Jogging and Blogging: a year in review and a look ahead!

When I started this venture - jogging and blogging - I had a LOT to lose (literally and figuratively). I put myself out there - and I mean all of my big, ugly, mess of a self - for others to see and watch and monitor. Thankfully, as I look back on the year, it is clear that what I lost in pounds was tremendous (as of today, I am down 25 pounds since I began running and 35 pounds down from my highest non-pregnant weight!), but what I gained has become much more important.

First came the confidence in myself. I set a goal and I achieved it in the time I allotted for training. I crossed my first ever 5K finish line as part of a fun run on a Friday and then completed a timed raced the following Monday. It was awesome! What became more incredible was the love affair I cultivated with the pavement. I didn't stop at the initial end goal. I let momentum carry me. I found myself attempting boot camp, weight lifting, ab and arm routines, and pull ups. My view of myself was changing as I saw all the things I could do, the amazing things my body could do. I completed five races and one fun run, for a total of six 5K's! My goal of one was clearly blown out of the water! I have a new perspective on my self image, on health, on priorities - all of which are a vast improvement on where I was in April.

This wasn't all centered around me, though. It was truly heart warming and motivating to see the number of followers and FaceBook "friends" who cheered me on, started to exercise, and/or step up their game, because of my journey to 5K and wellness. I said in a previous post that I assumed the worst - that people would simply judge me. What a happy surprise to find so much positivity and encouragement, as well as teammates in this movement of moving people. It's a beautiful thing when people come together, rallying for good things in other's lives. I'm so proud of the people I have in my life and to be able to call them friends and family. God has blessed me many times over!

In 2013, I plan to come back with more goals and a greater understanding of what is possible. Until then, I am staying focused on being fit, continuing to run, and also enjoying the holiday season (in moderation)!

That said, this year has brought a lot of division (the election), anixiety (fiscal cliff), and heartache (Hurricane Sandy and Sandy Hook Elementary Masacre). I encourage everyone I know to take the last week and a half of the year to cherish the loved ones in your life, to do something for someone in need, to smile and say hello, to do something unexpected and kind for a stranger, to remember the reason for the season! No matter your faith, your political point of view, your marital status, or whether you are a parent, something about how we have treated each other as a society has hurt your heart this year. Find a way to heal by doing a good deed. Not only will you restore someone else's faith, but you will restore your own. More importantly, do not stop. As a culture, it is time we re-learn what it means to be a good neighbor, to be a friend, and to believe in humanity. I found love in so many places this past year - a stranger giving me a giftcard at Nordstrom for no reason at all, caring about myself enough to take nurture the healthy body God gifted me, in my baby's first steps, and my eldest daughter's pride in learning the "hold position" in soccer...my list could go on and on. I hope we all find that by putting our energy into the positive, we will create more positivity in the world.

May God bless you, your family, and all those you love this Christmas. I wish you nothing but joy, peace, and kindness in the coming year. Cheers!

Queen of the Road

For a couple of weeks there I was pretty down in the dumps, struggling to find my inner motivation and fire. Then, I got that email about the King of the Road 5K and registered. What a gift I gave to myself by signing up. From the minute I got dressed in all my new cold gear on Sunday, I knew it was my day - my race! First of all, those tights make me feel like a million bucks, and secondly, I was actually not freezing in 30-40 degree temperatures. Those are some pretty important victories when it comes to the psyche of this particular runner. When we were cued to line up, I was the most zen I've been before the start. While there were hundreds of people there, anxiety wasn't at all a factor. I was dancing and smiling and pumped to begin the 3.1 mile trek. From my first stride to my last, I felt so incredibly "in the zone". This course was relatively flat compared to others I've run, but I'm not sure that mattered too much. Everyone around me seemed pleasant and even a few cheered me on as we passed one another. How cool is that!? No pushing or shoving, just good natured runners sharing the road. That said, as with any race, the biggest battle I wage is with myself. You have to be mentally strong to keep going when you feel as though there isn't an ounce left to give. This was never more true than when I completed mile two. At the start of the final third of the race was a dreaded hill - long and pretty steep. At this point I had yet to walk (I've never lasted more than one mile without a short walk break). The devil on one shoulder was whispering, "Take a break!" The angel on my other shoulder was whispering, "Never walk uphill!" When I centered my focus on the "Never walk" whispers, I was able to tell myself to push through, not quit, and you've got this! When the hill was behind me I knew I'd reached a new level of strength. If I could beat that hill, I could take on what was left ahead of me. So I kept on running until crossing the finish line at full speed. It was by far the most exhillirating and triumphant finish so far - even more than my first race. I was so excited and proud of myself, I cried! To many people a 5K is nothing much. I'm not taking on marathons or anything, but I am achieving more with each race than I ever imagined for myself. I posted to my FaceBook page that "I'm not the fastest, but I'm determined. I'm not a size 2, but I'm healthy. I'm not perfect, but I'm blessed. I run because it gives me more than what I could ever leave on the pavement." Nothing could be more true. With the weight I have lost, I have gained infinite amounts more in confidence and belief in myself. I had no idea how much that had been missing and for far too long. Never doubt yourself. Greatness is in all of us. We may not find it through medals or awards, but through blasting through the barriers and roadblocks we create for ourselves. I was a big winner yesterday when I recorded a personal best, ran non-stop, beat the 35 minute mark for the first time, and saw a more than two and a half minute improvement on my time over the past six months. I finished in 34 minutes and 56 seconds. I was still in the bottom half of racers, but that doesn't matter. What counts is that I get out there, and I never give up! That makes me the Queen of the Road!  





