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ADLINS's Recent Blog Entries
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Monday, October 26, 2009
I can't believe today begins week 10. I think I'm supposed to be up to 3 miles, but doubt I'll do that tonight. I'm hoping for 2.5 miles.
There have been a couple of really good runs as another beginner acted as a pace buddy for two of those night. We were also running through the area of town where I live, but haven't really ventured into parts that are past my apartment, which I love. The route takes me by local businesses of all types and all of the downtown homes, condos, etc. I'm so busy looking and gawking that my sole focus isn't on how many minutes till I walk or am I done yet.
The pace buddy is really nice, not just for setting a really steady nice pace, but also because as it gets darker (we start at 6:30, so we don't have a lot of light these days) it's nice not to be alone.
Last week presented a challenge that I hadn't given any thought to, but should have. We ran along a busy street. Now, the traffic did freak me out a bit, but remember, it's basically dark about 10-15 minutes into the run. I'm night blind. Oh, I can see somewhat, but headlights do a number on me. In fact, I try not to drive after dark unless I'm extremely familiar with where I'm going. Well folks, it's not any better on foot than in a car. Yes, at the end of the run, on this busy street, with headlights coming at me, I really couldn't see. More street lamps would probably make it better, but it's mostly residential so there just aren't that many. I mentioned this to coach as I wouldn't be doing that run again. I'd just do a route that took me off the main roads. I even stopped a bit short of the turn around point because of the sight thing and major road with a major curve. As I mentioned, traffic that close also freaked me out a bit.
I made all four nights though and made the 2.5 miles. So, I was happy with that. Imagine my disappointment when I saw tonight's route. Another major road, 3 miles, and over a two lane, busy bridge. In the dark. I'm sure it's got good hills and I'm sure in the daylight I would be fine, but I just don't see me doing this route in the dark. Even if someone stuck to me like glue (my running buddy missed last Wednesday), it doesn't change that fact that my vision will be severely limited. My solution - I'll do the neighborhood run that I like, only earlier. Two benefits - I'll be able to see, plus I'll be done earlier and have a little more down time tonight.
Still going good on the no chocolate, which makes me happy. If I need chocolate, it's coming from mostly a baked goodie on the weekend (I didn't eliminate all chocolate, just chocolate candy). For 6 weeks now, my hands have stayed out of the various office candy jars (I don't buy candy myself).
Monday, October 12, 2009
I can't believe it's been three weeks since I posted. It seems like I have been going every direction. I worked one Sunday and it just threw everything off. Then furniture stuff and days off and here we are.
The running. I'm hanging in there. I'm still not totally enjoying it, but I like the feeling after I'm done and the results. I've discovered that I really, really don't like running at the track and that I do even worse if I try to listen to music. Music is really good for the elliptical and perhaps walking, but not for running. I couldn't keep my pace or my intervals with the music. I've been keeping my intervals at a level that work for me, which means that I've not been upping the run time as per the schedule. Once I realized that I should and could do what works for me, it's been easier.
Last Monday, I missed my first class run. I was feeling really bad and by the time I got off work and got home, I realized that it was one of those days where exercise would accomplish nothing. I crashed on the couch and that was it. By Wednesday, I was feeling better and joined the class for a run. No tunes. I put the run interval back to 2 minutes and left the walk interval at 1.5 minutes and that seemed to work really well. The weather was crisp and cool and I was the interval keeper for me and two other women. Because I had the timer, I made sure I kept my pace somewhat in time with them, rather than just running off ahead. I was a little ahead of them, but it kept my run pace way more steady. It was my best run since I started. I'm hoping tonight is a repeat. Wednesday we're supposed to be at the track, but since that is something that just doesn't work for me, I'm thinking I'll do the run we do tonight, just earlier. I'll still get the run in, do one that works for me and maybe get a little jump start on running without being in a group. The weather is getting cool here and I know I'm not the girl who's going to bundle up so she can go out for a run, so I better enjoy it while I can.
Last week was almost an exercise vacation. I haven't entered it in my tracker yet, but I was down two cardio sessions, but maintained the yoga sessions. My goal is 8 yoga sessions per month; you'd think I'd set a cardio number for the month, but I don't. I use SparkAmerica minutes for that. Really helps to keep me on track with the yoga though.
