Back On The Wagon

I'm back on the running wagon. Took a 2 month hiatus which I feel badly about. But we're back on. Still hoping to run that 5K in October but I'm truly terrified I'll fail. That is why this is so important for me. My whole life I've avoided situations where I wasn't confident I would succeed. I didn't major in music on college. I didn't run track in High School. I didn't take advanced math in high school. I didn't play volleyball in high school. I look back and see many things I avoided due to lack of confidence and fear of failure. At the age of 34, I'm using this 5K training to TRY and prove to myself I can do "it". Anything. Its very difficult. The running isn't so horribly difficult. That gets better every day. Literally. But the mental training is much more difficult than the physical.

This probably sounds silly to others. That's okay. I'm trying to overcome worrying about what others think, too. So today my time and distance was 1.71 miles in 28 minutes. Week 3 Day 5 is Done!!!

Week 3, Day 2

Run is DONE!! 1.81 in 30 minutes. Not setting any records today but the deed is done. I wonder why some days it feels good and other days its so hard.

Whew!

Today was a good run! I know I said I wasn't going to obsess about time but I felt like pushing myself today. (I know. For some of you veteran runners this is nothing to blog about!) BUT I did 1.9 miles in 30 minutes today. My previous best was 1.82. I'm REALLY ready to do 2 miles in 30 minutes. Today my first mile was completed in 15:48. I would like to be able to do the first mile in 15 since it includes my 5 minute warm up walk which is basically the first quarter mile. Today it was .26 in the first 5 minutes. So I'm doing 3/4 of a mile in about 10 minutes. I'm good with that.

I would love to know how far I ran the very first time I did Couch to 5K. I don't think I quite made it to a mile that very first time. I know this might not be a big deal to some but I'm just so excited that I'm getting healthier! Its exciting to SEE results, especially since I don't own a scale and have no idea if I'm losing any weight or not! And every time I run my children are fighting about who gets to run on the treadmill when mom is done. I'm so encouraged to think that they will grow up thinking exercise is normal and something you just DO. I HOPE when they are grown they are striving to be healthy.

And it starts with Mom.

No one will tell me it can't be done. No one will convince me they CAN'T exercise, barring any legitimate physical hindrances. I have 6 children ages 8 and under. I have a newborn. I have 22 month old twins. My husband isn't home Mon-Fri. It CAN be done and I WILL DO IT! My laundry might be in a pile but I will get healthy!

First 5K in October!!

Week 2, Day 3

Is been hard to find time to run. I was three days between runs this time. I hate that. I try to commit to myself that I won't go two days in a row but we spent 5 hours at the zoo Saturday and then left at 8 AM Sunday and didn't get back home until 9 PM. Yesterday was insanely busy. I think I had two hours between 7 AM and 9 PM that I wasn't doing something for somebody, running here and there and doing this and that. I was zapped by the time I fed Malachi at 9 last night. So I had promised myself I wouldn't go to sleep today until I got my run in. Its in!!!

When I started Couch to 5K last year in June (I think) my goal was to simply complete the program. Then I decided I wanted to actually run in a 5K race. I still want to. But then I started obsessing about time and running faster. Let's face it. I've carried 6 children within my body. I've had thyroid problems. I'm overweight. I'm trying to squeeze in a running program along with running my home without my husband Mon-Fri. I'm probably not going to be a fast runner. I probably need to set my sights back on just finishing. So today I decided to do my run at a comfortable pace, pushing myself a little but allowing myself to enjoy the run for what it is instead of trying to run farther each day than I did the day before.

It was good. And when it was over, I still ran 1.75 miles in 30 minutes. I'm okay with that. This time last year I couldn't run even a half mile. I'm healthier. I'm down 50 pounds from this time 2 years ago. There are a lot of moms that don't exercise at all.

While I still am going to keep track of my progress, I'm going to refocus and cut myself a little slack. I'm going to complete my running program and do my best to run every day. If I miss a day, it isn't the end of the world and I'll try not to miss 2 days in a row. But I'm going to be content with that and let the rest come as it may . . . or not.

October 5K . . . watch out because this momma of 6 just might run with a baby strapped to her back!! LOL

Week 2, Day 2

I didn't run last night. Hate it when I do that but I was zapped. Its so hard to find time to exercise with the twins and Malachi. Harder than I thought it would be. And by the time I do everything I need to do, I'm too tired at night. But I committed to myself a while when I started this last year that if I missed one day I wouldn't beat myself up. But I will not miss a second day in a row. So it was run tonight or else! (Or else what, I do not know . . . .) Tonight was HARD. I ran the shortest distance since I started last week and it was just super hard. So, no more slacking. I'm running every day whether I like it or not!!! And I HAVE to run before 5 and 6 PM. I will run my first 5K this year!

Week 2, Day 1

So today the training programs bumps up a touch and I still did 1.83 miles in 30 minutes. My first mile was done in 16:15. YEAH ME!!!!!!

Scarecrow Scramble in October!

Week 1, Day 6

1.82 miles in 30 minutes!! Felt good! I can see why this might get addictive! And I can't believe what a difference it makes being in a little bit better shape than I was last time!!

I drove to the east side of Indianapolis to meet mom and dad yesterday then I had two music lessons as soon as I walked in the door. Then it was homework, chores, dinner . . . you name it. I finally sat down around 8:30 and I was just ZAPPED so I didn't run yesterday. I didn't beat myself up because Couch to 5K calls for a day off between every run, I just chose not to do that. I'm afraid if I take a day off I won't jump back in. So I was determined to run today since I missed yesterday and I was really dreading it. It felt great. Hoping to break the 2 mile mark tomorrow. That is the goal.

5K in October . . . if not before!

Getting healthy, losing weight and setting a good example for my kiddos!

Week 1, Day 4

1.7 miles in 30 minutes. It felt good today so I'm not sure why I was down .04 miles. But its done and I rather enjoyed it. (Somebody say I didn't just type that!!)

Week 1 Day 3

1.73 miles in 30 minutes!

I'm so happy about that. I remember the very first time I did Week 1, Day 1 and in those 30 minutes, I don't know if I even went a full mile. And tonight when I ran, it felt good. There was a point about 1/3 of the way through where my entire body went warm and the excursion just felt good and it felt good to the end.

On the road to my first 5K!!!

Getting Moving

After being cleared to exercise after the birth of our 6th child, I restarted the Couch to 5 K program and my goal is to run my first 5K in Lisle this year. Its easier this time around after only a 9 month break instead of a 33 year break! Not EASY by any means but better!

Day 1 - 1.6 miles in 30 minutes
Day 2 - 1.64 miles in 30 minutes

While I'm not setting any records, this is way better than before when I couldn't even jog for 60 seconds straight without thinking I was going to die! It took me a long time to build up to a mile of walking/jogging.

So I'll be keeping track of my progress here and before I die, I'll run that full marathon!!