5K Day...Day 30

As you may have read on my facebook status, I finished my first 5k! What a great experience...great friends and family cheering me on in spirit and in person. The day before I was feeling nervous that I wouldn't be able to keep up and would be the last one over that finish line. The morning of the race, I got up early to get ready and felt excited to see how I would hold up. As we got to the race, I felt inspired by all the people around me, stretching, warming up and smiling with friends. A great way to start a day...I walked over to the table with my friends and when they asked if we registered as a runner or walker, I heard myself say, "I am a runner". Wow...I can't believe it was my first step toward actually getting to a place I didn't think I could make it. I proudly pinned on my number and put my tag on my sneaker. I felt on top of the world and filled with anticipation!

Before I knew it, we were heading to the starting line. I was nervous I wouldn't be able to keep up and feel embarrassed.  But I reminded myself it was my first run and I would just have to try my best, even if I walked a little. As we started it out, I felt so amazed to be running with all these fit people..a great start! I kept up with the pack for a little and then I started to fall back as I set my own pace. Before I knew it, I had to take a short walk to catch my breath. Within a minute, I started my jog again. I could see my friends ahead of me, keeping their own pace. I tried to keep up within sight of them. As we passed the first mile mark, I was surprised to see that I had done it in 11 minutes! My fastest mile yet...I kept on the best I could, jogging a few minutes than walking a minute like I did in training. Half way through, I realized that I couldn't really see any more of my friends but tried not to loose faith in myself. I pushed myself as hard as I could. During this leg of the race, the first pack was ahead of me quite a ways and the second pack was behind me. I was in the middle, feeling a little lonely and not even part of the race since not many people were around me. I tried to find a person or two who seemed to pace like me. I started to feel like I may have made a mistake as my lungs were bursting and I was feeling pressure to catch up to my friends, at least in sight.  As I was getting ready to do the last leg, a kind woman who was also running about my pace said that as we rounded the bend, a photographer would be taking pictures so I should get my best "running pose" ready and smile! So as we rounded the corner, I put my big tired smile on and tried to soak in the moment of ending my first race. My face looked like a tomato, I was pretty sweaty but felt like I needed to find my energy to pull it out in the end. No more walking, everyone was watching now. So, I rounded the last stretch. I saw families along the side andspotted my friend's family..I felt energized as I saw them and kept running as I slapped them high five! As I searched the crowd for my clan, I saw my daughter's smiling face cheering me on as she caught my eye! Gavin ran up next to me and said, "GO Mommy! You can do it!" I was about out of steam and could have used a one minute walk but I knew I had to keep going. Next thing I knew, my friends came up and started cheering me on and ran with me my last steps of the run..it felt amazing to have so much support and encouragement around me! Wished I could hold on to the moment a little longer but I needed to spend my energy crossing that finish line! It was a wonderful moment to cross and have reached my goal! I was definately surprised to see that I had crossed in 38 minutes! My best time yet! And I was feeling like I wasn't running well throughout the race. I was so happy because my goal was that I would do the run in 45 minutes. I did it thanks to my supportive friends and family cheering me on and helping me feel like I had accomplished something great, even though I had been the slowest in my group. 

I thought that when I'd crossed that finish line, I would put this running thing behind me and do something else but now I am craving more. I want to do better and run faster and keep doing races. It was so exhilerating and challenging at the same time.
Here's to continuing to reach for better and on to my next goal..running a whole 5k without walking.
Thank God for the strength to keep getting stronger every day!

Training days 26-28...Best runs yet!

In less than a week, I will be officially running into my forties stronger than my thirties...On Sunday, I will attempt to run the best I can in my first running 5K. Since February, I have been training the best I can in my schedule. Gung ho at the beginning, I didn't want to miss a day. I started at 1 min. run, 1 min walk for 30 minutes and made it up to 3 min. run, 2 min. walk before I knew it. Then my schedule became crazier, spring sports started and state testing at work took over. My early morning workouts were replaced with late afternoon workouts every few days and I didn't beat myself up if I missed a day here and there. Surprisingly, I kept improving even though time had got the best of me inbetween training days.

The other day I knew I had to train so I was really pushing myself to get to the gym. Before I got to the gym, I had stayed  late at work for an event until 5, ran to get Jayna and then raced home to make the boys a homemade soup before heading to Kumon. It wasn't easy because I knew I had to get to the gym before the kids room closed at 8. (My husband was working so it was all me!). After a stress attack of getting dinner made, feeding the kids and getting to Kumon, I made it to the gym at 7:25. Not enough time to run that 5K program on the treadmill so I was already annoyed. But I had to just take what I could. When I got on the treadmill, I warmed up for a couple of minutes. Then I started my run, a little faster than usual so I could make up more distance in a shorter time. I also decided to just run and see how far I could get and just feel my body. I started to run the stress and time pressure I felt out. When I looked down, I had been running almost 10 minutes and had almost finished a mile! WHOO! So I pushed myself to finish the mile without stopping. I ran my first leg was over 15 minutes and  I had run my first mile without stopping..never had I don't that before! I continued to run as long as I could but my second mile was definately more like I had been doing..a few minutes run then walk a minute. I left feeling proud that I had done my longest run yet and fit in what I could in the time I had.