I did get a bit of exercise from an unexpected source. Re-arranging new furniture. The first weekend, several times. Then a rug I ordered came in. Trust me, putting an 8x10 rug down and getting furniture back on it, is exercise. Then, the rug wasn't as pictured (shocker), so yesterday, I rolled it back up, got it out to the car and returned it. No easy feat as I live on the fourth floor and parking is not close. However, I did it (thank heavens there is an elevator). I then headed to Home Depot (their area rugs are on sale), with pillow in hand, to select another rug. I did. Let's hope it looks good in my apartment. Between the fact that rugs are hanging and the lighting is horrible, it's really hard to tell how it's going to look on my floor. The area rug did add quite a bit to the room, so I'm looking forward to the new one. As is my cat. Who knew she'd get such a kick out of a rug?
As a last note, I'm on week four of no chocolate candy. The urge to run to someone's candy bowl at work when things get a little weird is gone. Something I knew would happen, but the first week is kind of rough. Now, it's just getting easier.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Well, I'm still at it. This week I did not do Saturday again. Saturday is always a bit longer than during the week, but this Saturday was booked at 2.5 miles for the beginner group. I knew it would be pushing it for me to make that.
I did go Monday and Wednesday and did not move up the intervals. I feel like the intervals are moving up a bit faster than I am, so I may remain at the 2.5 minute running and the 2 minute walking again this week. If I change anything, it will be to shorten the walking to 1.5 minutes but leave the running at 2.5 minutes. The schedule is calling for 3 minutes walking and 1 minute running and I'm not sure that's going to happen. While I'm very much enjoying the class, I know this has to be something that works for me or I won't stick with it when the class ends and I very much want to stick with it.
This week was still 1.5 miles. Wednesday was done at the track. I've discovered I don't care for running at the track. I used to walk at a track many years ago and enjoyed it, but it's somewhat monotonous running on a track. I really need to get tunes loaded to my MP3 player. Starting out on Wednesday, my shins bothered me, which is a clue that my thought of getting running shoes (rather than the cross-trainers I have) is probably a good idea. So, now I'm looking. I checked out a Running shoe guide and it was illuminating. I think I'll be fine until I get them, but I'm hoping to get them this week.
The nutritionist on Monday was good. I knew most of what she talked about, but she did focus on eating for running, which was good. However, it was apparent that she's not really worked with a picky eater. Seriously, when people bandy about veggies as if everyone eats all of them, you know they have not worked with a picky eater. I am a picky eater, which means I have to adjust everything that gets handed to me.
While my exercise felt good this week, I fell short of my calories burned goal by quite a bit. The running is generally about 20 minutes. I had been making up for it with a walk at work, but this week, I only got one walk in, so that didn't do much. So, I'm going to stick with the 2 days of jog/walking (with strength training following) and then do two/three other days of cardio to compensate. I'm probably getting a little fanatic about this because I gained a bit over a pound since my last weigh-in, about a month ago. I know I could be adding muscle, but I was one pound away from goal. Which brings up another question of sorts. Once I reach goal, what is "acceptable" for fluctuation. I've read that weight generlly fluctuates by a couple of pounds, so what "fluctuation range" do I want to have in mind? I'd love to dump the scale, but I learned that while I can go with how clothes fit etc, I do need the somewhat regular weigh-in to avoid anything getting out of control. Gain is hard for me because with the exception of the 5 pounds I gained after I moved, even though my loss has been slow, my weight for the most part has gone down or stayed the same. For two years.
On a side note, one of my goals is no chocolate candy. Given the fact that a co-worker keeps a bowl of peanut M&M's on her desk (my absolute favorite) and another has a stocked candy jar, I've been dipping my hand in both. I track it as best as I can (estimating the M&Ms and actually tracking the others), but if I eat chocolate candy then I want either more chocolate candy or more food in general. So, as of this past Monday I started tracking in Goals my chocolate candy freedom. One week so far. And, yes, my food cravings and munchies went down, so good call for me.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
I am now three weeks into my running class. The weather got pretty icky at the end of the week and I wasn't feeling up to par, I did jog/walk twice.
I did run on Monday morning (Labor Day) even though there was no class. I thought I'd mapped it out before hand for 1.55 miles. I changed the route a bit, basically I just turned around and came back the way I went. When I got back, I used SP to map it out. 1.77 miles. I didn't quite maintain the intervals the way I had on Saturday, but I was pretty close. I also ran on a street that the closer to the end I got, the worse the side walks were. Because it had more traffic, I couldn't really hit the street. Next time, I'll probably just go to the park and jog/walk there.
