I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAY 22 ~ check~

Wow!  I completed the 5k this morning and it was great!  It was a challenge, lesson and achievement all in one!  My family and friends were so supportive!  It was amazing to be a part of something bigger than running on my treadmill or on familiar streets.  For anyone who is not familiar Rochester is about and 1 hr 15 min. from our home.  We stayed over night at a Hilton property that took dogs.  Charlie was awesome and loved every minute of it.  The lilacs this year at the festival in Highland park were already on their way out which was disappointing but the Azaleas and Rhododendrons were blooming in full swing.  (OK< i know this is not a gardening blog) 
Anyway, the weather was cool and overcast.  There was  a lot of runners!  people were all cramming into the middle, being somewhat claustrophobic i stayed on the edge with my i-pod on; listening intently to the songs i have listened to over and over on my treadmill.  it was comforting to hear them and i told myself it's just like being at home.  (with hundreds of people in my basement :) )  So many people took off fast!  Through my reading and advice from a few people i stayed with my pace. I made my first mile ( and know now what a split is) at 12:03.  There was hills... which was stated on the website but i had know idea about the streets and what the incline would be.  But there was hills!  it was fun to see the finish line and run towards it.  I could see the time and i did not  want it to roll over to the next minute so i picked it up has i ran through.  Bill yelled out my name and the girls yelled.  I never heard Charlie say anything but i know he was proud of me too!  I walked for a bit and ate some Jelly Belly energy beans while i drank some water.  We walked to the car and went back to the hotel and we went for a swim and sat in the hot tub.  Know one was in the pool area at 9:30am on a Sunday morning so we had the whole thing to ourselves which was awesome.  Bill reminded me that when I run our church Summerfest 5k,  I would not be as pampered with hotel stay, a breakfast i don't have to make, a pool and a hot tub to relax my muscles in.  But, for the first one I am grateful.  Thank you to everyone for reading, helping, encouraging, talking, listening ...all of it.  I have an amazing family and friends!  Thank you!   About 10 weeks to the next one!!!!

back on !!

Just ran 45 minutes on the treadmill.  my treadmill says 2.78 miles my pedo meter said 4.03 ~ huge difference ! hopefully I ran somewhere around 3 miles.

ALMOST 3 MONTHS

It has been almost exactly 3 months since i have started the training to run a 5K.  I have had my worst time of all these past two weeks.  Things were going great until fairly recently.  To the point that i actually took a week off.  I had  been to the doctor and my cholesterol was the highest it has ever been, blood pressure up and not able to loose a pound.  If i look back none of those things were my goal.... my GOAL was to RUN a 5K but they kinda of took over my goal.  And when I received such a frustrating and disappointing report after working on this for 3 months i really became discouraged! 

So, I ran yesterday and actually had to walk in the middle of a run for the first time .... I am going to really try hard to refocus this week.  My first 5k is this Saturday and I was looking so forward to it!  Somehow i hope my determination and confidence resurfaces and I continue after Saturday.  I will let you know how it goes.  Send positive vibes my way- self sabotage go away! 

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I don't know if the weather is the major culprit but wow  my motivation is dwindling!  Self-sabotage perhaps?  Race right around the corner, working on this goal since February and now I am feeling uninterested and uninspired? The challenge shouldn't be over until i have meant the challenge  (the 5K RUN  )maybe the challenge was to see if i would stick to the program?  how can a give up now, when i am two weeks away from finishing it? I don't know, but i seem to have been side tracked ...

I ran with a friend Saturday and it was great.  The path was great we talked the whole time.  It was really good, but I have done nothing since, except i forced my self to run 28 minutes today.
Blah, blah I know  there are so many other things going on and to truly be concerned about.  But, for lame posts like this one is way  I wanted the to have this blog to journal my achievements and failures and doubts .

WIndy~ RUN

I did  it!  Second time outside and I meet my challenge.  Bill ran with me for the first time,it was so windy this morning but warm. Ran 28 minutes (approx. 14 min miles).  I realize I have to deal with the elements and get off the treadmill so my goal now that today starts week 6; is to run outside at the very least twice a week.

 By the end of Week6 I will be running 30 minutes with two days of cross training ( which I  want to do at fitness 19)  and two rest days are built in.

seconds equal minutes, minutes equal miles and miles equal your goal!    If i can do this you totally can too!!!!!!!!!!!

April 20, 2011

This is the third time I have typed this…  I deleted twice by accident

I have been logging my progress in a cool little running journal.  I bought it when I got my sneakers last week.  I should say invested in sneakers because they cost me $100!  I have been tracking my running since I started Feb.25 in a  scrappy little note book.  I transferred all the info into the new one.  It is awesome to look back to my first days and see that I started with running 1 min., walking 1 min, 10 times. ( I actually think it is funny) I have come to today’s task which was run 20 min, walk 1 and run 10 more.  I am trying to figure out how long it takes me to run a mile.  My treadmill cannot be accurate or for sure I will come in last and they will be packing the table up.

Once it stops snowing, raining and sleeting this month I want to run outside regularly.  But, as of yet I am still inside where something is predictable.