Post-Race High!



I'm a Junkie!

Recently, it has come to my attention that I am a full on junkie. I don't mean this to alarm anyone - or to belittle issues involved with serious and life threatening addiction - but I believe in always being honest with my peeps. And, honestly, I have some serious attachment stuff going on these days. For example, let me share with you that my "smart phone" is like my life support. It is an extension of my person. Nowhere do I go without it - walking the dog, getting my baby off to sleep, out for a run, at work, it's even my alarm clock! I have full on anxiety at the thought of leaving it at home in the morning, it being stolen, the screen cracking, etc. And really, don't we all use these mobile devices less as a phone than anything else. I access Facebook, take pictures, play games, check email, text, look up recipes, get directions, and on and on and on. It's amazing. Really, I LOVE MY PHONE (and yes, I love it so much I could marry it, if I wasn't already taken)! What really brought my junkie status to light, though, was what happened to me this past Wednesday. I received an email about a 5K race on Sunday. I barely blinked before checking with my hubby about the date/time and registering. As I write this, I am only two days from race day. What?! Who is this person? I am addicted to races. I mean, I love running, but come on, this is getting silly. The email was like a super strong and uber intense magnet pulling me in. It was as if I had no chance of deleting the message. I was destined to run again. After my last race, where you will remember my hands nearly fell off from being so frozen, I had thought it was time to hang up my running shoes for the season. Ummm...apparently not. I've decided running doesn't have to stop for the cold - nor do I. Today, I am headed to a running store here in Rockville to invest in some good cold gear - gloves, something for my ears, and some running tights. Nothing is going to sideline this chica! I am in it for the long haul...or at least 3.1 miles. :) To round this post out, aside from the obvious obsession I have with my hubby and girls, I will also have you know that I can not live without McDonald's coffee at least once a day (large, three creams) and at least one fistfull of almonds. These are imperative to my existence, well-being, and happiness. Without these things, you'd just want to stand clear. So, there you have it - I am a junkie...and I like it!

Realizations

My most recent running experience was the Rockville 10K/5K. I participated in the 5K portion, which was grueling enough. It was an eye opening day for me, and it didn't take long for me to make some pretty big realizations. This was my fourth timed race and the largest I've participated in. As a person that doesn't enjoy crowds, the start was hard for me. I huddled on the right edge of the road to steer as clear of the mob at the gun as possible, but I was still knocked into pretty hard once and bumped on another occasion...not my fave! Once I reached the one mile marker it all seemed to calm down and people settled into their pace group. Phew! The only issue was that the first mile nearly took it all out of me. It was cold - really cold. My hands were burning and hurt to open up. There was a pre-race warm-up, but that was about 20 minutes before the start of the 5K. By the time I took off, my muscles were tight again. That, and the first mile included a very slow and steady incline that never seemed to end. I know all miles are literally the same length, but this one felt like it was at least 100. At 1.2 miles into the race I noticed that I was closer to where I'd parked my car than the end of the course, and I truly considered giving up and going home. Fortunately, though, the fighter in me wouldn't give up, and I pushed through the next hill, and the next hill, until I was on flat surface kicking it to the finish line. When I made it, I sat down to take the timing chip off my shoe and contemplated throwing up. Thankfully, that feeling passed...phew!...but a few thoughts and feelings stuck with me. And they were: 1. I am not a natural born runner. This is HARD work for me! This distance of 3.1 miles is still a challenge, and while I will keep working on it, I think this is where I am meant to be as a runner. In no way does this upset me. Some people never run a mile, much less complete a race. I'm simply proud that I show up and finish each and every 5K for which I register. I may never place against the other runners, but I am always winning the biggest battle, which is with myself. And I don't quit! 2. I am in complete and utter awe of those who are natural born runners. When I was nearing the finish, I was thinking, how are people running 6.2 miles today, much less running 15Ks, 10 milers, half marathons, marathons, and so on. Long distance runners are (a little crazy) to be admired. Seriously, I tip my hat to you - BRAVO! 3. I am going to encourage my daughters to participate in athletics throughout life, so that maybe they won't have as hard time being fit as an adult as me. Norah already loves running and push ups and sit ups and jumping jacks, which are also fun to watch her do. My job is to continue to be a model for her and allow her as many opportunities to exercise as possible. The same will go for Lillian once she gets beyond the "drunken toddler walk". I'm actually excited to see what they choose for themselves and what we'll be able to do as a family. There were many parent/child teams doing the race alongside me, and I found it inspiring and heartwarming. I hope to have that kind of experience with my girls one day. My official time was 35:58, :49 seconds behind my personal best. That said, I think this was my greatest effort. I had more obstacles to overcome to finish, and I did so with gusto. For having not trained well, running in colder weather than I've ever run, battling constant low grade inclines, and warding off tons of nutty runners on the course, I did the best I could do. Noone can ask more from themselves than that. I don't have any more races scheduled, so for now, there's boot camp and pull ups. Fitness isn't just the ability to run long distance, I also need to continue to work on my strength. Look for details on that very soon. Until then, don't give up! You may not be a natural born runner, but you are naturally YOU - and noone else in the world is that! Celebrate! :)

