But it's still Wednesday in the U.S., isn't it?? I totally forgot about weigh-in Wednesday yesterday.
But I got up and did a run of sorts this morning - the dog was schizo, old people stopped me to talk about the dog, Runkeeper said I'd run 7.08km when I'd only done 1km!! And my legs were tired. Just crazy. At least I ran - don't know how far or fast, but I did it. In my new Lululemon socks and running top:
If you think that looks bad, you should have seen the tight-fitting tops that accentuated my stomach rolls!
Now I know my left from my right! They are such good socks!
So, now to the scary part. After pizza, champagne and swedish meatballs in Sydney and then more pizza when I got home, it hasn't been a great week diet-wise. When I first got on the scales this morning they said 34.9kg! That can't be right! So I tried again:
And so it's time to be "good" again. I want to keep this downward trend happening!
"You are a force, you are a constant source, Yeah you are a shining light"
Yay! I did it - I "graduated" from Ease Into 5K:
I'm a Runner!! This was on Sunday morning.
I'm so happy that I managed to get this done (again) - it is a big achievement! OK, so it's not a half marathon or anything, but coming back from being so injured I could barely walk and running without stopping for 30 minutes is a big thing.
Maxy-boy has been with me the whole way this time (I ditched him after a couple of weeks last time around). He loves his runs!
I was going to get up and do Monday too, but was too tired and had a day of work on (I don't have much work, so it's a big deal for me), but managed to get up this morning. I thought I'd try out a new location - so I just headed straight out my front door and headed down the "path to nowhere" (it just ends before it gets anywhere).
I did 5 min warm up and 5 min cool down walks and I just could not run the whole 30 minutes - as I was starting out I realised I was running downhill - you know what that means - coming back was uphill! I had to do some walk segments. However, that 7:49/km average pace includes my warmup/cooldown and walks, so that's not too bad! I was absolutely sweating buckets when I got home.
I have to give a bit shout out to the lovely Helena at Loving to Learn who has just completed her first TRIATHLON!! She is my absolute shining light this week and makes me smile so big :-)
Got out on Monday (and a swim in the afternoon) and again this morning - stunning mornings now that the rain has cleared (at least for a bit):
The next run will be "graduation" (again!). Pretty proud of myself for re-doing this and easing back into it. I think I would have hurt myself again if I launched right back where I left off. I have twinges of plantar faciitis and the hip flexor thing, but they are being kept at bay by running slowly (gotta have some benefits), not too far and stretching/foam rolling.
So, I got on the scales this morning and they said 73.9kg!! Woo hoo! I realised I didn't have my phone to take the pic with me, so went and got it, and then:
71.4kg - 157.4 lbs
I assure you I did not excrete anything in the 30 seconds it took to get my phone. I hopped off and on multiple times and it stayed at 71.4 or 71.2 (but that is just getting ridiculous).
So, I weigh around 71-74kg. Roughly. Who knows?
Headed up to Sydney for a couple of days of shopping, musicals and hanging out with my brother (and mum). Might go for a walk. But I think I'll save "graduation" until I get home and puppy can come with me - he's been there every step of the way, excreting and running. So see you then!
"If you want me, come and get me, you won't have a chance if you don't move now, I'm not waiting any longer, You know that I'm playing to win this time"
Ahh, it's been another wet week. The rain has been ceaseless. I should have got on the exercise bike (now relegated to shed) or even got down to the gym to the dreadmill. But I didn't.
I've been super-tired this week. Which comes first - being tired and therefore not getting up to run, or not running and therefore lacking energy??
Motivation is a funny thing! We haven't had winter, but we've had rain.
So anyway - I got back out there yesterday - only a week between workouts! At this rate it'll take a bit longer to finish Ease into 5K!!! If it stays reasonably dry this week, I should finish this week!
Mmm...snipping tool not working....so I ran Week 7 Day 3 - 5 min walk, 27 minutes running, 5 min walk. Total distance 4.42km, run pace 8.01min/km. I'm happy with that! Felt pretty good too after a week of not running - legs felt good!
I foam rolled and stretched afterward - I've been a bit slack in that regard. And then spent the day mowing lawns, vacuuming, painting - all the fun stuff! I reckon I must have burned about a billion calories! Let's see that translates on Wednesday LOL.
"When you make your move, I won't hesitate, If you take too long, It could be too late, This time I'm playing to win"
"It was the wicked and wild wind, blew down the doors to let me in, shattered windows and the sounds of drums, people couldn't believe what I'd become."