Wednesday night I felt like crap, but I went. We ran through a neighborhood I fell in love with. I looked at the map, but got turned around and again overshot my goal. Probably not by much. The goal was 1.5 miles and I didn't go over by that much before those behind me called me back. I did maintain my intervals.
Because the weather was really cloudy and overcast and because I just wasn't feeling all that peppy, I slept in on Saturday rather than do the bonus Saturday class/run, ran errands and then did yoga in the evening. I just entered my exercise for the week and fell short of the "calories burned" goal by a bit, so I'm sitting here trying not to feel guilty for the one night off and the no Saturday run. The thing I'm discovering is that I'm used to working out 30-45 minutes and right now the runs are taking about 20 minutes and not burning as much yet as the 40 minute workout.
Monday took me about 29 minutes and the calories burned was good. Thank heavens I have the heart rate monitor as I tried the estimate feature of SP maps and they estimated I'd burn 89 calories running/walking 1.77 miles. Ummm...maybe walking and maybe running if I was in tip top shape, but not according to my heart rate monitor. Because I'm so new to running, my heart rate does get up there and stays higher when I walk due to the intervals. I'm thinking this will change the more I do it.
I'm still not "loving" running, but the feeling when I'm done is great. I figure it's one of those things you really have to do for awhile so you can get your endurance built up as well as just get a rhythm that works.
Next week I'm supposed to hit 3 minutes running/jogging and 1 minute walking. I'm thinking at least for Monday I'm going to leave it at 2.5 minutes running/jogging and 2 minutes walking. My neighbor had never run before her first class, but I'm not sure that they are really gearing this class for beginners. I expected a bit more coaching on stride, pacing, breathing, etc and none of that. I can figure it out, but that's not what I expected when the word coaching is used. Even when asked questions (I've asked about breathing and another participant has asked about stride), we don't really get an answer.
Tomorrow night a nutritionist is the guest speaker and then we'll go run. This doesn't start until 6:30 and I have things I like to do in the evening. Plus, with SP and the fact that I've heard nutritionists speak before I'm not real excited about that. We'll see.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Yesterday, I completed week 2 of the running class. Monday went fine. I think I'm actually doing okay time wise for someone who has never really done any jogging/running. I was an extremely peppy walker on Monday and completed my mile in 14:20. I was happy with that, though I could've gone a little longer. Instead, I did a short yoga routine when I got home to help stretch me out and keep me from getting too stiff.
Wednesday was a different story. We met at a track. It was laps for the beginners and advanced beginners; speed work for the intermediate. I doubt I'll ever do the speed work, though one guy can run. His sprints were something to watch. Anyway, it was nice running on the track, but my breathing was off and I got a stitch in my side. I'm impressed that it didn't happen before now, but it was a small blow to my ego on Wednesday. I did get the mile done, but it was hard.
Saturday was my redeeming day. My neighbor and I walked to the meeting point (a run through downtown), which was a little over a mile. Nice warm up. I was the only beginner, so of course, I'm bringing up the tail end. I did look at the route before we left, but couldn't really remember the street I was supposed to turn around at; I was just following the others relying on the instructors to mark the turn around spot like last week. I set my watch for the intervals (2.5 minutes running, 2 minutes walking) and did the intervals the whole run. The first 2 minutes I wondered what kind of lunacy had overtaken me to sign up for this and was a little unsettled to be bringing up the rear. However, after the first walking interval, I got my rhythm; my side did get a small stitch, but I just focused on breathing out and it didn't get too bad. I was just going along, keeping the others in my site then I see the instructors coming toward telling me to turn around - we'd overshot the turnaround. The goal was 1.75 miles and I overshot it by a bit. I just turned around and stuck with my intervals. Total time was 22:44.
Then I walked back. I got caught by the drawbridge, a first for me on foot. While looking over the bridge I actually saw a crab! Too bad I didn't have my camera. I was exhausted by the time I got back and in hindsight I should have done some jogging on the way back; if nothing else I would have gotten back sooner.
Since tomorrow is Labor Day there is no class, but I've already mapped out my potential running route and it is 1.55 miles. Here's hoping it doesn't rain and I actually get my butt out of bed and do it.
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Member Comments About This Blog Post:
Glad to hear you are still running - I don't know if I will ever get to that point. I like the walking with the Pups - still trying to get her to do the powerwalking - too much sniffing around.