It's Sandy's Fault!

I have another race in just 3 days. Why is there no fire lit under my feet, urging me to run like the wind? UGH! Even my mind is sluggish today. I'd like to blame Hurricane Sandy for my lack of enthusiasm (I mean, everybody already hates her), but I know that though she may have kept me from running outside for a few days, she is not the root cause of my laziness. Truth be told, once you fall out of routine, it's very difficult to get back in the groove - at least for me. All the work responsibilities and bad weather and colds in my house got in the way of my workouts for a bit, and next thing you know, I am easily finding excuses to sit on my behind everyday (excluding chasing my girls all over the place). I keep looking around for something to put the spark back in my step, but that has to stop. The spark comes from most often from within and much less frequently from outside sources. I need to be my own inspiration and not forget the good feeling that running and lifting weights and attempting pull ups gives. Exercise is a reward and not something to be avoided. Carving out the time for myself is always a blessing, so I need to start putting myself on the backburner! To be honest, I should be sitting over high heat with water boiling. I have another race to run! Today ends my most recent string of excuses. I will, at a minimum, do my ab and arm routines after my baby goes to bed tonight and begin a new fitness routine. Not only do I deserve good health, I deserve all the good feelings and the high from physical activity. Consider the fire lit, and I'll let you know next week how I do with Sunday's 5K!

Making Strides

This past Saturday, October 20th, I ran my third timed 5K race. The run was the American Cancer Society's annual Making Strides for Breast Cancer. I set myself a goal of raising $100 for the cause - to improve treatment, fund research, and hopefully find a cure. Having lost a friend and colleague, Elizabeth Fitch, to the disease, I felt a personal connection to this race and thought it would be the perfect way to help others while working toward my fitness goals. I was very right, but the "fit" part soon took a back seat to the helping. I was blown away and humbled by the generosity and support of my family and friends. Together, we raised $325 - more than 3 times my goal. How awesome is that? I was so empowered and proud to run for Elizabeth! It was four weeks between my last race and Making Strides. During that time, I was sick for two weeks and quite overwhelmed with my workload at the office. Unfortunately, hitting the gym or the pavement was compromised for sleep, meetings, or deadlines. I got in a few good runs and walks, and to the gym a few times, but I was nowhere near my 4 times a week routine during the month of October. I knew the race would be a flat course, since it was on the boardwalk in Ocean City, but I definitely felt a little nervous about my muscles being under prepared. While I may have earned a faster time had I trained better, I consider the race to be a victory, as I recorded another personal best (35:08, 11:20 min/mile). More important, though, was the reason I chose the race and the lesson it taught me - again!

The air was filled with hope the morning of the race. Survivors wore pink sashes and gathered at the front of the deejay's stage. There, they posed for pictures as another survivor sang a song of strength and power and an unrelenting will to never give up. I knew none of them, but felt an instant magnetism, pulling me towards their joy in winning. I wept openly, remembering my friend. She fought tirelessly - twice. And though she eventually lost her life, she never lost her light. Elizabeth was inspiring in her passion for her career, her strength to fight, and her faith in God. As I prepared to run on her behalf, I allowed her perserverance and dedication to life serve as a reminder to what a blessing it is to have health. Again, I committed to never again waste my strong and capable body. I'm too fortunate to be a couch potato.

