ok, do over. DO OVER!!

My run never came to fruition. Something always seems to get in the way. This time it was bad weather. There was not only awful rain, but really bad wind. Gusts up to 70MPH!!

Hm, since I am always open to the Universes prodding, I will hold off and try again. If it's not the right time, or the right activity, thats just the way it's going to be. I do want a do over though!!

I have taken to running to the gym, to "warm up". It's only about 3/4 of a mile, but is nice. Then I do weights, and a little extra cardio at the gym- and it's pretty nice. When the weather allows. I plan on making a habit of this.

There will be other races, and other activities- I'm still hoping to be a runner. One of these days. Slow and steady right?

Outdoors training

Yesterday the weather was positively divine! In the 50's, sunny and not a cloud in the sky! A welcome repreive from the snow and gloom these past few weeks of winter has dished out.

My training went well. I mapped out 2 miles to run in my neighborhood and did so in about 35 min. It was wonderful. And my body hurts less from it than the training I do at the gym. I am going to most likely repeat the same lap but add a half mile becase it's always good. The reason why I only did two miles yesterday (when the last training I did I had done 3.5) is because I wasn't sure how training outdoors was going to affect me. Thank goodness it went well.
I think that having a change of scenery while you run helps too. I mean, on a treadmill mile 2 is just tedious. While yesterday it was a piece of cake! I'm looking forward to this race on Saturday. It's a milestone (no pun intended) for me and I'm really excited.

Anyone have tips for me that I can add to my training?

 

This picture just makes me excited about the upcoming new flowers and signs of spring that are going to start happening in the next few weeks. That will make my runs more pleasant and my walks very productive. Spring and summer are my most productive photo taking times. 

Day 7

Well I have not been training on schedule as I wish that I could have been.
Life happens.

But I have been doing stretches, lunges and toning exercises which did payoff yesterday when I did manage to get some time on the treadmill.

Yesterday I ran a total of 3 miles, with walking (cool down period) included a total of 4.36. I did this in 45 minutes. The next few days I man on moving that up to 4 miles in 45 minutes. That way I can do a 5 mile race in about a little more than an hour. My official goal.

I'm really proud of myself and can feel my body changing a bit. My legs and core feel really strong, and my balance and focus are improving.

Hopefully I can stick with running and make myself a monthly race runner. Starting off slow with a 5 mile race seems to be the best bet. And the next few races I'd like to keep them at 5 miles and then after 3 or 4 move to 6-8. And then so on. Eventually I'll be in a place to do a half or full marathon...triathalons, and IRON MAN! Thats a few years down the road for me,  but I can't wait to get there.

Once I thought running a mile was impossible. But that was before I knew that NOTHING is impossible.


Things that I would like  to discuss  and get feedback on :

What do you wear when running a race?

Any and all suggestions will be helpful. Feel free to email me!

Love and light to you all!

MY LEGS!

Today I took a day off of training in favor of stretching and not killing my knees (though tomorrow it's ON!).

Something that I was thinking about was the music that I listen to that keeps me going.

Warm up music:

Estelle- American Boy
Mika-Golden
Madonna- Don't Tell Me
U2- Angel of Harlem
Nina Simone- Aint got No

Jogging music:

Beyonce- Diva
Weezer-Trouble Maker
Skee-lo- I wish
Fratellis- Chelsea Dagger

Running music:

Lady GaGa: Telephone/Monster/Bad Romance
Rob Zombie: Dragula/Living Dead Girl
Beyonce: Single Ladies
House of Pain: Jump Around
Justin Timberlake: Take Out
Darude: Sandstorm


Does anyone have suggestions for music that will help me "go the distance"? I need some more music to add to my ipod...Thanks in advance!

My first race: Days 1, 2, and 3 of training

Hi there!

This is my first entry for my training blog. Here is some info to start with.

This is not:
...a race for me to lose weight.
...about my trying to kill off my inner fat girl (the one who craves 3 slices of pizza with pepperoni, a large soda and cake if I'm hungry for more than 4 minutes).
...is not about me being faster than anyone.

This is about how I get from here to there. There of course being a real runner, who runs races. And maybe down the road one day, wins one.

I started out as a chubby kid who ate partially out of boredom, and partially out of a solid LOVE for delicious, interesting, flavorful things to eat. And I was lazy. The thought of sweating made me ill- let alone making myself sweat on purpose~! Exercise was so much effort. I had so much more fun lolling about on a couch watching tv, or playing video games. Besides- I'm an artist, why do I need to workout?

MANY reasons. Firstly my genetics predispose me to many unappealing illnesses like: Diabetes, high blood pressure, and being over-weight (which comes first the fat or the diabetes/chicken or the egg? Ah, all of these esoteric questions....). Now who the hell wants to be sick and fat? Not I! And looking at my father be heavy and take all of these medications- and looking at my extremely healthy (but diabetic) grandfather...I foresee some challenges. But thats another thing that I like;Challenges. I'm stubborn and have an innate drive to make myself the best version of me possible. Also, when I see people who were heavy lose weight- it just pushes me more.

So fast forward past adolecence, and into adulthood....and past my wedding even. About a month after my wedding I saw Sara Rue. She had lost a ton of weight! (which she has now gained back and is currently shilling faux food and false hope on behalf of Jenny Craig). Well, being as she was so heavy, and I was so heavy (pushing the scale at 188...only 10 lbs less than when Matt had proposed), I thought if she did it, I can do it. And so I did. I started eating better (tons of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains) and avoided processed foods if at all possible. It was great. And I began working out for an hour and a half, two hours every day.(I never ran or did the treadmill...however I did enjoy the elliptical, spin classes, yoga, and step....) Slowly but surely I got down to a normal weight. Not my goal weight, which at this point is just a number because the way that I feel will always trump that...But I digress.

Fast forward to now. I've managed to keep off my weight because I CHANGED MY LIFESTYLE, and continue to stay active. Not everyday for two hours active, but I still move.

And here I am now, at the precipice of another change. Do I want to commit to being a runner? I hear that the runners high is amazing. I'm willing to commit to 6 months of running, and races. March 13th is my first race. An 8k (five mile) run through central park. It's not going to be the longest race I run, nor will it be my last.

Training, day 1.

Warmed up for 5 minutes...3.2 mph and a slight incline (2.5)
Ran for 1 mile. (5.5 mph) and did it in 11 minutes.
(total miles 1.55)

Training, day 2.

Same warm up.
Ran 1 mile, 11 min 35 seconds.
(total miles 2.34)

Training, day 3
warm up, walked no incline for 5 min.
Ran 2 miles, first mile 10 min 43 sec and the second mile was 11 min and 24 seconds.
(total miles 3.15)

Tomorrow I will repeat todays training but will add a half mile to each run ever two days. (so tomorrow I'll be running 2.5 miles, and will move that up to 3 miles on Monday...and then on Wednesday it'll be 3.5)

Eventually by March 10th I'll have run 5 miles in my training. And the 11tht and 12th will be days where I do yoga and meditate for my race.

While this might be making a mountain out of a mole hill- for me it's important and I hope that I can inspire you, or you are able to share your own stories and advice/insight.

Thank you!