One month to the Lilac 5K and I am  very excited!  We are staying overnight since the run is at 8am Charlie is coming too.  Surprisingly Hilton’s are pet friendly!!

I don’t know what happens after I finish  all the 5k emails from about.com… I guess I just run on my own.  I like being told what to run and then I just do it.  Hopefully, I will still be running all summer and make it to my original goal of running at the summerfest 5k in August.  What happens after that??  I don’t know… Maybe I will never run again, maybe I will go for a 10 K who knows.  But I do know that I take it one day at a time and I have come a long way.  A friend told me every second equals a minute, every minute equals a mile and every mile takes you closer to your goal.  I love that mantra and think about it all the time when I am running.

So do you want to join me?  Are you in?  I am in!

I am very encouraged by the emails, comments and supportive words.  I appreciate it and it is what keeps me going!

Have a Blessed Easter !

WHERE I'M AT.....

Well, i finally ran outside!!!!!!!!!!!  i ran to the crow's nest on dodge rd and back. (2.58 mi)
i felt compelled on Saturday .  it was such a beautiful day.  i had just purchased a purple Nike shirt for the Lilac Fest. and i couldn't imagine running on the treadmill again.  i was hesitant but running on the treadmill seemed worse so i went for it!  i called the girls from my cell and asked them to come out onto the front porch to cheer me on.  I knew then i could not walk into court.  They were their with charlie and ran to greet me.  It was awesome and a major accomplishment for me.

So, today i went to Fleet Feet and was fitted for a pair of BROOKS running sneakers. They feel good and i am going to run 15/1 x2 today, tomorrow i cross train.  i have been using the bike or elliptical and weights just once a week.  So I start week 5 of the 5k training on Saturday.  i have been building up my endurance since the end of February.  Yesterday i ran for 28 minutes no problem.  it's amazing considering one or two minutes would make my chest hurt when i breathed.

Lilac 5K is about   5 weeks away.  i actually think i may be able to do this now!!!!!

questions

I know I have received a few suggestions in the past about getting new running shoes.  Now i am finally ready but can not remember the recommendations.  I don't want to go into a store and just pick something out.  I would like to go to a place where they fit you and have some experience.
I did see Fleet Feet come up when i googled Running shoes in Buffalo.  Does anyone have any experience there?

Emailing me is fine.  I know the signing on thing through the blog seems to work for some, only sometimes.
thanks for the help.  4th week in starts on SAT.  Ran  today 11/1 x3  that was a bit tough (mainly a little bored).  It looks like i am running about 21 min miles at this point. 

50 DAYS Until my first offical 5K

wow!   i am now in my third week of training , but have been working up to this point since Feb. 26( i think that was the first post)  so i have been going right along for over a month and have not missed a day yet.  which amazes me...  the fact that i am getting up on a Saturday morning and within minutes of waking saying, " i have to get up and run before the day starts" is a mind switch totally!

I ran today for 9 minutes straight with  one minute in between three times.  That is the longest i have run yet.  Later in the week i will be running 10-11min. with 1 minute in between.  that 1 little minute goes so fast.

I have not ventured outside but Bill has offered a few times to run outside with me and he will help  me keep track of time.   i am not ready yet.  I am afraid it will really discourage me.
My blood pressure is almost normal and that in it's self is awesome!  I am also planning on getting new sneakers this week too!!

Well keep me in your thoughts and prayers if you think of it.


I guess i can do anything i put my mind to!  Yea me!!!!!!!!!!!!

MAY 22 8am

that is the date of the first 5K I will be running in!   I am officially registered for  the 5K at the Lilac Festival in Rochester.  I am  excited and it was a leap of faith .  I still have 7 weeks of training left.  I start week two tomorrow.  I was telling my good friend  today that I had to run  my farthest yet ; 6 minutes straight this week.  When I looked down at the timer on the treadmill ;5 min and 43 seconds had past before I checked the time ,  I could not believe it!  The time passed with no problem, no difficulty breathing, nothing. I felt great and I was so proud and happy .  You have to realize I could hardly even make it around a short block.  Sure I walked, did the occasional sit-up but what I am doing for a non-athletic person who has trouble sticking to exercise  , I am thrilled with my progress so far.  Perhaps, I am in the honey moon stage and I do still doubt how long I will continue to pull this off.  But, for now I am very motivated.  My goal for doing this from the beginning has been to complete a 5K.  I am realizing the other benefit is that I can lose a little weight so I am going to change up my diet a bit.  I feel I eat healthy but the quantity still matters .  So, along with the running, a little cross training , walking and controlling my portions I hope to achieve my goals.  I have to be careful not to go into deprivation mode which is a problem for me.  I deprive myself so much that I set myself up for failure.   I easily can become obsessed with food , what I eat or don't eat to the point it is all I think about. I obsess and micromanage it to death. Trying to get healthy and having a fitness goal has really made me look at my food issues too.  I hope to accomplish a balance it that arena also!  Thank you for asking when you see me or just reading and supporting this blog. The emails are great too.  I  appreciate it!