As I ran, I felt Elizabeth with me, as if she were the wings on my back. She helped me reach the finish line and feel in my heart and soul gratitude for the family, friends, health and love in my life. I am proud to continue the battle against breast cancer and will always carry her in my heart. So, I take the motivation from Saturday's run and begin training for the next one. In less than two weeks, I am registered to race another 5K. Look for another post soon. I hope you can keep up, because a healthy body is too precious to waste!

Back on the Bandwagon

I never stopped working out, but I did take a very long hiatus from my blog. After running my first 5K in May, I guess I felt I was done with all this reflection. Alas, that was not the case. As anyone who knows me is aware, I am rarely (and I mean never) at a loss for words. So, while I achieved my Couch to 5K goal, running and fitness became a lifelong commitment. Who knew!?! Things have changed in a lot of ways, though. I wrangled my co-worker, Caitlin, who also happens to be a personal trainer, into working with me on building my strength. Once I completed the 5K, I found I needed another goal, a new sense of motivation and drive. I found it. After Caitlin led me through my first boot camp session, I nearly passed out and threw up. It consisted of two minutes cardio alternating with two minutes of strength. The original thought was to do 20-30 minutes. I made it a whopping 16 minutes. Yes, a mere 16 minutes brought me to my knees. What a lesson I learned that day. I had endurance to run 3.1 miles, but I had a lot of work to do to be "fit". From that day, I was hooked! So, where am I now? I am still working hard at strengthening and running. I do this through four workouts a week at a minimum, two days running and two days of strength training. Thank God for Caitlin, she is still whipping me into shape, pushing me to lift weights, attempt pull ups, and really work my core. I've shed more weight, but more importantly, my shape is changing. I can see muscle in my arms, back, legs, and even in my abdomen. I never thought I would look like this, but now, I know I can do even better. The time in the gym has made an immense impact on my running. I'm much more efficient and effective. That first timed 5K I ran in May was completed in 37:34. The next one I ran was on September 23rd and was completed in 35:29. Considering my running efforts have remained the same, I know this more than two minute improvement can be attributed to the weight training, boot camp, and core circuit. The hard work is paying off! The one constant through whatever exercise routine I tackle has been the way it lifts my spirits. It provides me with time to center myself and let go of the day's problems and frustrations. As a woman who worries, who never stops thinking, and very easily becomes absorbed and overwhelmed by any situation I'm in, there has been no greater therapy for me than hitting the pavement (or the gym). It makes me stronger in mind, heart, and body. It brings me joy, hope, and inspiration. For example, today I only got in a 1.45 mile run, but I did it in an admirable time for me - just 13:42. Now, that is a good break from the office! Somehow, after feeling the cold air hit my lungs and sun making me squint and legs becoming jell-o while simultaneously holding me up with great strength, I found myself in a much better place to take on the day. I truly thank God I found running! What's next? A 5K on Saturday, October 20 and another 5K on November 4. Sometime soon I look forward to sharing a video of me completing my first ever pull up, as well! For now, I am off and running... :)

Training is No Piece of Cake!

I try to stay positive about my training. In all honesty, that might be harder than the actual training and weight loss work most days. It's so easy to become defeated over one mistake in meal choice or a bad run. Well, last Thursday was a double wammy. I gained half a pound after seriously exerting myself during work-outs. Then, I hit the pavement for week 5, day 2 of training. It had been a while since I trained outdoors, since I'd been on travel for work, and let me tell ya, my body felt the difference. For the first time, I couldn't follow the training program to the second and was fighting the hills against pretty strong winds. It was a down day. Rather than quickly bouncing back, I threw myself a pity party. After talking about the bad day with a couple of friends and my husband, I remembered that we all have bad days. If training was so easy, it wouldn't have been the challenge and goal I set for myself. I had enough desserts before starting this venture to know that getting fit wasn't going to be a piece of cake. But this was truly my first big stumbling block, other than illness, and I only had 2.5 weeks before the 5k! So, I needed to center myself and find some motivation. It helped to have a busy, active weekend planned with my family. The days that followed were joyful and got my mind off my let-down of a Thursday. Come Monday and my next outdoor training day, the weather was too bad to run. Again, I was bummed, but decided I would keep to my schedule. I'd just have to run on my treadmill after I got Lillian off to bed. That evening, I saw a FaceBook status update from my friend Randi, stating that she had just completed her first-ever 5K on the treadmill at her gym. In my excitement for her, a lightbulb went off in my head. Why not skip the Couch 2 5K program for the night and see how far I could run? Bam! I had my motivation. Thanks again, Randi (and congrats)!!! At my slowest, I did a fast paced walk/slow jog at 3.8 and at my fastest, a full on run (for me) at 5.5. My average was more of a 4.2 pace, but I surprised myself. I did it! 3.1 miles in 43:30, burning 440 calories. I was so stinkin' proud of myself. Now, I have the belief again that I am a runner, that I can meet the challenge I set for myself, and when the weather is nice again, I will be out on road running to success!!! I'll see you on the bright side!

