Unexpected

After work I was geared up and ready to go, when I got an unexpected phone call to help my dad.  I can't say no to my daddy, but I wasn't sure how this was going to work out for my workout.  I was almost out the door. 

"When life hands you lemons, make lemonade".  So basically, I did what he had asked and then this is where my routine took a turn.  He wanted to go and visit his 89 year old friend whose birthday was today.  I had him take me to the place and then I ran/walked home.  We had made a plan.  This was very unexpected but it worked out perfectly.  Even though I knew where I was going, I didn't know how long it would talk me.  With this minor change up, I didn't even realize that I was exercising.  I like the fact that I was concentrating the differences of the scenery instead of run.  It seems that minor changes help me out to not be so bummed about exercise.  These past couple of days I've been pleasantly surprised how well training is going. 

How have you made lemonade today or in the past?  Did you just throw out the lemons or did you make something out of them?  Maybe these tips will help me again in the future.  :)

Distance: 1.36 miles
Time: 22 min

Time per mile: 16:10

WOW! better timing too...I like unexpected!!!


Picure courtsey of:: http://www.austinpost.org/files/articles/lemonade.jpg

Whew that was great!

Today was the 1st day working with the training schedule that I posted a couple of days ago. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/5k-run/SM00061  In short, Day 1 is interval training - 15 sec run/ 45 sec walk for 30 min.  Before I started, I wasn't sure what to think.  I honestly thought that I was going to tire out after the first 10 min.  What I found is that by doing interval training, the time goes by really fast.  It kept me on my toes and I didn't have time to think about how I didn't like exercising. 

My little helper (MLH), was instrumental to my success.  I purchased a Timex W-105 watch.  This watch allows me to set two alarms that countdown simultaneously and will repeat up to 99 times.  Shameless plug for MLH, http://www.timex.com/Timex-Ironman-30-Lap-Mid/dp/B000P0VIV0. This watch is so helpful, you don't have to be looking at your watch every 2 seconds to make sure that you are not over time or under time to switch to running or walking.  As the old adage says, 'a watch pot never boils'. It felt awesome to be walking then hear a chime, then running hear another chime.  The interval was quick enough to not be able to think of what you were doing.  I love this tool!

Another tool that I love is the http://www.mapmyrun.com/ website.  Joining is free! After you log in, you can customize your runs using their mapping tool.  You can set the privacy level as well.  I just use it for my own reference, but you can allow your friends or the public view your courses.  It also can be uploaded to Facebook or twitter also email it to a friend.  Below are some stats from toady's run/walk.  I will be including these so that you can see my progress daily.

 

Distance: 1.75 miles

Time: 29 min

Time per mile: 16:34

How did your day go?  Do you have helpful tools that you use in your training?  Let me know!

Motivation



Motivation Road Sign



In the past, I've struggled with the motivation to walk/run.  Currently I am stuck in the same rut.  It may just come down to the Nike slogan "Just do it"!  Trying to really think about the things that I want, then to focus on that is my goal.  What I want most is to be able to say "yeah, I just ran 4 miles" or "let's go for a 3 mile run", "a half marathon? let's train for that".  For me, the toughest part is actually getting to that point.  To tell the truth, I'm not a big fan of exercise.  But I need to put the work in to get this result, I really want to like running, I do!!!

So I've been thinking of what things I can do to get my mind off the "I hate exercise" mentality and more towards the goal of "I <3 running".  Here are somethings that I came up with:

 - Walk with a partner

 - Listening to music on the run

 - Set a timed walk/run goal (run 15 sec/ walk 45 sec, repeat)

 - Exercise before anything else

 - Listen to talk radio or a pod cast

What helps get you motivated to walk/run?  What gets you from the "I hates" or the "don't wants" to the gratification of "I did its" and reaching your goal?  Tell me what has helped you in the past or is helping you now.

Picture courtesy of: http://themanagementexperts.com/motivation-made-simple/

Rain...

Today it looked like it was going to rain.  I felt like I needed to hurry and get out there to walk before I was a victim of the rain drop.  Tying up my shoes, I decided that I was going to see how fast I could walk.  Figuring that 17 minute mile pace would be a great target.

Starting out strong, I began to feel tightening in my calves.  As I rounded the corner, the rain came, metaphorically speaking.