Today was my next run around the neighborhood. After a day without rain, (shocking), I took my friend's advice to clock a run with my car and then run in the neighborhood. So after clocking 2 miles ( I only had about a half hour to run again before a lacrosse game), I began wondering if I had made a mistake in thinking I could do this. Two miles looked like a lot to run! Gavin decided to come with me and ride his bike behind me. As I started to run after my warmup, I was running at a faster pace than usual. I kept thinking I would not be able to finish in the time I had and was afraid it would be too hard. But as I ran to different marks, I was so happy that I made it to each mark in less time than I thought. Half way through the run, I was feeling strong and I felt great that only about 15 minutes pass! I felt so good that I could run more than I thought and it was faster than I had expected! I wound up hitting my block and running toward the house and it took me 26 minutes to run the two miles! That was like a 13 minute mile! (Remember when I was running an 18 minute mile!?) I felt glad to see that I could do it...little steps at a time. Only one more day until I put this girl to the test!

Training Day 22 to 25: Getting stronger! It's 5k Month!

It's been a while since I blogged but I have been running! Since the first  time I ran 5 minutes at a time, I am continuing to now run a 5K distance when I can. Whenever I go to the gym, I have tried to run at least 5 min. cycle before taking a break for a minute or two. Doing this cycle has me  running almost an hour to run a 5K. It takes me about 48 minutes running at 4 mph. During one of my runs, I decided to push myself a little faster to see if I could cross the 5k line faster and did it in about 42 minutes. It was hard but I kept on pushing myself. I have found that I am pushing myself to run a little faster and run longer if I listen to my body and not look at the clock.

 On the days I am not making it to the gym, an even better thing has happened...I have gained a running partner, my boy Logan! He is some runner! We ran up and down the block a few times and he didn't even stop running when I walked! He was a great motivator and cheered me up the big hill by my house. It felt great having him encourage me doing something that was challenging for me. He felt so proud also that he could run better than I could but I didn't mind. We found a new way to connect and spend time together! This week, I will be registering for my first 5K as a runner on May 22 so I am going to continue to train myself to do the best I can and try to finish by 45 minutes the longest. That is the goal. With good friends encouraging and inspiring me, I am hoping to do that! Little by little, I am getting there and proud I didn't give up !

Training Day 21: A real Spring BREAK

Shhh..don't tell anyone that I took a week off of training during spring break! Yes..I took a break. With the kids around and visiting family, I lost each day to busy fun and didn't run as I ate my way through the vacation. So, today when I decided that I had to get back on the wagon, I figured it was going to be a hard one. The only running I had been doing had been outside, not timing myself, running a few hills and less than flat areas, but I definately thought that I would have to head back to square one or two.

But, Surprise! I went the gym this morning because I needed to run without having to take care of my daughter. So as she headed to the kids room happily, I nervously approached the treadmills. I really wished I was going to be running outside.  As I climbed on and warmed up for a few minutes, I started my jog. Although I usually run for 3 minutes (which is hard for me) so wasn't I pleasantly surprised when I looked down at the clock and it was 4 minutes already! I felt full of energy so I decided to try and reach the 5 min. mark (which has been my goal for a while). I was psyched and feeling strong when I finished that first set so I only walked a min or two and then tried again! And I did it again! It felt amazing to be able to do this! Felt so strong in that moment! As I continued to run for 5 min. intervals between the min or two walk, I realized that I was almost up to the 3 mile mark when the 45 minutes came around. I was close to finishing my 5K goal setting on the treadmill, so I decided to run two more 5 minute sets. In a little under an hour, I made it to my first 5K distance and ran 5 minutes interals! YEAH! Guess running outside really did make me stronger and those hills helped.

I just want to keep on doing that until my first official 5K in May so now I have found new motivation to keep going....here's to not giving up!

Training Day 20: Taking it outside!

I have been starting to run outside a little more. Being on Long Island for a few days for spring break, I had a quiet, sunny morning to myself. So, I threw on my running shoes and headed down a beautiful, cool country lane. Not knowing how far I would be going, I decided to just run and clock it later. Also, I decided to put away the timer and listen to my body. As I started to run, I made targets for myself to run to. Then I would push myself to make it to that goal (like a fire hydrant or another street sign). Whenever I walked, I would try to just walk to catch my breath and then start jogging again. It felt so good to feel the wind on my face just as I was getting overheated. It was like God was cooling me off and keeping me going. You can't get that in a gym. After running/walking for about 40 minutes, it felt good to cool down. Running outside on a spring morning after a rain storm was so refreshing. Later when I clocked it with my car, it turned out to be about 2.5 miles. Yeah! I will continue to keep on running outside when I can. My ankle seems to prefer it to the treadmill and I can get a moment alone with my thoughts and connect to nature, breathing in some fresh air and filling my body with energy for the day ahead.

Training Day 19: Making progress

Time is my enemy lately. Never seem to have enough of it. This week was parent teacher conferences at night, getting ready for them, sports almost every night-either a game or a practice. Then there is the early morning program I have been teaching. All this has really crimped my sleep/free time schedule. So I have to grap my moment when I can.

One of the boys had baseball practice at the field across the street and my husband was working so I knew no gym today. So I put on my running clothes and shoes, again took the two little kids with their bikes across the way and then headed to the field. With little expectations, I decided to follow them as they rode their bikes and run when I could. After making it up the first hill pushing my daugher on her bike, I started to jog without a clock in my hand. G-man would give me a point to run to and then give me some positive comments (how cute it he). I wound up running so much of the field and the kids actually kept up! We are all growing and making progress! So, I wound up jogging/walking for about 35 minutes and was feeling good. It wasn't a run at the gym where I know I am making progress, but I am getting out there in the real world to run and feel what my body can handle.  My ankle is feeling much better outside also. Maybe that treadmill is not so great for me after all! Back on track next week during spring break when I can recoup my schedule and carve out some more time to run and stay on track.

Training Day 18: Third time is a charm!