Lilac Festival here I come... with my sneakers this time!

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and moving on.... yea me :D

This  morning I completed my 3 week training to jog for 30 minutes!! It was an about.com e-course I highly recommend to anyone wanting to become more active.  (here i am givng advice now)  This program is what got me moving every morning.  I really looked forward to waking up and opening up my laptop to find an email  telling me what I was to run for the day.  Today I completed the 3 week training with 5/1 x5  run 5 walk 1   5 times.    I started with 1/1 x10.....

Tommorrow I start the actual 5K training program e course they offer through the same site.

I was given an idea yesterday when I looked up the dates of the LILAC FESTIVAL in Rochester that we go to every year.  They are having a 5K  on May 22 the last day of the festival.  I am seriously considering registering to be a part of the Lilac Fest. in a new way  ( I have been going for 15 years) and as an inbetween goal to the Summer Fest 5K  (august)which seems sooo far away.  Am I crazy?? Can I do it?  I have 8 weeks to get ready. 
I mapped out 3 miles  today on the way home from dropping the girls at school  Wow!  (NOT winning ~  that is along distance to be jogging along) That would truly be amazing if I could pull that off in 8 weeks.  I have to say it was daughting but I am thinking about it!! 

2 WEEKS!!!!!!!

I have been working on my program for officially two weeks this morning!!

yes!  I am doing it and today I actually forgot I was running :)  I looked down and my interval was only seconds away from being completed!

Here are my concerns..... :)

Today has I am going along my merry running way only 10-11 days in this thing and  for the first morning i really just wanted to get it over with.  Negativity started setting in while running.  i ran 3 min 5 times with walking 1 min in between.  my  mind started to wander.  I was thinking about if this is hard  (it was not really hard , just annoying) I thought how will this be when i am in the rain, it is a hot summer day etc?? I am running in such a controlled enviroment.  I worry about  what will happen after i reach my goal ,will i still want to do this?  will i make it to the summerfest run????
i am running at an incline of 2.5 and 3.1 mph)  can any of the  experienced runners see and problems with that>  Am I on track?
just venting  my frustrations , i guess this is one of the reasons i started this blog to be able to do that and move on.  thanks for listening if you are and think SPRING!!!!

I am feeling very motivated...really

Today's run: Run 2/1 x 6 for a total of 18 minutes. Don't forget your 5-10 minute walks for your warm-up and cool-down!

That is  one of the messages I recieved in my mailbox last week.  I am doing it and following along.  Actually sweating a little , something I normally try  not to do!!

I have down loaded a set of songs on a small little music thing I clip on my shirt.  I love that,  it makes the workout go fast and I love the songs I have on it so far.

Still 6 months away but I don't want to tallk numbers or how long ....I just want to keep it up!

I have been looking on websites for running clothes and shoes.There are some very stylish outfits out there for the she runner.  I also want to get a better pair of sneakers once I start running outside.  I new this would lead to shopping somehow.

In Charlie Sheen's words,        "I'm WINNING!" 
let's see how this week goes... :)

Tuesday

Thank you for the nice emails and for signing up as a follower, i appreciate it! 
i know it is not the most interesting blog to keep up with but it seems to help me knowing others are out there trying to achieve fitness goals too or are just supportive in my endeavor.  i am currently moving on the treadmill for 30 minutes ; half of that is actual jogging.  i just finished two days of 2/1 x5 , (run 2 min-walk 1 min) followed by 1/1 x 5.  Certainly, more than i have ever done in the jogging area before. 
I did have a scheduled workout with a friend at Fitness 19 yesterday and went on the elliptical for 20 min and did a little with weights but i managed to still use my treadmill at home later  in the afternoon.  The thing i see struggling with is boredom.  I am kept on my toes watching the minutes because i  am following this program run 2 walk 1 but i feel like i am starting to get bored and it is only day 5!!!
i do look forward to opening my email every morning to see what my jogging task is for the day! 
Overall, just wanted to say thanks to your replies and for following.  I  truly do,  appreciate it!!!!! :)

so far....

I  completed on my treadmill today (since the weather is so forbidding...)

1/1 x10 which means I walked 1 minute and ran  1 minute on my treadmill for a total of 10 times.  It  might seem lame ,but that is where I am at.  I actually took the time to warm up 5 minutes and cool down 5 min and stretch; amazing that I bothered to do either one but from what I have been reading it is important, considering I have High Blood Pressure.  So i am off and running  :)

FIRST DAY!

Hi Everyone!

This is an invitation for you to to help me with a goal I have had for a long time.  I would like to become more physically fit so that Ican successfully run a 5K run at our Church Summer Fest in August.  It may seem like a long way off, but for me I want to start now so I can actually reach my goal.

At times I am not the most committed person (in regards to doing things for myself)  I need your support and encouragement ,if you can give it.  I have tried in the past with this goal but have not been successful.  I came up with this blog,  so that I can record and see my progress and also be held accountable to anyone who has a chance to check in on it.  This is a big commitment for me and I hope I can make it.  Thanks in advance for your support and encouragement.