Fueling My Fire

First, vacation. Then, a busy return to work. Mix that with a husband, two daughters and a very needy dog to feed, nurture, and clean up after, and you can see why something had to give. I continued to train, but have delayed my blog posts. Now that I am on a business trip to Orlando, I am attempting to catch my breath and catch you up on my running prowess status (HA!). It's too hot and humid in Orlando for me to run outside, so I have taken to the treadmill. I completed week 4 last night and will soon head to the gym to begin week 5. I can't believe how far I've come already! My routines are now up to a little over two miles, which is a triumph for me! I'm still tempering my excitement with reality, as I can't kid myself. May 28, when I am scheduled to do my first 5K (3.1 miles), is just around the corner. Therefore, I must soldier on in pursuit of my first big running goal. Only one more mile to add to my workouts in the next three weeks. It's funny how that would've seemed impossible to me a couple of months ago, but now, I welcome the challenge, literally running towards it with open arms and much stronger legs! While I've learned a lot about myself over the past month and a half of training, it's become bigger than a mind/body exercise of stamina. When I opened myself up to a virtual world of friendship and judgement, I was fully aware of how we're not always positive about what we read and see on FaceBook and blogs and such. People don't usually air their dirty laundry, either. I feel very strongly that most people's lives aren't as happy, beautiful, or picture perfect as what they share in their status updates and photo albums. In real life we don't get to choose at which angle people see us or at what moment. Knowing this, I still chose to share my struggles, admit to my flaws, and broadcast my need to change. I expected pessimism from some and for plenty more people to not be happy for me...even laugh at the position I had allowed myself to settle into. It turns out, though, that I've received more virtual high fives and "woohoo" and "you go girl" comments than could ever have been imagined. You fuel my fire and remind me that people are good, that we can be each other's cheerleaders, and all too many of us feel alone when waging personal wars that are all too similar. We're just fighting to be the best we can - whether as wives, daughters, friends, moms, students, employees, etc. It's a lot easier to swallow the pill when you know so many others are sharing in your pain...even if figuratively. Admitting flaws has become less scary than liberating, and seeing myself grow is more gratifying than a piece of key lime pie (my fave)! For those who have taken a moment to comment on a blog, post on my wall, send me a private message, email, or text, or given me a call with with positive wishes, I thank you for being my cheerleader. For those who've said that I've inspired you, my heart swells even more. This was a selfish goal to be fit and healthy, but to see it become a movement of moving women makes me jump for joy - really, it does! I appreciate every bit of positivity that comes my way and use it to keep my feet swiftly going forward. Your goals are my goals, and I'm so proud you're my friends. See you at mile three...gotta run!

Confronting the Beast

This past week, my hubby and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. In doing so, I got a little sentimental about our love story and began looking back at old pictures. Since we started dating in 1993, I had a lot to reflect on. I love our first homecoming picture and can distinctly remember the dress I wore, how it made me feel, and the weight I was at the time. The sad part is that even though I felt pretty when I left the house, when I got to the dance and looked around me, I was awash with sadness, thinking I looked huge compared to the other girls. I wish I could go back and tell that 14/15 year old me how awesome I looked - really awesome.

Unfortunately, it's always easier to look back in retrospect than to see yourself and your life for what it is in the now. I never wanted to be the "fat one" - not then, not now. Yet, somehow, I've been filling that role for the majority of my adult life. The truth is, I let the evil demon voices in my head become my compass - chubby is cherubic, it's too hard to work out, yummy, fatty food = fun. While I didn't feel good about myself, I settled into a place of acceptance being the chunky girl, as if it was my station in life.



And while I never thought of myself as skinny, it also took a long time for me to admit to being fat. This is an entirely different beast to confront. No one wants to say that out loud. It hurts to speak the words. Instead, I would make jokes about how I was simply "above average". That didn't sound nearly as bad, maybe even good. Plus, I knew if I admitted to having a problem with my weight, I would be expected to do something about it. There were always too many excuses and too many personal roadblocks for me to make that commitment to change. That would mean work, and it was so much more comfortable on the couch watching Law and Order: SVU marathons rather than trying to run one...