That track across the street seems to be laughing at me since I haven't had very successful runs there. I hate that I was letting it get to me so nature gave me a beautiful day to try it again. This time I left the kids home with my husband, hooked up my Ipod and grabbed my phone. I did my stretches and nervously walked over to the field. As I got onto the track, I glanced down at my phone clock and started to jog slowly. As I started to jog, I gave myself little targets to jog to. When I got to the target, I would glance down at my clock to see how much time has passed. I was able to jog the first 3 minutes! YEAH! I continued to jog around following this target, time pattern. When I started to have to jog up a hill, I used a friend's mantra that I could do it.... just go slow. I was up and down hills, keeping to my 3 minutes (sometimes very challenging). My ankle was happy and didn't give me any trouble. When I started to loose my perservance, I would glance at my shadow in front of me and realize I was jogging! Sometimes I would look backwards at how much I covered in 3 min. jog and be amazed at myself. I made sure I had a good song on when I started my 3 min. jogs and kept looking up to the sky and enjoying the gorgeous day! It was amazing to feel the cool breeze when I was getting so hot and checking out the rest of the people at the park definately distracted me. I wound up jogging for 30 minutes and did 3 min jog/2 min walk. Way better than the other 2 times I jogged here. As I thanked God for the strength to do this and for the gorgeous weather! I am feeling inspired again and motivated to keep going...slow but steady!

Training Day 17: Back to the treadmill

I know I should be running more outside now that I can see I need lots of practice! But I needed a little boost of confidence so I went to the gym to go back to the treadmill. I was able to run out the 3 minutes each set a little easier than last time (Determination not to fail?...maybe)  But now I have a new issue, my poor ankle. It seems to have an arch that turns in and is putting lots of pressure on my ankle. As I was jogging yesterday, I felt the pain increasing but was trying to keep going. Any more excuses to quit is not what I need right now! By the end of the run, I realized this may be a reality. Is it worth it to hurt myself? I don't think so but I really wanted to get to that 5K race!  So, as I thought about what to do after the gym, I rested my foot, overanalyzed if it was a stress fracture or simply poor alignment of my ankle and went to bed. The next day, it was like a tiny miracle...my ankle made a miraculous recovery! YEAH! So, I will be off to the gym tomorrow morning before school. Hope to get a good jog in and start to hit that outside trail over the next few days!

Day 16: This boat doesn't float

My maiden voyage to running outside didn't go so well. My boat didn't float. It actually sank pretty badly or at least got filled up with water so it barely moved. So disappointed...

 I had no time to get to the gym today and hadn't been there since Thursday! Busy weekend, sick kid..you know how it goes. After school I considered going to the gym with my streppy son and his siblings in tow but my mother guilt got the best of me and I decided to run around the field  track across the street while my oldest practiced lacrosse and other son was resting in the car. My only problem with this plan was my girl. Couldn't leave her in the car to breath in all the bad germs so I tried to break out the jogging stroller, but it had major flat tires. Next plan, pump up the bike tires so she could ride around while I jogged. Have you ever tried to jog next to a four year old trying to ride a bike with training wheels up and down hills? Not that easy.

After 20 minutes of trying to pump up the tires and lots of frustration, we started to run around the field. (Before I continue, let me tell you that it is up and down hills and a windy path so you do get a good balance of terrain.) We started up the hill with me pushing the bike up with J on it. I considered this my warmup. As I tried to hold my phone for timing and find a good song on my Ipod to get me motivated, I started my jog at the top of the hill when it got flat. I told J to just ride her bike and I would keep on circling back if she was slower than me. After not even two minutes, she was already off her bike, asking for water and said she needed a break. Hmmm...sound like her mother. But I was determined to see if I could run 3 minutes outside. As I turned around to deal with her, I looked at my clock and realized it had  only been 2 minutes. I could barely breath already but wanted to keep going. The perfectionist in me said, "This is not going to work...you should be running for 3 minutes. You can't stop to help her!" But of course the mother in me said, "You have to help her, she is only 4 and can't be expected to ride up hills with ease yet." Forget the fact that I was thinking, this is way harder that the gym. So an angry, disappointed and frustrated mother turned around and said, " This is not going to work. Let's go back to the car and get your stroller." I trudged down the hill to get the stroller, wondering if this was worth it at all. (Anyone remember by day 2 training? That wasn't so successful here either).

 So, next we headed into the stroller. As I started to walk again, I realized this was not a good idea either. Have you ever tried to jog with a Maclaran stroller? Not very fast at all, even for a walk. Great. So, I begrudingly tried to jog and walk. It felt like I was pushing bricks because the wheels moved so slow and I really needed my arms to get me going. Holding onto the stroller was harder than I planned. Forget the fact that when I used the clock to time myself, I could barely make a minute and a half! I wanted to throw in the towel but kept on trying to do what I could. I ran down the hills so the stroller felt lighter and ran slow so I could go a little farther. It was no great workout like at the gym. I felt like a failure and thought about all the reasons I should quit. As I was mumbling to Jayna how ridiculous this was and thinking outloud to her about quitting, she looked up and said, "Mom, Zivec girls don't quit, remember?" Technically, I am a Marchese ...haha) But then I realized this was a perfect moment to teach her what I always tell them. Just because something is hard, doesn't mean  you should quit. You just have to try a little harder and have patience because it may take a little longer to reach your goal. Well, now I couldn't quit and I had to keep it up. Easier said than done but I guess I will have to live what I preach. So, back to the drawing board to come up with a plan  on how to fix the holes in my boat and try and sail again. Maybe I will try less days inbetween my training and walking on the inbetween jogging days to improve my endurance. Also, I need a flatter surface to build me up. Starting on a hill when I can barely run down a flat driveway may have been ambitious. So, till the next time, I will give it a little more time and patience and head to a new location for now. As my friend says, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

