I can manage OK during the day. I'm not perfect, but I manage. But by the time night-time rolls around I'm at a loss. I want to eat everything in sight, and get quite ticked when there's nothing good to eat. By good I mean "snacky" stuff. Heck, right now I don't even have fruits and veggies in the house to munch on.
How the heck to you snack sensibly if you don't have "good" stuff to snack on?
Ho-hum....
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Lesson Learned
You can't slack off on the running/walking thing for two months (esp. when you are out of shape to begin with) and expect to just jump right back in there where you were (same ability) before you started slacking.
I'm registered for some 5Ks, and I'm still doing those. But my personal goal for running is to be able to run a full mile without stopping. This morning I ran/walked (mostly walked because my calves felt like they were on fire) 1.03 miles in roughly 22 minutes. My best pace was 12:57/mile when I was jogging. I want to get my mile down somewhere between 10-13 minutes. I know it's a big range, but I have no idea what I am actually capable of since I've never done it before.
I'm going to alternate days. One day, I'm just going to do a mile, but focusing on my pace and running more of it than the previous time. The next day, work on my 5K run/walk.
Oh, and get to the gym as often as I can. Those are my goals. Tonight I'm planning on Kick and Power.
I'm registered for some 5Ks, and I'm still doing those. But my personal goal for running is to be able to run a full mile without stopping. This morning I ran/walked (mostly walked because my calves felt like they were on fire) 1.03 miles in roughly 22 minutes. My best pace was 12:57/mile when I was jogging. I want to get my mile down somewhere between 10-13 minutes. I know it's a big range, but I have no idea what I am actually capable of since I've never done it before.
I'm going to alternate days. One day, I'm just going to do a mile, but focusing on my pace and running more of it than the previous time. The next day, work on my 5K run/walk.
Oh, and get to the gym as often as I can. Those are my goals. Tonight I'm planning on Kick and Power.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Free to Breathe 5K, August 21, 2010
This morning Patrick and I participated in the Free to Breathe 5K to benefit lung cancer research and awareness. I think I posted in June when I started my journey to a 5K that my goal was a race in August. The race I chose was the Free to Breathe 5K. I made this one my goal because a very close family friend, Aunt Carol, had been diagnosed with lung cancer in May. I did it today in her memory. Aunt Carol lost her fight on June 20, 2010. I was very blessed to have my wonderful husband do this race with me.
I have to say, this was the absolute hardest thing I've done in a long time. I started off feeling really good. I was actually aggravated that I couldn't get around the walkers to start running. (I went too far toward the back and couldn't get around them.) I finally started running, and it felt really good. We were running downhill, and all of a sudden my right calf started cramping horribly. I could barely keep moving. This was a little before mile 1. By the time we got to the 1st mile marker, I was ready to give up. Add to it that when we got to the water station, they were out of water, and I felt even worse. I did still have some water, but I wanted to get some fresh to drink and hold on to what I had to get me through the end.
The entire second mile I was pretty much just trying to keep moving. I was in tears - not so much from the pain, and not from just being a big baby, either. I was so disappointed in myself for even considering giving up, even though while I was in tears and urging my feet forward I was still looking for any option I had to get out. Finally, we hit the mile 2 marker. I was starting to feel a bit better by the end of the second mile, and the last mile we actually picked up my pace. Oh, did I mention that beyond the initial running we did, once the cramps started we were walking? Anyway, on the last mile we started picking up my pace. We had been last, but toward the end when the pain in now both of my calves had eased up (or maybe I was just numb to it by this time)we were actually passing people. First we passed a group of three who were walking, then a group of two, and then a group of three more.
For the first time I wasn't last. I might have been near the back, but I wasn't last. That was a great feeling! And it was even better having my husband there to do it with me!
This course was extremely hard for me. It was in Virginia Highlands. Virginia Highlands is very hilly. There wasn't much flat land. It was either up or down. I want to try this course again at some later point. I want to lose some weight and train some more. I want to get used to hills before I tackle this route again.
All in all, it was a great day. It was extremely hard for me, but I feel great knowing that even though I was hurting, I push through it and made it to the end. What a great day!
I have to say, this was the absolute hardest thing I've done in a long time. I started off feeling really good. I was actually aggravated that I couldn't get around the walkers to start running. (I went too far toward the back and couldn't get around them.) I finally started running, and it felt really good. We were running downhill, and all of a sudden my right calf started cramping horribly. I could barely keep moving. This was a little before mile 1. By the time we got to the 1st mile marker, I was ready to give up. Add to it that when we got to the water station, they were out of water, and I felt even worse. I did still have some water, but I wanted to get some fresh to drink and hold on to what I had to get me through the end.