One day, though, things just clicked. I complained to my doctor about not being able to drop pounds by diet alone. He challenged me to work out everyday for three weeks. He said I'd find the time, and while it would be hard, I would see a shift in my mental attitude toward my body and wouldn't allow myself to quit. I took him up on the challenge (partially to prove he was wrong. How does a full-time mom and wife find time to work out every stinking day?). And magically, the demons in my head began to quiet to the resounding sound of self worth, saying, "I don't have to settle. I'm better than this." I guess good ol' Dr. B. will see he was right when I go for my next check up, because it's pretty obvious I found the time to work out...

Honestly, I earned the title of the "fat one". I was that person on the outside, and I let that define who I was on the inside - a pile of mushy yellow ick. Not anymore! Today, I am working toward being a lean, mean, running machine. I'm not settling for the couch. I have a 5K to run!



Special thanks to Lori Wortylko for inspiring me with her weight loss, blog, positive attitude, and friendship. And to Michelle Wright for always being honest about how I look, what I can achieve, and reminding me that I am worth the work and the payoff. I'm a lucky girl!!!

Grandpa's Words

Today was a cold, damp day for training, but the drizzle wasn't enough to deter me from my mission to train for that 5K. I only have 5 and a half weeks left, but have 7 weeks of training on the docket. Eek! So, I powered through the chill and wet to begin week 3 of training.

I'm still doing intervals of walking and running, but the stretches of run time are getting longer. Today, I really felt pushed to my physical limit again. My body definitely got another jolt. There's no doubt in my mind I will be aching tomorrow! I started with my typical 5 minute warm up. That was followed by a 90 second jog and 90 seconds of walking...then 3 minutes of jogging and 3 minutes of walking. I then repeated the 90 second run/walk interval, ran 3 more minutes...then did the final 5 minute walking cool down. Phew! I'm so glad the robot lady in my phone (C25K app) keeps me straight. She is the best $1.60 trainer on the market...at least I think she was well worth the cost. :)

As I began my final 3 minute run, I was headed up a steady incline, and I was tired. My Grandpa Torr's words of wisdom kept ringing in my ears, "Never quit going uphill, because when you're going downhill, you won't want to." Boy, is that ever the truth. I chanted to myself - out loud, mind you - as I jogged up the Millenium Trail on Wootton Parkway, "Don't quit uphill...don't quit uphill...don't quit uphill!" And wouldn't you know it, I got to the top of the hill with a minute left of the jogging segment, which began my descent. And I kept going! I didn't quit, and I am so much better for the push. It was as if my grandpa's hands were on my back, helping to nudge me through the exhaustion. I'm so grateful he shared that tidbit and is such a believer in me.

I did 1.81 miles in 25 minutes today, which is an average of a 13.81 minute mile. I'm thrilled to have improved my mile time by about half a minute in just one day. I can tell my endurance is improving, and that has me so excited for what is ahead. I think I can actually do this!

Leaping Over Hurdles

No, I'm not taking on the track event of hurdles (though I think it's super fun), but I have had to overcome a few obstacles in my training as of late. The good news is, I did swerve, jump, dodge, and take on the issues without letting them trip me up...too much!

The whole sick thing became a real problem. After completing Week 2, Day 1 of training, I got super sick! My respiratory infection also became a sinus and ear infection. It knocked me out completely for a few days. That also defeated my spirit. I looked at my training schedule and all the opportunities to run that I missed being ill, which left me feeling overwhelmed. How in the world could I pick myself back up and get in the game, knowing I was so far behind?

Well, I did it the only way possible, I got well. Then, I strapped on my Nikes and hit the trails. Now, I have officially completed week 2 of training!

I've gotten a lot of joy just from being outside. I've watched the trees get their leaves, flowers bloom, deer eating their lunch at a clearing in the woods, and wonderful birds flying all about - orioles, cardinals, woodpeckers, and robins. In that time I'm run/walking, I may have to remind myself to keep going, but I don't ever stop taking it all in. What a pleasure it is to run with the wild!

Now, I have begun tracking my distance to determine how well I am doing at achieving my 5K (3.1 mile) run goal. I made it 2.04 miles today in 29 minutes. Woohoo! I'm so close I can taste it.

See you at the finish line...

Rocking...Rolling...Running

Even though this cough of mine won't take the hint and bugger off, I am determined to stick with my training schedule. Today, I hit the run trail for Week 2, Day 1, which included a warm up walk, 6 intervals of 90 second run/2 minute walk, and a cool down walk. I'll admit it, I was a mess!!!

At the halfway mark, I reached a pond/reservoir area that has a few benches alongside the water. I walked past a gaggle of young moms, sitting quietly with their babies in strollers in front of them. They all stared at me, not smiling or saying hello (though I panted a "Hi" out to the group). When the robotic woman on the C25K app on my phone instructed me I was at the halfway point, I turned around. Shortly after, I was told to start my run interval. As I made my way past the women again, they continued to stare...maybe even glare with concern. That's when I realized I was most likely scaring them with my wheezing, huffing, heavy breathing and coughing, but who cares!? I don't. I made it through the training successfully and am one sluggish, running step closer to my 5K goal. Go me!