I thought the title of this post was going to have to be "Slacker", because it has not stopped raining since Tuesday and I've used this as an excuse not to go out. Hence, no running, no playlist, no inspiration.
And funnily, as my exercise habits went southward, so have my dietary ones! I know for myself, if I exercise, then I am less inclined to put crap in my body. But if I'm being slack, then who cares - pass the chips!
I finally got to go the podiatrist on Thursday - my feet do pronate, but my shoes (Asics Gel Kayanos) and my off-the-shelf orthothotics (Scholl Orthoheel Sports Orthothotics) are doing the trick. I'm wearing the right shoe for my foot type (yay me!), although both the shoes (nearly two years old) and orthotics are due for replacement soon (shopping, anyone??).
So, this morning, after a few wines last night, the rain had eased a little. I had a cup of tea and contemplated getting out there. The dog seemed keen. After about 9:30am, I felt OK, so I thought "bugger it", got the running clothes on, poo bags ready and me and Max went for our run. In the rain (well, sprinkles).
I'm up to Week 7, Day 2 of Ease into 5K - I was a bit worried about running for 26 minutes after my break of nearly a week. But my legs felt good (twinges of plantar faciitis returning in my left foot - have to get onto that) and I felt really good. The dog felt good once he'd relieved himself (he's like clockwork - poos and wees in virtually exactly the same spot every time). I'm such a responsible dog owner, I always pick up after him :-)
So, still not fast, by any stretch of the imagination - in fact, at one point I looked down at the dog and he looked like he was just walking fast, rather than running. But I got out there and I'm taking it easy and trying to stay uninjured.
This afternoon, I have to go shopping (again - I spend my life at Coles), so the fridge looks nice and healthy again like this:
The choc snacks are for the kids...
The rain is forecast to stay with us for another few days at least. Parts of NSW are under water, so I am grateful at least we are being spared flooding and that we replaced our leaking roof last year.
"For some reason I can't explain, once you go there was never, never an honest word, and that was when I ruled the world"
And so the rain pours down - no run this morning. If it eases off I might try to get out...
...or not!
Anyway...onto more important things than the weather - me! Happy to report downward trend continues!
74.2kg - 163.2 lbs
That is pretty inspiring (love the way I inspire myself!) because it means that all those hard decisions (stay in bed or go for a run, have a wine or have a mineral water) that I am trying to make every day are paying off! Helps keep me going :-)
"I gotta hurry, hurry, hurry, now quick, quick, quick, just step on the gas, 'cause I don't want to miss this, this opportunity will only come once in my life..."
After a few days off, it was time to get back out there! I awoke with a start - what time is it? It was 7:30am, but already uncomfortable muggy and a lovely 23C.
I'm up to WEEK 7!! of Ease into 5K:
Pretty slow, I know, but I did push myself up the hill at the end of the path (the one I usually turn around before the start of). And it was hot. And I don't care how fast I'm not going. I need to remind myself of that - it really doesn't matter. The speed will come as I build up a solid, safe, injury-free base.
I spotted this on the Runner's World Magazine Facebook page, and it's true. I'm never going to be fast. I will always have a beetroot face. But I can be out there running - every day you run is a good day.
Bit of snow wouldn't have gone astray this morning...
"Way above, the clouds are black, they say it's going to pour but I haven't been keeping track"
Three posts in three days - what's going on?
I must be feeling good and yes, maybe even like a real runner, Beth! Because yesterday, when the link for the SMH Half Marathon came up on Facebook, I thought (ever so briefly) to myself "mmm....12 weeks away...I could do that". Perhaps not yet. I think I need to really take into account the words of The Penguin, John Bingham that beginner runners should:
Not run as fast as they think they can
Not run as far as they think they can
Run more often than they think they should
Or in my case, I look like this:
Damn - it was hot out there! Bring on autumn! But there were dolphins....
Trust me - they were out there - if you think I'm running with my Canon EOS500D zoom lens around my neck, you are having yourself on!
So, here are the stats:
I felt like I was running really well! But I guess I really do run like that little girl in yellow - or maybe I'm just destined to run like a penguin. But I'm running, and taking it easy, and stretching and foam rolling and trying really hard NOT to hurt myself again. Not fast, not far but at least 3 times a week (maybe I should try for 4?). And a half-marathon is in my sights...it won't happen overnight, but it will happen!
"One step forward, two steps backward, I won't wrestle, you won't talk back, three deep breath, I'm still alive and brilliant"
"Movin' right, footloose and fancy-free, getting there is half the fun, come share it with me!"