Training day 15: Spring into my steps

It is finally spring! YEAH! I am anxious to get myself outside and see how this plane flies! I have spent this past month+ building up my endurance and strength. Along the way, I have given myself some stress relief from having time to myself, deprived myself of sleep but built up my self confidence and reminded myself of the priceless feeling of accomplishing something you feel is challenging for yourself. My last run on Thursday was a hard but good one. I am now pushing myself to jog 3 min at 4mph and 1 min walk. It was definately hard half way through the run, and I thought about making it easier by walking for 2 minutes instead of one. Of course I realized that wouldn't help me get stronger and I knew I would be disappointed that I didn't push myself to do my best even though it was hard. So, I did it with my red tomato face and dripping with sweat. At the end of the 45 mintes, I felt accomplished and a step closer to being able to run my first 5K. I have a first date to aim for..May 22 at Rockland Lake. A nice flat run around the lake with some good friends to join me. Now it's April and I need to really kick it into gear and stay on track...every other day. I think I will keep myself at 3 min. for a few more runs..maybe 3 more until it gets a little easier. Off to my crazy day!

Training Day 14: Squeezing it all in

Spring is here..baseball, lacrosse, along with the usual karate and gymnastics classes. So, even though I am getting to do my runs, they are about a day or two apart from each other and my blogging even further. Time seems to be my enemy! I ran Sunday after church and a too big brunch. This morning was supposed to be my next run but I think I will have to go after school since I am teaching a before school math program for a few weeks. I am crazy to squeeze this all into one day. It would be easy to give up this running project and just go back to walking and classes but what fun would that be? Running in races is fun and exciting and something I can do anywhere!

So after church on Sunday, I left the kids home with my husband and went to the  gym. It was nice to not have time pressure like in the morning and I was feeling full of calories after bruch so I had a lot to burn! Since this was my 14th day, I decided to try and run 3 min/ walk 1 min....and guess what! I did it! I found my 3 min. spurts much easier than last time, but I still think my one minute breaks are too short! I barely catch my breath and its time again to run! I ran/walked for 45 min. but this was my longest running session yet, I ran for about 30 minutes! That was double my original first run so I am gettting there very slowly but making progress! The only bad thing is that I felt something pinch in my left ankle near the end of the run but kind of ran it out. Now, two days later, I definately have a sore ankle. Not sure what to do...this would be an easy out since Austen keeps on reminding me that running is not the best sport on the joints..especially for a knobby knee girl like me. (Thanks Nurse Austen!) but I know that runners deal with body issues like hamstring or knee problems, so I feel part of a group with my own "running" injury! But really, what does that mean? Should I wait a day and run tomorrow or just ignore it and push through? I will see how I feel later and give myself one more day if I feel like I need it. Just don't want to go past 3 days without running because I think it will keep me from progressing and I don't want to go backwards.

Just keep aiming for my first 5K on May 22 at Rockland Lake. That's just my first goal...off to "run" into my day!

Day 13: Getting Easier

Made it to day 13! It definately getting easier! This morning I dragged my butt to the gym at my early 5am time and was not expecting a miracle on the treadmill. I had missed two days since I last ran because of the lovely "spring" snow and a busy schedule so I thought it was going to be tough. Plus I just wasn't into it at first. When I pulled into the parking lot and there were 10 cars, I thought that I was crazy to push myself and should have slept in. But I knew that once I finished, I would be happy I did it. So, off I started running. I did the usual 3 min run at 4 mph with a one minute break in the middle of each jog. I actually found that I was able to run the 3 minutes much easier than I had. I also was able to only break for one minute instead of two minutes for the whole 45 min. run! My endurance is getting better and I feel stronger. Still red faced after but it should get easier if I keep it up. So, I am going to continue one or two more training days until I push to the four minute mark! Imagine?! I can't for me but hope I get there. Little by little, I am making it to my goal. Now if the weather would cooperate, I would love to hit the road outside and try out my skills out there to see how I will do!

Training Day 12: Don't Give Up

Now is when it gets easy to give up..newness of running is over, not losing much weight, wishing I was progressing faster by now, winter has decided to return making it harder to get up in the mornings in the cold (and snow yesterday..really!?) So, it is a conscious effort to remind myself of all the great things that will come out of this when I push myself to fit running into my day. I will feel that amazing sense of having accomplished something hard in my day. Each day I am getting stronger, although it doesn't seem like it sometimes. I am buring calories, exercising my heart, and getting time alone to think and process my day as I run out the stresses I have dealt with. An added motivator to get out the door has been my kids. They actually ask to go to the gym with me! They like the kids room so that is great when I want to sleep in another hour and go after school instead. I have also tried a new way to keep myself from getting bored....sensory overload! I watched TV on captions mode while I played my Ipod to some pumping music...found my minutes of running went a little faster and kept me distracted from my own sweating and redness. ( My face gets so red despite the heartmonitor telling me I am not too high..I don't know). So, after listening to some great music and getting some news in at the same time, I was able to run/walk 3 min/1 or 2 min. for 45 minutes! (Just started weight watchers and turns out that is 9 activity points! Whoo hoo!) It was hard some times but I kept imagining myself running that 5K or running with a friend along a street chatting as we jog, or running around Block Island in the summer. This weekend I went to the city with some of my best girlfriends and there had been  a half marathon that morning. I saw runners coming back to the hotel wearing their medals and thought, "I want that to be me!" One of these days..you never know! Looking forward to a new opportunity to enjoy the outside this spring and summer...and becoming a runner!