Also, since it is a Thursday, I started my day with a weigh in. I was even more anxious this week than last, considering this respiratory infection kept me from working out much, and I did give in to some cravings here and there. The good news is that I still, by the grace of God, lost 1.4 pounds this week. Sound the horns and let the confetti fly!

You can tell from the picture I took of myself post training today that I was throwing myself a party for completing Week 2, Day 1 of training. Believe it or not, I am already excited to take on Day 2 tomorrow. I'm rocking...rolling...running!

Back on Track

My training lost its footing for a few days when an upper respiratory infection settled in my chest. I did get in my third day of training on Friday night, but couldn't do anything again until tonight. While I really wanted to push myself and get in a workout last night, my hubby and a smart friend talked some sense into me.

Since it had been 5 days, I decided to repeat week 1, day 3 of the 60 second run/90 second walk when I got on my treadmill this evening. I pushed myself to run and walk faster with each interval. I still only average about a 16.5 minute mile, but considering I did a 20 minute mile just two weeks ago, I'm happy with my progression. We've all gotta start somewhere.

Tonight, I simply relished the fact that my feet were moving and getting me back on track to reaching my running goals. Tomorrow, I'll start week 2 of training outside. I can't wait!

Oh, and since all good work deserves rewards, I got myself some great new technical fabric workout shirts and a gym bag to get my gear to and from work. My mile time may be ugly, but I'll look good as I improve on my running skills.

Okay, time to rest up for my big day tomorrow!

Training is Mental...

Part of me felt like I was completely mental yesterday when I woke up. My poor legs were aching from the previous day of training, and I couldn't believe after being only one day in I had made a terrible mistake. So, what did I do? I showered and dressed, immediately putting on my running clothes. I was allowing myself no time or excuses to back down to the physical distress. I couldn't let it beat me!

After taking my van in for routine service, I drove to my office. From there I took my lunch break to run. I completed week 1, day 2 of the interval training. Yes, I said completed! I actually even enjoyed it more. The app on my phone got me through all the intervals correctly, though it still didn't capture all my data, and I found I was better able to run through my pain, knowing what I was in for (as opposed to the shock of day 1).

This venture is definitely making me stronger. From the muscle pain, I can tell I'm physically building myself up. Even neater, though, is that I'm finding an inner strength. My mind is beating those pesky self defeating demons I know everyone battles. Running is a mental exercise, and I'm so glad it is actually keeping me from going crazy.

Today, I am going to allow my body the chance to recoup from the first two days and just do a 30 minute brisk walk. Tomorrow, though, I will complete my first week of training. How cool is that? Ok, gotta go stretch!

Jeremy's Run...You'll be Inspired!

I registered for my 5K to attain a goal of health and fitness for myself, but was also very moved by the family's story who will hold this race for the fourth time this Memorial Day in honor of their son and brother, Jeremy Glass.

This race is in memory of Jeremy Daniel Glass, who at the age of 20, died of complications due to drug addiction. Jeremy was a very kind, intelligent, passionate and sensitive person, much loved by his family and friends. He fought what was ultimately a losing battle against a terrible disease that afflicts so many. This race is dedicated to both his memory and to the memory of all who have perished from this tragic illness.

Jeremy's Run is an annual Walk/Run to benefit The Partnership at Drugfree.org, the Kolmac Foundation, and The Family Support Center's school program "Dying to Get High." It will be held on Monday, May 28th, and I am proud to be supporting this cause.

The Glass family story is a powerful one that we all need to remember. Addiction is a disease, and not something for which to be ashamed. In an effort that all children and people who battle with addiction be given the attention and help they need, the Glass family holds this event to raise funds and awareness.

Check out www.jeremysrun.com for more information.

The Side Effects

Thursdays are my weigh in days. This can either be a good or a bad thing. I'm sure you can understand this. I started my day by hopping on the scale...well, it was more of a hesitant and gentle step on. Anyway, the rest of my day - and even week - is sometimes determined by how those numbers appear. As I stood there, naked as a jaybird, I prayed that the workouts and sensible diet were paying off. I closed my eyes as the little machine made up its mind as to my weight, and when I opened them I was equally fearful and excited. And oh, what a glorious surprise I found. I was down by a good amount...more than two pounds this week! Woohoo!!! This is one awesome side effect of my reignited passion for running!!!

But losing weight isn't the only side effect. While I will run later this morning (remember, no time for excuses or failure), I can barely walk right now. Every muscle in the lower half of my body screams with each connection my foot makes with the earth. It's intense, but I'm keeping my eyes on the prize. I just keep telling myself that if I keep going, I'll run myself out of pain - literally. Please, Lord, let this be true!