Today was the day! The big "20 minute milestone" of Couch to 5K (or in my case, Ease into 5K). As the app said, a few weeks ago I was counting my running in seconds, and today I ran 20 minutes without stopping. Woot!
I won't say it was "easy" - but this time around, I knew I could do it. The uphill bits were, well, uphill, but I enjoyed the flats and downhills. Took the dog (he's done the whole thing this time too - so he should be ready as well) - first stop, poo stop. Sigh. Luckily it was only in the warm-up.
I made a "special" 20 minute playlist, so I only had "good" songs. It definitely made a difference as I could focus on my tunes (instead of how tired I was).
The dog had had enough by the cool-down - he kept stopping and wanting to head back to the car. It took some encouragement to keep him going!
I felt like a "real" runner today. It was only 20 minutes and it wasn't fast, and I felt all out of alignment and a bit sore, but I did it.
"This time, this void, I'm making my way through the muddy minutes, the pull is in my muscle, the ache is in my bones, it's hard to be alone - breathe, breathe - it won't be long now..."
After a huge thunderstorm last night, rain all through the night, I awoke to a sparkling morning!
My teacher-friends are off on a triathlon this morning, so I was just happy to be able to be out there running.
Next run - the 20 minute milestone!!! I remember being terrified of this last time around C25K - I can't say I'm looking forward to it this time, but I know I'm going to be able to do it!! And I know I'll be happy with myself after!
74 at the start of the scales! Yeah baby! It's a minor miracle given the champagne I drank and the camembert I ate the night before in the name of Valentines Day.
My legs are STILL sore from Monday's Bondi Bum, but I am progressing with my running - a hard run on Tuesday (tired legs) and I nearly didn't run this morning, but as usual, so glad I did:
You will of course note that I am not running any faster, not really run/walking any further, but I am running for longer. 9 minutes this morning and considering I didn't feel like going, it felt really good!
"I feel like walking the world, like walking the world; You can hear she's a beautiful girl, she's a beautiful girl"
"Things are getting weird, things are getting tough, nothing's making sense but you keep on looking up"
So after my run on Tuesday I've had a "big" gap! Meetings for work, rain, a case of the "blah's", husband's birthdays all conspired to make me uninspired. Which is a load of crap really, because I know I've just got to "do it" and overthinking things gets you nowhere!
So despite the 4 or 5 glasses of champagne and wine the night before (spread out over many hours I might add), I got up and did Week 5 Day 1 of Ease into 5K:
That's running for 18 minutes!! Although I look like I ran a marathon:
...and a bit cranky too (but I wasn't)
After much rain it was a stunning morning:
Although there was also a surf carnival on and nippers seemed to multiply and be everywhere by the end of the run all over my footpath!
And the good news is my hip/knee/ankle is behaving itself. This could be because I'm still stretching and doing my Bondi Bum videos:
After which I looked like this:
See - I do have more than one outfit!
Running again tomorrow morning and then we shall see what the scales bring on Wednesday! Loved this during the week:
"When things are getting tough, you'll turn it back around, you gotta turn it up when they tell you turn it down"
I'm so relieved and excited! I've been very good this week on my new Million Kilo challenge diet! I only fell off the wagon a bit when we travelled to Sydney, had wine with family and McDonalds gave me a Crispy Caesar Wrap, with small fries and real coke instead of the Seared Sweet Chilli Wrap, apple and water I thought I ordered. It was drive-through, so I only realised when we were already halfway down the highway. Ce la vie.
I have significantly cut back on my wine consumption (this is sooo tough for me), been doing my Ease into 5K workouts (missed Saturday due to Sydney trip):
and have been doing my Bondi Bum cross-training. This week's workout is:
All this hard work and super-dieting had better work!!! So, I'm pretty happy to have lost 1.6kg (that's 3.5 pounds!) since last week and 2.35kg since the New Year. Next step...74kg! Baby steps, baby!
"...makes my soul, makes my soul, drip, drip, drip away..."
I sooooo did not want to get up early this morning! Cool, cloudy, to bed too late last night...
But I did! I had to go to a meeting for work and so for the 3rd day in a row (yup, I'm hard core) I got up in the 6's!!!!
And did Week 4, Day 2 of Ease into 5K. Loved it - much cooler, enjoying finding my rhythm on the (slightly) longer runs (6 minutes). That's what I'm talkin' about, baby!
And after yesterday's disappointing weigh-in, guess how much I weighed this morning! Go on, what do you think, huh? 60.5kg! OK, so I might have a problem with my scales!