Training Day 11: It's getting harder..

Today I did my best run yet it was my hardest run so far. I don't know if it was the fact that I skipped a day of training (couldn't get up and day was too busy) or that I had ate and drank like it was my job the night before. So, I climbed out of bed at 4:45 (so dark thanks to Day Light Savings!) and felt proud of myself that I made it to the gym at least. Not many people at the gym that early the day after St. Pat's. But there I was..and I wanted to keep improving and had a lot of calories to burn! So I decided to run 3 min/walk 1 min. First 3 min was ok...2nd 3 min  set was a little harder. Each minute inbetween that I walked  felt like a three seconds but yet the 3 minutes felt like they lasted forever! By the time I got to 20 minutes doing this pattern, I was so red and hot but my heartrate was not too crazy so I kept pressing on but I switched over to 2 minutes inbetween the 3 minutes run. The good news is that I finished my 45 minutes..and I ran the most minutes yet..26 minutes of running in total. So it is slow but steady progress. At this point I look forward to the day 3 seems like no big deal. For now, conquering 3 min/1 min run/walk is my new goal by day 15. Let's see if I can keep going, especially in this nice weather. Maybe time to move it outside? We'll see.. till next time!

Training Day 10: Best time yet!

Made it to day 10! It was a tough day to get to the gym but I didn't give up. Because I decided to stay up late last night and watch the Bachelor..(What was I thinking, he was so not worth it), I overslept and didn't make it to my 5:oo visit. So, I asked the kids if they didn't mind if we visited the gym after school. They are the best (and knew that they could get something out of me later) so off we went. It was tough to go because my back has started to act up in it's usual weak spot. Just a sporatic pain here and there but that's how it starts. I can get to the chiropractor to fix me up, but I was wondering if running was a good idea. Didn't want to hurt myself more.Yet I didn't want to miss day 10 either! I have been so good so far!  I decided to try and  see how it went. A couple of times it kept acting up but made it through. As I was running, my foot was starting to hurt also on the other side of my body. What was going on? Should I stop or keep going? IT was my 10th day so I had big plans...I didn't give up and pushed through and finished my best run yet...it was hard for me though! I ran for 3 minutes and walk for 2 for 45 minutes. It was definately hard but not impossible. It helped that a good movie was on.. (Meet the Parents! Too funny!) I will keep running for 3:2 for one or two more training days then switch to 3 min:1 min walk. I am proud of getting through on a day that would have been easy to just go home and try again tomorrow.  Off to bed to rest my back and feet!

Training Day 9: Sieze the Moment

I made it to the gym for my 9th training day..feels like longer but just day 9. No matter things didn't work out in the past because I would have felt like I was doing something for a long time when actually it wasn't. Anyway, had lots of excuses to miss the gym this morning. Of course the time delay and losing an hour of sleep was hard plus my wonderful cousin was sleeping over with her girls. We stayed up late having fun and hanging out. Then, I had a meeting at church at 10:30 that I couldn't miss. My house was a huge mess from the kids having fun and I am not even mentioning the piles of laundry that I have to deal with. The gym nursery closed at 1 so if I was going, I had to do it. Thanks to my supportive cousin pushing me, I ran to church and she dressed the kids for me to take to the gym. After  church, I ran in, changed in a minute, gave kisses to our cousins who were leaving and threw my kids into the car. (bribes helped!) Off to the gym to seize the moment! I knew I'd regret it if I didn't go.

Once the kids were settled in the kids room, I jumped onto the treadmill. My adrenaline was pumping from trying to get there on time so I decided to use this to run 2 min./ walk 1 min. At the beginning, it was as easy as the 2:2 run/walk but after 20 minutes, I definitely saw myself looking at the clock more counting down the seconds to get the 2 min. run over. I was proud of myself by the end of the 45 minutes that I did it! It felt more like a real run because there was only a min. space in between the running parts! It felt great to push myself to improve just a little today..one more session like this and I will try to move to 3 min. run/2 min walk. A little at a time...

I have a new dilemma though..my cousin's husband gave me a new thought. He said that running on the treadmill was completely different than running on a track or street. He made the point that the treadmill brings and pushes the steps for you. Outside, I have to do the moving alone. Never occurred to me so when do I start practicing outside? I am tied to the timer right now and like to see the distance. I could try the local track at the high school since I can clock my distance better but boring. But I am afraid I won't make the same progress. So should I go to gym some days and outside the others? At this point, getting there gets me onto the other machines too sometimes. I need to figure out a good schedule that will keep me progressing without tiring out me out. Time to do some research and think. Any advice from all you runners out there, would love to here it.

Training Day 8: Its getting easier!

After a difficult last session, I was wondering if I would be able to do better today. Last night I had a fun night out with my friend and we wound up sharing a bottle of wine and staying up having some "friend therapy" until almost midnight, plus it was pouring buckets! So, I missed my first morning run. As the guilt set in after three small cookies at our faculty meeting, I decided to run after school and not miss my training day.