I guess it boils down to the fact that I am choosing the positive side effect over the negative. Only good can come from that attitude. Okay, gotta run!

Week 1, Day 1...intervals!

So, I completed my first training, which was 5 minutes of walking warm-up, 20 minutes of 60 second run/90 second walk intervals, and an additional 5 minute cool-down for a total of a 30 minute work-out. I'll be honest, it was H-A-R-D!!! While I have been walking everyday for a week and a half, peppered with an occasional jog when I was inspired, this training is legit. When reading the plan, in all my excitement, I kind of laughed off week one as easy. Well, I was definitely pushed to my limit. At one point I was actually thinking it was great to have my phone with me just in case I needed to call a co-worker to come peel me off the ground.

The Couch to 5K (C25K) app on my phone was great until it wasn't. It tried to skip over a couple of intervals, but I was able to time myself, in order to get it all in. Unfortunately, I lost some data, only capturing my first 10:32 of the interval training. In that time, though, I got in 1.12 miles, which is super impressive for me. And let me tell you, the robotic female voice coming from my phone, telling me when to walk and when to run, suddenly became angelic in tone when she said, "You're half way." I actually cheered for myself out loud - and I mean LOUD! I oblviously have no shame. When she suddenly told me to start my cool down, and I knew I had two intervals left, I just watched the clock on my phone to time myself - not as accurate, but it worked well enough for today. Hopefully it was just a weird glitch and the app works better tomorrow, because I will be doing this again...tomorrow.

The biggest challenge by far was that whenever the robot lady told me to run, I seemed to be headed up-hill! Well, that was enough to make my legs feel like complete mush under my heavier-by-the-second upper body. Alternatively, the biggest success by far was that I ran through the pain and exhaustion! I did it! Yes, I did a small victory dance before stretching, eating some apple slices, and pouring myself a nice, tall glass of water.

I then returned to my hobbit hole of a desk/office for an afternoon of email, phone calls, web content re-writes, and listserv messages...only a little sweatier and a lot more pumped!

The Plan

So, I am going to follow the Couch to 5K plan for the next 9 weeks to get myself ready for my first race. This is the plan:

Week 1 (repeat routine 3 times): Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Week 2 (repeat routine 3 times): Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Week 3 (repeat routine 3 times):Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following - Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds), Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds), Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes), Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)

Week 4 (repeat routine 3 times): Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then - Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes), Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds), Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes), Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes), Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes), Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds), Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Week 5 (repeat routine 3 times): Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then - Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes), Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes), Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes), Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes),
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Week 6 (repeat routine 3 times): Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then - Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes), Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes), Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes), Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes),
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Week 7 (repeat routine 3 times): Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).

Week 8 (repeat routine 3 times): Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).

Week 9 (repeat routine 3 times): Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).

I DID IT!!!

While I am anxious to start with Week 1 today, I will venture to say that I will repeat these more than three times a week. That is my absolute bare minimum for exercise. Rather, my goal is to do the routine 5-6 times a week. If weather is bad, I will hit my treadmill. NO EXCUSES!

I'll keep you posted on how well I stick to these goals. If I stay motivated and hold myself accountable (and you hold me to it, as well), I'm confident I will rock this!

Here I go...

Starting off on the Right Foot!

I was out for a walk today when my feet got the itch...the itch to run! While the rest of my body wasn't so sure, it took the lead from first my right, and then my left, foot. After I quickly covered a quarter mile, my body went back to controlling my pace. I started to speed walk again, but in that moment I realized that I want more out of my daily work-out than the burning of calories. I need a goal, something to work towards. But what would that be? And what is realistic? I mean, seriously, anyone who knows me could tell you I am not an athlete!

Once back to my office and my fingers could start tapping on my keyboard, I found myself searching for training tips to running a 5K. Before I knew it, I was registered for my first race and put an app on my Droid phone to train from "Couch to 5K" in 9 weeks. And did I mention that 5K I registered for is in 9 weeks?! Aaahhh!!!

Just so I wouldn't back out, I made the news public to my nearly 500 "friends" on FaceBook. Now, I have to stick with the program - literally. And since I went that far already, I decided to also blog about my successes and challenges. There will be no failures. My timeline doesn't have any wiggle room for that to happen.

Welcome to my venture into health, fitness, and becoming a real runner. Why would I do this? Well, I want to look good in clothes, of course, but this isn't just for vanity. I want to be healthy, to actually feel good, and most importantly, to be a good example for my girls. Oh, and did I mention that running allows me time to myself? What wife, mom, career woman doesn't want that?

We're in this together, right?

XOXO,
Gracie