The entire second mile I was pretty much just trying to keep moving. I was in tears - not so much from the pain, and not from just being a big baby, either. I was so disappointed in myself for even considering giving up, even though while I was in tears and urging my feet forward I was still looking for any option I had to get out. Finally, we hit the mile 2 marker. I was starting to feel a bit better by the end of the second mile, and the last mile we actually picked up my pace. Oh, did I mention that beyond the initial running we did, once the cramps started we were walking? Anyway, on the last mile we started picking up my pace. We had been last, but toward the end when the pain in now both of my calves had eased up (or maybe I was just numb to it by this time)we were actually passing people. First we passed a group of three who were walking, then a group of two, and then a group of three more.
For the first time I wasn't last. I might have been near the back, but I wasn't last. That was a great feeling! And it was even better having my husband there to do it with me!
This course was extremely hard for me. It was in Virginia Highlands. Virginia Highlands is very hilly. There wasn't much flat land. It was either up or down. I want to try this course again at some later point. I want to lose some weight and train some more. I want to get used to hills before I tackle this route again.
All in all, it was a great day. It was extremely hard for me, but I feel great knowing that even though I was hurting, I push through it and made it to the end. What a great day!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Lab Results
I went to the doctor last Friday just for a general check-up. I knew I needed to get a new prescription for my blood pressure medicine. After talking with my doctor, we decided to change my medication - for reasons not at all related to my blood pressure, diet, or exercise. As he looked over my records, he noticed it had been over a year since I'd had lab work done.
So, today my lab results came in... the big one.... and I'm copying it as it reads on the letter.
"Your Hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1C)is a test which measures your average blood sugar over the preceding 3 months. It is less than 6 which is excellent! There is no evidence you have diabetes."
Woohoo!!!!
Everything else was within normal limits, too! Yay!!!
So, today my lab results came in... the big one.... and I'm copying it as it reads on the letter.
"Your Hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1C)is a test which measures your average blood sugar over the preceding 3 months. It is less than 6 which is excellent! There is no evidence you have diabetes."
Woohoo!!!!
Everything else was within normal limits, too! Yay!!!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Nearly a month later.....
It's been nearly a month since I posted last. I'd love to say I'd gotten in 15-20 more run/walk sessions since then, but I haven't. Today was my 3rd since my last post. Lori had some times she couldn't do it, I had some times I couldn't do it, and then a few excuses thrown in there.... all that combined adds up to no running.
This morning we got up and went for it. I didn't want to. I'll be honest. I wanted to curl back up in bed with my quilt that my grandmother made me and my pillow. I got up a little late, but I got up. I resisted the urge to tell Lori stay home and get some more sleep. I told her that while I really would rather sleep, I needed to run. She got here a little after 6AM, and we were off.
She changed things up on me, and we didn't take our usual route. I wasn't enthused about the new route we were going to take. It included more hills - and the first one she wanted me to run the entire way to the top. I honestly can't remember if I made it or not. I mean, I made it to the top of the hill, but I can't remember if I ran the whole way. If not the whole way, I made it a good bit up. It was nice to take a different route, and we're going to do it again tomorrow, for the most part, tomorrow... with a little bit of a change up.
So, today Lori and I went 3.11 miles in an hour and two minutes. That's 4/10 of a mile farther than last time, and 1 minute faster. I ran more than I've ever run before, ran up more hills than I have ever run before, my stride length has improved, and I didn't have to stop for any stretching. Lori usually stops the time on her watch/GPS if I need to stop so that the time she gets is actual movement time. She didn't have to stop it for me today!
I lasted a good bit longer in the run/walk before I got really tired, and it hit me fast. I was fine, and then I was hurting. But this was with less than a mile to go. The hardest part was the hill that leads right up to my house. It's right after a cul-de-sac that we run, so usually we walk up the hill to my house. Today, we ran the cul-de-sac, and Lori said we were going to run to the top of the hill. I was hurting and tired. I think by the time I reached the top I was making a lot of noise and nearly in tears. Not the "I-hurt-and-want-to-quit--- whining type tears," but rather the kind that come to the surface when you know you are giving all you have and trying to summon the strength to make it just that much farther. So, by the time we reached the top all the energy I was trying to drag up from my toes I thing I just expelled with a nice "Aaaaarrrrrgggghhhhhh."
It felt good to make it. To push myself. To know that I'm getting stronger. I am not an athlete, mentally. People tell me I am because I work out, I run, I've done a race. I don't feel like one, though. I don't have that drive to push myself on my own. I'm so thankful that Lori is there to push me. I know the day will come when I'll have the drive to push myself. I look forward to when Lori and I can go out for a run, and it's not her pushing me, but us pushing each other.
I'm getting there!