According to Wiki, rain brings joy.  In my mind, I like to think of rain as blessings from heaven.  My blessings came when I saw a friend pull up to her house after a day of work.  It's been a while since I've seen her and I got a chance to meet her beautiful baby girl.  The rest of her family came out to greet them - husband and 2 boys, with huge smiles and laughter.  Such a beautiful family!  I blessed to be able to speak with them for a bit. 

After we said our good-byes, I continued my walk feeling light of step.  Still not being able to figure out my watch, my time no longer mattered.  The main thing was that I got out to walk, my heart rate was up, and the blood was flowin'.  I'll have plenty of opportunity to figure out my clocking techniques later.

It still has not began to rain yet, but I felt a thunderstorm of blessings.  Rain falls and brings new beginnings, just like my new lifestyle changes. How was your life impacted by the 'Rain' today?


Picture courtesy of http://msy316.wordpress.com/2010/10/12/as-the-rain-pours-forth-an-observation-of-water-falling-from-the-sky/

A New Day!!!

Like I stated in my 'about me' area, I've not had the healthiest of habits.  I've gotten to the point that I want to start living a more vibrant lifestyle.  Wanting to be active and feeling great.  The best way I know how to do this is to changing my habits of the past to a new way of the future.  Creating lifestyle changes that are not outlandish but can be maintained throughout my life. 

I started and quit this process multiple times in my life.  What is different you ask?  Finally I realized that if you want a different result, quit doing the same thing over and over again.  Feeling like a hamster on a wheel going round and round is not what I want to keep doing.  I'm ready to live!  Many choices in the past has created a sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle.

For about a year I've been trying to figure out what will work for me.  A lot of thinking and not a whole lot of doing was the result.  Now I'm 'doing' to see what works and what doesn't.  Last October, I hit what I call my 'Fat Peak' (the heaviest that I had ever been), that was a mild wake up call but also what hit me was a blood test that I received that basically stated that my unhealthy habits were going in a downward spiral.  At that time I wanted to do something about it but didn't have the desire to change.  I wanted things to change around me but wasn't willing to put forth the effort. Up until10 months ago, I had lost around 10lbs.

Then about a month ago, I committed to giving this 'thing' that has been plaguing me all my life an honest effort.  A couple of things that I want is to like to exercise and to make good food choices all the time.  When I committed to exercise, I signed up for another 1/2 marathon in Feb 2012.  In the past when I have participated in these races (3 Half Marathons to date), but don't like the idea that I'm walking for nearly 4hrs. 

A goal of mine was to lose some weight before I started training.  This was going to happen with smart food choices.  I started an Arbonne health regiment, with protein meal replacement shakes.  Also two other things have helped me out - #1 Stop eating when I'm full, no matter how little is on my plate. #2 When making my plate do not fill it to capacity, make sure that I see the plate.  Usually I would fill my plate in a mound fashion, didn't know where one food started or another food ended.  Now that I see my blue plate under the food, I know that my portions are smaller.  That equals less calories in, less calories to store in my body and less calories to burn.  By working on my food portion, it has benefited me in a way that I didn't think could be possible.  In one month I have lost 10 pounds.  I feel lighter, not as sluggish, and have found myself being more active around the house.

Since I have more energy, I've decided that it is now time to start exercising.  A couple of days ago, I signed up to run a 5k (3.2 miles) on Thanksgiving morning.  I thought that this would be a great way to start training for my race in Feb.  I have about 2mo to train for the 5k.  I found a great resource from the Mayo Clinic website for a 7 week training to run a 5k.  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/5k-run/SM00061  This is an awesome resource for people like me that have not ran or do not have the stamina yet.  Check it out! 

Today I wanted to see what my capabilities were as far as breathing and distance.  So my goal was to go out for 30 mins (who doesn't have 30 mins?).  I ran intervals of 15 secs and walked 2 mins.  Very surprised that I felt good running in those 15 seconds and the 2 min recovery was very helpful.  It made me feel that this plan could work for me.  I'm not sure how far that I went, but ended up being out for 40 mins.  Even though the first day, first week, first month is hard, it is totally doable.  I think writing in this blog will help out tremendously.  With support of others will give me the extra boost of confidence to keep going.  My other hope is that it will help you too.  Let's support each other!