotten up at 6:00 am from under my warm covers to go for my run/walk and about halfway through I realize I can't feel my fingers. Luckily you don't really need your fingers to run, but I will be glad when it starts to warm up a little. (Any of my KC friends that might be reading this, I know it's nowhere near as cold as it there. As you all have so kindly told me OVER and OVER and OVER again, but I'm warm blooded now from my 5+ years in Las Vegas and 35 degrees is COLD! lol)

So far week two is off to a good start. Today is the longest stretch of running I've done so far and surprisingly it wasn't too bad. So far I've been running around my condo complex and one loop is almost exactly 1 mile. Today was my longest distance so far, 1.59 miles ( A long way from that half marathon. Good thing I have a few more months...) and I felt really good when I was done. It is so true that exercising gives you so much more energy. I've barely even started and I feel so much better for the day after I've gotten my morning exercise in. That feeling is something I'm going to keep reminding myself of when I want to turn the alarm clock off and go back to bed.

Tomorrow is going to be an early morning. A lot to do at work and I need to be there by 7:30. Which means that alarm clock is going to go off half an hour earlier than usual. Off to bed for me!

Finish the First Week...CHECK!

2010-01-03T17:36:00.000-08:00

Well I can check one week off the start of this many many many week challenge. I know completing the first week is a small step, but the fact that I did it and stuck with it, even considering the holiday and extra days off work, makes me feel really proud. Typically anything that is out of my normal routine at all just creates a good reason for an excuse. So YAY to week one being done. Week 2 is a little harder, which is the point I realize, and I'm a little nervous that it's going to be discouraging. I just have to remind myself that I don't have to be able to run a marathon tomorrow. Baby steps, and even though it is ridiculous that I am so out of shape, it is what it is and I'm taking the right steps to change the situation. You can't ask an more than that.

One thing I'm struggling with is the pain in the bottom of m feet. A year or so ago when I was working out with a personal trainer he said I had plantar faciatis (sp?) I've been stretching before and after every run, but at about the midway point my feet are hurting so bad its affecting my run and at times I even have to stop and re stretch. I'm hoping that as I continue and get stronger this will go away. It's one thing to do a fifteen minute run with pain in your feet, but it's quite another to run mile after mile like that. It won't work. I'm not exactly sure what I'll do if the pain doesn't go away but hopefully we won't have to cross that bridge.

Week 2 starts tomorrow with an 18 minute run/walk. I'm ready to go!

Halfway through...the first week.

2009-12-30T13:54:00.000-08:00

Monday: Walk 15 minutes
Tuesday: Walk 5 minutes, run 1 minute (repeat 1x) Walk 5 minutes
Wednesday: Walk 15 minutes

So far so good. That's how I feel like the week is going so far. I've gotten up every morning to do my scheduled workout, and after I convince myself to get out from under my warm covers, I'm good to go. It's that warm covers part that makes it hard. So far the workouts, as I've listed above, aren't that strenuous. I think it's good to start off slow and build up. I think in the past, where things have gone wrong, is that I start out too fast and expect too much and get mad at myself and burned out before I make any progress. And unfortunately I am out of shape and running for even one minute is harder than it should be.

I have purchased a couple of Biggest Loser workout DVDs that I've heard are really good. I'm going to add to my run in the mornings with a DVD in the evening a few times a week. I have Power Yoga, 30 day Jump Start, and another one...that I can't remember the title of. lol I know I need to do some strength training along with my cardio so I'm hoping that these DVDs will help with that. Eventaully I would like to start going back to the gym and using the equipment there, but in keeping with the babys steps theme, I'm going to start with DVDs and work up. There's something about actually going to the gym, that for me, is a total mental block. I feel like that is where I have failed every other time I have tried an exercise program. I just want to see what other options are out there that allow you to get in a good workout with strength training where you don't have to go spend an hour in a gym.

For the first time ever I feel like this is a goal I can actually accomplish. It's something I want to accomplish. I want to turn 30 financially and physically fit. I know it's still early, and I still have my beginners enthusiasm, but I really think I can do this. I know I NEED to do it.

3 more days to go until week 1 is complete, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm excited for tomorrow morning.

The night before...

2009-12-27T22:37:00.001-08:00

It's the night before the beginning of my one year challenge to run a half marathon in December of 2010. It seems like a long ways away...surely I can do this. Right? I have NEVER stuck to a plan for a year so WHEN I do this a lot more will be accomplished than just the running. I think it's time I prove to myself that I CAN do something when I am determined to do it.

The Nike agenda for tomorrow calls for a .62 mile walk in 15 minutes. Even for me that's not that hard so I'll probably do a full mile. I know I can do more than that, but I want to start slow and not get overwhelmed and burned out.

My alarm is set (5:40 am) and my Ipod is charged. Lunch and breakfast are ready to go too.

I think the biggest challenge of the morning will be getting out of bed. Once that's accomplished I know I'll be ready to go.

Weather Delay

2009-12-23T19:01:00.001-08:00

Okay...well...some not so wonderful KC weather has kept me from giving those new shoes a try, and after looking at the weather channel I might have to wait til I'm back in sunny Las Vegas to get rolling. But I'm ready as soon as the weather will cooperate. I have some Christmas candy that needs to get ran off!

Gotta Start Somewhere

2009-12-20T19:53:00.000-08:00

Well. Here we go. A new adventure. I figured I would try out the blog world in order to document this new goal I've set for myself.

This weekend a very good friend of mine, Kylar, issued what I'm calling a "Throwdown". That together we will train in 2010 to run the Dallas half marathon in December. Now I know that most of my friends that might be reading this are thinking, "Erica? Run?" I am definitely not what you would call a naturally athletic person and running is not something I have EVER claimed to love. BUT I need to make a change for the better in my life and I know that being active and running is a great way to start. Plus I love a challenge.

To start off this adventure Kylar gave me the Nike+ system for your Ipod. You put the chip in the bottom of your running shoe and plug the connector into your Ipod. As you walk/run, the chip feeds data to your Ipod and tells you distance, speed, time, etc. When you're done with your run you can plug your Ipod into your computer and it syncs to the Nike+ website where you can track your progress and all your runs. This is so COOL!!!!

So for the first 12 weeks I will be working on a Walk to Run program offered on the Nike+website. Kylar and I are starting together on the 28th, and even though I'm sure my enthusiasm is going to have its weak moments, I'm really excited. I need to commit myself to getting healthy and I think this will be a great way to start.

I'm going to keep track of my progress here. Hopefully there are more ups than downs. I'm excited to get started, and might even give those new running shoes I bought today a warm up tomorrow morning.