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!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
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.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
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!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
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!
Monday, April 4, 2011
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."
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."
Saturday, April 2, 2011
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!
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