I'm still at it!

Since several people have asked, here's a recap of my most recent run. I finally officially started the C25K program on Tuesday. Of course I chose the most humid day in the pat two weeks to do it.

I figured I'd feel a little dumb just running up and down our street so I decided to tackle the next street over too. It was an excellent and awful idea. Excellent due to the change of scenery, and it was also actually just the right length. I'd like to say I planned it that way but that would be a lie. Awful because the street over is a hill, a bumpy hill at that. And not one that you can run up at the beginning when you still have energy and run back down once you're tired. No, this one you go down initially then, once you're already winded, you fight back up not just a steady incline but these the or four humps that are easily double the slope of the overall hill. Not a beginning runner's best friend! Fortunately the plan I'm using had built in intervals...


The approach of the C25K plan is to start you out doing more walking than running; after a five minute warmup you do 60 seconds of running then 90 seconds of a walking and then repeat. I didn't quite finish a whole running cycle without having to stop and walk but I only skipped two altogether and both were on the way back up that massive hill.

I'm just pleased to say that I didn't have to stop and gasp for breath although there were times when I wanted to!

Not sure how to sum up other than to say it was once again not horrible and it was not quite as interminable as I had expected. Thanks to everyone who is keeping me honest and holding me accountable. I'll write again soon.

Day 3?

So, you may have noticed that I didn’t, in fact, blog yesterday. OK, at least pretend you noticed. Home with TWO semi-sick kids all day left no time for running or even for writing about not running. And I promise that some day I will get to the explanation of why I’m even on this journey at all, but today is not that day.

Today, however, was a running day! Both kids were fully recovered from their various illnesses, and both (yes, the 8 year old, and the ALMOST-five-year-old) joined me on my jog/walk down the road and back. This was both encouraging… and depressing.

Encouraging for the obvious reasons; my girls were supporting me, we were all out there “doing fitness” together! And actually having FUN doing it! The younger one even held off whining until the very last leg (pun intended), and bounced along right beside me for most of it. The older one (almost nine, though I am SO not ready for that) was completely ready to do another circuit.

Discouraging, because well, they beat me. There, I said it! I ain’t proud of it, but there it is. Much greater is the motivation to continue now! Despite the sore shins (not splints, just muscles still slightly annoyed at actually being used); tingly, tired feet; and (gasp!) SWEAT, I had a pretty good time. I was still able to breathe by the time I was done today (yes, I actually remembered to medicate ahead… hide your shock), and I did not once feel the desire to collapse to the pavement. Of course that last could be due to letting the one with the 14-inch legs set the pace.

So once again I am measuring success by the fact that I got out there, and did SOMETHING more than if I’d stayed inside. Maybe eventually I’ll move onto a stopwatch, but for now I’m basking in my “binary success measurement system.” Now if I can just manage to put down the pita chips…

Diving In!

I ran today.

Yes, on purpose.

No, no one was chasing me.

I’ll fill you in on the “why” tomorrow. It’s late now, so let me jump straight to the “how.”

I’d been taking care of a semi-sick preschooler most of the day (you know, that stage between actually sick, and jumping on the couch?). She'd finally settled on a movie to watch that held her attention pretty well.

The 3^rd grader got home from school and started on her homework, I had supper planned out, and everyone seemed to be holding their own (and no one else’s). So I figured it was now or never. I grabbed my brand-spanking-new running shoes and my also-brand-spanking-new running shorts, and proceeded to attire myself. I snatched up my mp3 player, picked some appropriately loud and fast music (Audio Adrenaline, anyone?), stretched, and bounded out the door!

I took a few quick, long walking strides out to the street, then broke into a loping run (ok, in my mind, I was The Flash, but I’m attempting to be realistic here). Being the analytical person I am, I began to think...

• First thoughts: this isn't so bad; it feels good, and I think I like it; yes, I think I could do this every day!
• Second thoughts: who stole my second lung? maybe I should add a walking interval now; I wonder how long I’d have to lay here before the kids came looking for me and dragged me bodily back to the house.
• Third thoughts: Nah, it’s gonna [insert euphemism for “be really annoying/horrible"] but I can make it.

So I alternated jogging and walking the “whole way” down to our cul-de-sac and back. I don’t know the distance but it’s NOT far. It took maybe ten minutes. But that’s ten minutes more than I ran yesterday! Or, well, probably since those physical fitness tests in high school. It took me another ten minutes to breathe properly again. Note to self: take the inhaler BEFORE the run next time!