Maybe this was just what I needed..an afternoon run! I hopped on the treadmill and was glad to see right away that my energy was strong (probably from those darn cookies!) As I started to do my 2run/2 walk at 4 mph, I was happy to watch some fun tv to keep me distracted. (Thank you Ellen and Oprah!) I quickly realized I was able to do my run portion easier than the other day! I actually felt like I could run a little faster also but decided to enjoy the moment and stay at 4 mph..I was feeling strong and proud. Before I knew it, the treadmills around me started filling up and I noticed they were running faster than me...much faster. I glanced at their screens. The girl next to me was running a 10 minute mile and the guy on the other side was running an 8 minute mile! Ready for mine?....a 15 minute mile. Yeah...ok. So I started to think maybe I wasn't doing as well as I thought. Maybe this was a mistake and I would always we be the slow girl trying to run on the treadmill. Then it started to occur to me that it is so easy to look around at others and see what they can do better than us or easier than us but I should just be looking at myself and my personal growth. I have be improving as a runner over these last 2 weeks and feel stronger every day. It is so easy to think about what you could do better or what you haven't done, but in this moment I was running easier and faster for me so I didn't want to lose that good feeling just because others were in a different place than me. So instead of choosing to see all I can't do or what I haven't accomplished yet, I am choosing to see what I can do and have accomplished to keep me going. (By the way, those "faster" runners didn't last as long as me and were done running after like 20 minutes....wimps. I am just saying...

Today's stats...2:2 run/ walk at 4 mph/3.5 mph. for 45 minutes and felt good at the end! Less tomato red face too...a little at a time!

Training Day 7..Need Inspiration!

I did it!...made it to day 7..13 days ago I started this quest to become a runner but I already feel like running out of the race. Why do I have so much trouble sticking to an exercise routine? As I dragged my butt out of bed, I couldn't find my keys. Time was ticking and I thought about just giving up but I have to say that this blog is keeping me going on my running because it would be easy to say forget it and go back to bed. But I am playing on my personality weakness of caring what people think.  Knowing I would have to get on here and say "I didn't go" is not an option or at least enough to motivate me to get out of bed. I don't even know if many people are reading this or care but I will go with the illusion of it.

So, as I was running today and finding it hard to get my energy up, I started to think about why I am already losing my excitement. It definitely may have something to do with the scale...has hardly budged and I thought I would have at least lost 2 pounds..nothing. A little discouraging. Also, I have hit a plateau already in my running and am not really improving my speed and time in the past two runs. I was hoping today would feel easier but it actually felt harder to push through my minutes. Then I realized the biggest lack of motivation was that I was probably bored. The morning news shows I watch on the treadmill TV are ok but not enough to motivate me to run, especially with all those commercials. So I flipped the channels in between by 2 minute runs and found some of the infomercials about exercise programs they are selling..insanity, my turbo fire, p60 rip...but as I watched them, it reminded me of what I am going for and what I hope to achieve...a strong body that can handle a challenge. So, I began to run a little easier as I saw the body transformations of people who didn't give up...I am not giving up either. I am going to push through this phase of giving up and wanting to try something else and see where it takes me. This is my pattern..I did this with the kids when they were little when I tried a new routine. I used to abandon it within a few weeks if it didn't show amazing results...but that is not life. Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring (from my sorority days...I think that was the "Motto"..funny to use that again!)  So, I endured another day without quitting...I ran/walked at 4 mph/ 3.5 mph at 2 minutes run/2 minute walk. I did it for 45 minutes which is a 15 minutes improvement from the beginning. Little by little I will do this and try to keep it going.

Training Day 6: Hitting my challenge...

Ok..it's official. The newneses and excitement of doing something new is already wearing off. I have an admittedly short attention span when it comes to these things. Pilates one week, biking another, gym, then "natural exercise", no dairy, eating organic.... Can you tell I am a Gemini? Variety is the spice of life they say.

As I listened to the torental downpour at 2 am, threatening to float my house away last night, I thought about actually missing the gym due to the fact I didn't have a boat to get there. Then I thought of plan B: I would just drag all three kids after school  to a dentist appointment and feee them dinner and then head to  the gym to do my goal. (I know it seemed unrealistic but for the sake of sleeping a little longer after being woken up by Gavin's fear of the rain outside, I wasn't thinking straight). When my alarm went of at 4:45, I didn't hear the rain anymore..could it be safe to venture out? Well, it was fine by some miracle. As the flood waters subsided, I dragged myself to the gym.

As I walked in, the gym was pretty empty except for the seven treadmills  I liked to use so I was forced to use another kind they have. Probably the same to most people but I prefer one over the other so I got onto the "older" treadmill. Happily, I noticed right away that the tv reception was better on this one so I felt a little more inspired to run. I did my settings, stretched out and began my 2 min walk, 2 min run. My new goal is 4.0 mph when running. I was also happy to see that you could watch your time and see yourself "running" around the track on this model...that would be different! Quickly in, I realized that it is probably not good to see our time ticking away as "you" creep slowly around "the track." At times, it felt like the 2 minutes of running was long and it felt harder today. By the end of the 2 minute block, I was anxiously slamming the mph back down to 3.5 for the 2 minute walk. (Small progress...I can actually jog faster than I can walk!YEAH! )  But I definately felt this was a challenge to do the 2:2 at 4 mph. The thought of facing my blog as a "failure" and  quitter was enough to push me to reach my goal and by the end, I had run/walked for 45 minutes, covered 2.56 miles and had done it at 4 mph! I know it was my most challenging run yet because my face looked like a tomato for almost 20 minutes after I finished and I was worn out. But at least I found my top fitness level for now...so for the next 4 training days, I will try to feel more comfortable at that speed and pace before more improvements.  I think I will look for improvements to my eating habits and scale in the meantime. It hasn't realized we are trying to get back in shape...the scale has actually crept up a pound..Really? Time to focus on how much I am eating while I try to keep up the runnning...till day 7!

Training Day 5: Progress...