And I resisted temptation tonight (and my husband not helping) and did not have any wine! Go me! I find this the toughest part of the day - 5:30pm-ish, cooking dinner, and usually a glass of wine. But I had diet-tonic and light-cranberry and felt good about myself instead!
Loving watching Excess Baggage! And it was bizzare when Christine Anu came on shuffle on my iPod this morning! She is one year younger than me and back in the day, looked pretty hot:
And now...not so much:
She is 82.3kg (only a few above me) and together Christine and I are gonna kick butt!!
"We're soarin', flyin', there's not a star in heaven that we can't reach".
Oh yeah, gotta love a bit of Disney inspiration on your run!
I have been really good with my 1 Million Kilo Challenge diet! And they also give an exercise program - the Bondi Bum training video. So on Monday morning, I got up and did:
Shuttle runs - x zero because the kid from next was out on their balcony and I was too embarrassed to run up and down my backyard!
Squat jumps - 1 minute (tough)
Push ups - 1 minute (on my knees - there is no way I can do the toe ones!)
High knee runs - 1 minute (I look ridiculous!)
Butt raises - 1 minute (these were OK)
Tricep dips - 1 minute
Burpees - 1 minute (OM Freaking G)
Plank - for as long as you can (30sec for me).
And then you are supposed to repeat 3 times for a total of 4 repeats. I managed 3 times. Sweat was dripping and those burpees were looking seriously demented. But it's a start and if I can do that twice a week, I think it will be a good cross-training effort. I will of course, keep you informed!
And today I was off onto Week 4 of Ease into 5K. I wasn't sure I was going to actually attempt it - my left leg is giving me all sorts of aches and pains, but once I got out there (at 6:30am - thank you very much!), I gave it a go:
So I'm up to running 6 minutes - and it felt very good! No sore calves or hips. I really enjoyed this run! Go figure.
And if you need a little inspiration to get there (or back out there) Sarah and Dimity from Another Mother Runner have this great Podcast which I really enjoyed!
Got up early (well, 7am is early for me!) yesterday (Saturday)...only to find the beach overrun with surf clubbies...some big carnival on and cars and people and boats everywhere! I forgot to take a pic, but sucked it up and went for my run/walk anyway.
I had tight calves, but felt OK, so when the cool down bit came I went for another short run and the walked for a ways after. So I did a bit more "mileage" - but it wasn't all running.
The weighty issue is weighing on my mind. I came across the 1 Million Kilo - 10 Week Challenge site. It was free - so I signed up and have pretty much been following it for two days. The exercise plan is focussed on a circuit, with two 30 minute walks a week, but I might just change that around to 3 runs, a couple of circuits and some walking.
So today I dropped the kids off at their friends house and kept walking (dog whining after the kids "disappeared"). 6.09km (a lot on sand) in 1 hour 20 minutes.
Came home and had a healthy egg salad for lunch!
So let's see how all this good living pans out on Weigh In Wednesday - it had better make a difference!
"I run for hope, I run to feel, I run for the truth for all that is real"
What a running anthem. Love it.
I got to sleep at 2:30am (or sometime soon after) last night. My brain was in over-drive. I made the fatal error of downloading an iBook and then reading it - Run Fat Bitch Run by Ruth Field. That title either inspires you or offends you. I think it's the best running book title ever!
The basic concept is to get your fat ass off the couch and start running. And keep running. Running is the diet until you are a runner and then you eat to fuel your runs. Bring out your inner bitch, be honest with yourself and run. There is a plan to start running - but I'm already into Week 3 of Ease into 5K, so I will stick with that. But I love the concept.
So despite my pathetic sleep, I got up and ran.
It was warm and sunny, so even though "I had the power to make this a better workout than my previous one", I did crank up my tunes and just ran. I even ran into the cool down as it didn't feel like I'd run much.
"If you ask her why she is still running, she'll tell you it makes you complete."
I'm aware Belinda Carlisle actually sung "dancing". But I ran. In the rain! For the first time ever (well, there was a little sprinkle this one time...but this was really truly rain).
It started off just sprinkling, but got quite heavy there for a while. I loved it! Still warm (21C). But the rain mixed in with the sweat and cooled me off.
Max came too and I had to stop every now and then for him to shake himself off.
Maybe because it wasn't so hot, maybe because I wanted to get through the rain, I had my fastest run pace!
Wet and soggy, but happy!
"Doesn't matter what I do now, doesn't matter what I say, somewhere in my heart I'll be always, running with you in the summer rain"