This morning we got up and went for it. I didn't want to. I'll be honest. I wanted to curl back up in bed with my quilt that my grandmother made me and my pillow. I got up a little late, but I got up. I resisted the urge to tell Lori stay home and get some more sleep. I told her that while I really would rather sleep, I needed to run. She got here a little after 6AM, and we were off.
She changed things up on me, and we didn't take our usual route. I wasn't enthused about the new route we were going to take. It included more hills - and the first one she wanted me to run the entire way to the top. I honestly can't remember if I made it or not. I mean, I made it to the top of the hill, but I can't remember if I ran the whole way. If not the whole way, I made it a good bit up. It was nice to take a different route, and we're going to do it again tomorrow, for the most part, tomorrow... with a little bit of a change up.
So, today Lori and I went 3.11 miles in an hour and two minutes. That's 4/10 of a mile farther than last time, and 1 minute faster. I ran more than I've ever run before, ran up more hills than I have ever run before, my stride length has improved, and I didn't have to stop for any stretching. Lori usually stops the time on her watch/GPS if I need to stop so that the time she gets is actual movement time. She didn't have to stop it for me today!
I lasted a good bit longer in the run/walk before I got really tired, and it hit me fast. I was fine, and then I was hurting. But this was with less than a mile to go. The hardest part was the hill that leads right up to my house. It's right after a cul-de-sac that we run, so usually we walk up the hill to my house. Today, we ran the cul-de-sac, and Lori said we were going to run to the top of the hill. I was hurting and tired. I think by the time I reached the top I was making a lot of noise and nearly in tears. Not the "I-hurt-and-want-to-quit--- whining type tears," but rather the kind that come to the surface when you know you are giving all you have and trying to summon the strength to make it just that much farther. So, by the time we reached the top all the energy I was trying to drag up from my toes I thing I just expelled with a nice "Aaaaarrrrrgggghhhhhh."
It felt good to make it. To push myself. To know that I'm getting stronger. I am not an athlete, mentally. People tell me I am because I work out, I run, I've done a race. I don't feel like one, though. I don't have that drive to push myself on my own. I'm so thankful that Lori is there to push me. I know the day will come when I'll have the drive to push myself. I look forward to when Lori and I can go out for a run, and it's not her pushing me, but us pushing each other.
I'm getting there!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Back at it
After doing the 5K Friday night, I didn't do anything Saturday or Sunday. Monday Lori and I mostly walked 1.98 miles. I was still hurting. Tuesday, I had intended to get up and do my own run/walk, but I didn't make it. Tuesday night I got in a very short run/walk, but it was better than doing nothing, I guess. Wednesday, I did nothing. Mom and I headed to Columbus to say goodbye to Aunt Carol. The service was sad, but beautiful.
It was Aunt Carol that kept me going this morning. Lori told me yesterday that today we'd do 3.1 miles, and we'd run/walk the entire thing... and I couldn't complain. Today was the first day I did this that I didn't feel like I was going to collapse. I hurt, but it wasn't the intense pain in my calves I'd experienced before. My feet didn't hurt like they normally do. By the end they were hurting, but nothing like they hurt before.
I'm still working towards being able to run more, and slowly I am getting there. I kept thinking about the Free to Breathe 5K in August. I'm doing that one for Aunt Carol. It benefits lung cancer awareness and research. I want to run as much of it as I possibly can. It's going to be a hilly race. I don't care if I place - I probably won't. I just want to run it (as much as I can) and finish it.
It was Aunt Carol that kept me going this morning. Lori told me yesterday that today we'd do 3.1 miles, and we'd run/walk the entire thing... and I couldn't complain. Today was the first day I did this that I didn't feel like I was going to collapse. I hurt, but it wasn't the intense pain in my calves I'd experienced before. My feet didn't hurt like they normally do. By the end they were hurting, but nothing like they hurt before.
I'm still working towards being able to run more, and slowly I am getting there. I kept thinking about the Free to Breathe 5K in August. I'm doing that one for Aunt Carol. It benefits lung cancer awareness and research. I want to run as much of it as I possibly can. It's going to be a hilly race. I don't care if I place - I probably won't. I just want to run it (as much as I can) and finish it.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Keep on moving...
Well, I can't keep calling these posts "Journey to a 5K" since I've already done one. I completely took Saturday and Sunday off. I was so tired, I went to bed at 9PM. This morning I didn't want to wake up at all. I was so happy to have a text message from Lori that said she wanted to meet at 7AM instead of 6AM. I still barely got up in time. We opted for an "easy" morning - 1.98 mile run/walk in the neighborhood in about 42 minutes. My right foot and left calf bothered me. I couldn't favor one without the other one hurting. It was almost comical. We are taking tomorrow off, and then Wednesday (if I am here) we are planning on doing the entire 3.1 mile run/walk.
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