It's been 5 running days, 9 days since starting and I am actaully seeing progress already! After lots of talking about running this week, I have been getting some great advice from people. The most interesting advice came from a new doctor I met for my daughter. She was also my age and had just ran her first 10K at Disney! Who knew that Disney had different runs at their parks...how fun is that? Like me, she had never been able to run before so she set out on this goal to run a 10k. When asked how she did it, she told me she followed a running site that gave advice. She told me about a running guru named Jeff Galloway who had a great program where you run a certain amount of minutes and then walk 2 minutes inbetween a run. Off I went to check out the website. I feel like I could do that...

So, adjustment to my new plans. My new goal is to run/jog 5 minutes and walk 2. I think that is in my reach. When I went to the gym today, I decided to embrace my new motivation to get to the 5 minutes mark and maybe do a run at Disney, and pushed myself try and  run 2 minutes, walk 2 minutes (Thank you to my very supportive friend Kimmy who told me to try that even when I didn't think I could do that yet). Surprisingly, I was able to do it! And I pushed my time to run/jog for  45minutes at 3.7-4.0 mph!  I am trying to actually jog faster than I walk. What a rush to feel like I could do it! There is hope yet. This wasa  hard week time wise with a very busy working husband, a babysitter who was out of commision and our usual crazy schedule. It would have been easy to not run this week, but I am so glad that I was abel to stick to the schedule of running every other day and improve each time. So often it is easy to see what we haven't accomplished but I am trying to focus on the fact that after one week, I am making good strides in my personal goal and am motivated to get another 5 days down on the training schedule.  Here's to baby steps and not giving up!

Next goal: Keep up running to 45 minutes,  keeping it at 4.0 mph at 2:2 run/walk for next 5 training sessions.(Bonus...maybe run/walk for an hour by training day 10) Let's see!

Training Day 4: Baby steps

It was definately harder to get up this morning and get to the gym. But I did it...what motivated me this time? All of the girls out there who are jumping on the bandwagon to get into the race of running. Over the past week, I have received so much feedback online and through phone calls about how many are being inspired to get back into running or my running friends who are giving me great advice to help support me in succeeding. As I climb out of bed, I think of all of them getting up as well, getting on their sneakers and running out the door to steal a moment of health for themselves. Feeling part of a group is a motivating feeling...even if they are not with you physically. Sharing in a common goal really can boost your determination to get out there and be part of it! No one wants to be the one who quit..I certainly don't so all of the words of encouragement, advice and anticipation of being able to run with some of them has gotten me out of bed this morning.

These past few weeks I have been teaching Jayna to ski. Each time we visited the mountain, she took a new step forward...better turns, holding on to the tow rope alone, getting on the chair lift, skiing down the big hill with a leash, eventually skiing down the big hill without a leash! Each time we left, I was so excited for her that she was taking these steps to becoming a skiier. When I think about running, I am trying the same approach. Each time, I am trying to do something better than the time before, even if is something small.  So, today I still ran 1:1 run/walk but I pushed my speed up a little from 3.3 to 3.9 over the course of the workout. I also wanted to reach 2 miles today (last time was 1.6 miles). So, I wound up running/walking for 36 minutes today. Baby improvements...longer distance and 3 more minutes running. May not be a lot but a step forward for me to running with friends out of the gym and doing that 5k! Hopefully my scale will start to realize we are doing this and move back down a little and my mouth will cooperate and stop eating everything in sight but that is another blog..Fighting food cravings!?   Baby steps..off to run the marathon to get my 3 kids out the door to school!

Training Day 3: Who am I?

Who am I? Major accomplishment...got up at 4:45 and went to the gym to run my half hour. I don't know what is harder...getting up that early or going to bed early the night before so you get enough sleep! Why is it at 4:45 in the morning you think that 5 more minutes of sleep is really going to make a difference? As I laid there convincing myself to get up and just do it, a million excuses were running through my head...you burn more calories when you sleep enough hours each night so is it worth it to get up and exercise or sleep another hour? Maybe I can workout later (we all know what a lie that would turn out to be)? Finally, I decided to test the theory that you would feel so much better after you are done if you'd just get up and do it! So ...I hobbled out of bed and threw on my clothes (Thank God they were still in a pile on the bathroom floor from the other day), got on my sneakers and started out the door, impressing myself that I was up that early. ( I am usually a 6:00 waker plus four snooze alarm presses so that puts me at about 6:30!) As I started the car, I frantically realized I needed my headphones to watch the tv while I ran.  In a panic, time was ticking, I couldn't find the darn headphones. Now what? At the last second, I ran up to thankfully grab Logan's headphones since he never cleans up anything and they were out on his dresser. Off I went, with a big smile on my face and feeling that beginning sense of accomplishment of getting up to go to the gym.

Next step, get on that treadmill and pump out my half hour. I really wanted to challenge myself to go a little more than the last time I had my running fiasco outside at the field. So, I decided to try jogging one minute and then walking one minute at 3.3 mph. As I started with a few minute warmup trying to get my motivation going, a girl I know jumped on the treadmill next to me. Thank God for a gym buddy! Don't underestimate the simple act of a conversation while working out...it is a great distractor when you want to doubt that you will be able to accomplish something hard. I was wondering if I was going to be able to do the 1:1 run/walk. It is definately a challenge at my fitness level, but I started my pattern as we chatted away. Before I knew it, 20 minutes had passed without much of thought that I was doing it! I had run 10 minutes out of 20! YEAH! Thanks to my gym chat, I felt so elated that I was doing better than expected. I won't lie though. When she moved on to another part of the gym, I was left with my own thoughts and limited distraction from the morning news show, so I started to realized that I still had 10 minutes left to run/walk and was feeling tired. Should I go back to 1:2 run/walk but I knew I was be disappointed in myself at the end for not pushing myself so I bore with the last 10 minutes (5 more minutes of running) and made it to my goal....15 minutes run and 15 minutes walk. To many this may seem like no big deal, but to me, I was so excited! I had run half my time!

I did feel that "You did it!" feeling that I had started off my day right and hoped it would carry through. It was worth getting up early (and going to bed early and missing a new season of Bethanny!) Thank God for DVRs....next time I am  tempted to sleep in and miss my morning workout, hopefully I will remember the mental benefit when you finish of doing something challenging and having time for yourself before your day gets sucked up by responsiblities and schedules. YEAH today!

Off to a rough start..training day 2

Well..I can see this is not going to be easy. All day I set off thinking I was headed to the gym for my second training day to run but after a full day of skiing yesterday, a night out for dinner and drinks and a morning massage and brunch, the day was shaping up to get away from me and I was finding excuses not to go running till tomorrow. As I decided to head out, I found out the gym was closing early today. Great. To run or wait till tomorrow? But as the old adage goes, "Don't put off to tomorrow what you can do today". So, what now?

As I was waiting to decide, life's usual interruptions began. A phone call for a playdate for the boys..and I can take Jayna in the jogger to run around the field track. Ok..that will work. But turns out the playdate wanted to come to us, so now a fast cleanup, vaccuum, a little yelling because "Mommy needs to run, hurry up!" and off to the track to sneak in the 30 minute run. But...nature was against me. As I set off with Jayna on her bike with training wheels, I realized quickly this was not going to be easy. She needed help pushing through the melting puddles of snow, hills that were too steep to head up, and then the bike was having issues. "All Mommy needs is to run for one minute!" After 30 seconds of my run, (which was timing on my phone and couldn't see the screen very well) I had to push her up yet another hill. I could see this wasn't going to be how I expected. Was it worth my effort? Time was ticking, I had to finish running, take a quick shower before the playdate and try to do this right! Surprisingly I didn't give up although poor Jayna could tell I was so frustrated and kept taking it out on her, the poor girl. "Mommy, just run and I will walk my bike to catch up to you"...Guilt trip, "Don't worry Jayna, I will push you up the hill first". So, I spent the next 30 minutes somewhat running, walking, and pushing her on her bike. To add to the plan gone bad, I kept hitting snow patches along the path that we couldn't really run through or let alone get her bike across. So, add carrying a preschooler and little bike to the workout. Then, I am not kidding, a huge tree was knocked down blocking the path, so now I found myself climbing over the downed tree and hoisting the bike across while Jayna checked out the upturned roots. Is this really working or should we just turn around and head for the car? So, finally we hit a smoother pace as I embraced the moment and made it work for what it was...at least I was doing more running than walking and hopefully getting something out of this. Did I stick to my goal of 1 minute run and 2 minutes walk? I am not sure, but hopefully the extra effort, hills and determination to not quit despite the frustrations should count for something. By the time we made it to the car, I was surprised to see that I had actually been out there almost 35 minutes and think I did do better than I thought it would go. I don't know how fast I was running, but if sweat counts, I did ok for training day 2. Better something than nothing and hoping that next time will be better.

PS....Made it home and took a shower in the nick of time for the playdate. Jayna forgave me from being grumpy and frustrated. "Mommy, I love you even though you were getting mad!" Thank God for flexiblity and understanding..even to myself for a job done, even if it wasn't perfect.

Here I go!

Throughout most of my life, I have chased my weight with exercise and diets...but one type of exercise always eluded me...running. After going to my first NY marathon, I was completely inspired! How exciting to see so many people from all walks of life doing such an extraordinary feat. So, soon after, two friends and I joined the Road Runners in our quest to learn to run. With big hopes, I tried to become a runner. Fast forward a few weeks...failure. I couldn't even make it through the first lap of the track without getting out of breath and feeling like I was going to pass out. Quickly, I went back to other forms of exercise but secretly envied runners that I saw, wondering why  I couldn't do that.

A few years later, I  decided to try again. Something kept on drawing me back... A friend who ran a half marathon, another friend who looks so great after picking up running; so many people seem to be able to do this!  Last year, a few friends decided to run a 5K for charity. It was exciting at the starting line, everyone getting ready to run on this fall day. I thought if I run slowly, I could do this! But sadly, my friends were off and running and I pushed myself to run/walk. I made it to the end and felt so proud and inspired. Unfortunately, a few days later, my back and body gave in and didn't want to do this. So, again..another excuse to give up. Was this out of reach?

 So, I am going to turn 40 in a few weeks and would like to prove to myself that I am not too old to accomplish something new ( and loose some weight in the process). So I am hoping that keeping this blog will motivate me to keep trying to reach my goal...to run a 5K without having to walk. Maybe in the process, I will also learn to take things slowly and give myself time. I have always been one who expects results quickly and has high expectations so this will force me to be patient, take small steps and reach goals that may be less that what I thought I could do and in time, I will reach that goal of running across that finish line with pride and determination that I can do it despite my age and past failures.

So here I start....
day 1: Running at the gym since winter is still here, small goal of the day: run/walk for 30 minutes: 1 minute run, 2 minutes walk. Surprisingly, I could run one minute fairly well at a speed of 3.3mph....success for me since winter has put on another 10 thanks to the snow days that piled up on my hips.

Next step: Try to run again this weekevery other day for 1 min/ 2 min walk at 3.5 miles per hour. for 30 minutes.
Do I run each day or every other to start?