Couch To 5K- Week 1 Day 1

Monday March 29

Ok, so the deal with the C25K program (that's the abbreviation for those of us in the know) is that you start out mostly walking with a little running, and end up totally running. It takes 9 weeks to go from what I did today (pathetic) to running an entire 5K (3.1 miles) without stopping.

Today's plan was:
1. Walk for 5 minutes at a brisk pace to warm up
2. Jog for 60 seconds
3. Walk for 90 seconds
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 eight times
5. Walk for 5 minutes to cool down

Well folks, I did it. Exactly as prescribed. I think it was just about a perfect starting level for me. Boy, the end of those 60 seconds couldn't come fast enough. And to think I want to run for hours come this January? Hmmm....

Days 2 and 3 of Week 1 are the same...so now I at least know I can do it. My next scheduled running day is Thursday. If the weather is nice and I'm feeling spunky, I may run outside, using the C25K podcast.

My only real pain while running was in the top of my foot/ankle. You know, that tendon you use to point your toe, or flex it? Anyway, it hurt while running, but not at all now. I stretched them, and we'll see how it feels come tomorrow.

I double-bagged my boobs (2 heavy-duty sports bras) and they did fine. I can't imagine what running must be like for those women who don't have 2 giant bags of sand strapped to their chest. Bliss, I'm sure.

Your registration is complete!

Purchased at: March 26, 2010 06:56 AM
Event Confirmation #: 46961166-XXXXXXXXXXX

Event Name: 2011 Walt Disney World® Half Marathon
Date & Time: January 08, 2011 05:40 AM
Location: Walt Disney World® Resort (map)

Yes, folks, it's true. I just committed to running the Disney 1/2 Marathon in January. Training starts April 1st. I am excited and scared and anticipatory. And slightly nauseated, LOL!

I hope to keep a training log of sorts on this blog. If I go a week without posting, reach through the computer and slap me silly! Or, look for my exhausted body along the side of the road.

It's A Small World Afterall

I am contemplating running the Disney Half-Marathon. I would start the Couch To 5K running program in April, then work up to the 10K, then go from there. I am pumped at the idea, but pee-myself-scared too.

I will pull the trigger (or not) and register by Friday. I need to decide either way by then, because after all, it's almost April! I want a full 9 months to train slowly and steadily. I want to feel like running 6 miles is nothing...then work up to 13.1.

That's all I've got for now...eeeeek!

Here I Go Again On My Own....

...going down the only road I've ever know...

Thanks, Whitesnake, for those apt lyrics. Yes, folks, again I am relaunching my weight loss journey. I have (by some miracle) held steady at 50lbs lost, but I have another 60 to lost at least, and I have been on hiatus for far too long.

So, "here I go again".

I am trying to shake it up this time. I have been doing Weight Watchers on and off since 2003, and I am just burned out. It is a great program, and it works if you work it. BUT, I was eating crap on it. I would eat junk because it was "only 1 Point". I want to be thin AND healthy.

So. www.sparkpeople.com is the website, and I so far I am loving it. It tells me how many calories I should eat per day, and where those calories should come from (fat, protein, carbs). It lets me track other nutrients as well (like, say, sodium, which I eat far too much of). I can also look at awesome graphs showing when in the day I eat what percentage of my calories, the calories I've eaten in a day vs calories burned, compare my exercise over time, etc. It is awesome. And it is FREE.

I hope to be able to come back here often and update my progress. I am nervous "going down this road" again, but it has to be done. I have my 10 year high school reunion this summer, and a huge family reunion for my husband's family. I also want to be able to run again. I liked doing it, but I am just too heavy right now to put my knees through that.

It's March Madness time, baby! Balls to the wall, and let's do this thing!

Stepping Back

Obviously I haven't been posting; I have been really busy with my thesis writing, research, and presentation. I will be back to more regular updates in May, I promise!

I'm Still Alive...

...but that's about all I've got.

I wish I drank more...

This school year has been tough so far- really, really tough. I am very upset to have such trying children and (in general) thoroughly unsupportive parents. Most of the teaching staff I work with is not helping either...though my principal has been helpful.

I haven't posted here in over a month. I have been busy, sure; I helped put on a musical at my school, I'm taking a grad class, and I have had parent/teacher conferences. I have ALSO had 6 meetings with parents outside of the regular yearly conference. That means 6 kids out of 6 have been really terrible. I can think of another 10 whose parents I wish could meet with. I am just miserable teaching this year, and that has never been the case.

So I guess I'm saying the reason I haven't posted here is because I've been miserable. I know I tend to focus on the negative- just by nature, I'm a pessimist and a glass half empty kind of girl- but this year has been very hard. When a veteran teacher on my team who has been in education for 35+ years said this class is in her all-time Top Three of most difficult, I know I'm really up against something.

This is also my second year with these cherubs, since we loop. I've been with this class since August of 2008, and will get rid of them only in June of 2010, God help me.

I guess the one up side here is that I've been reevaluating my career choice, and I think I may want to work on my M.Ed in Psychology once I've finished my M.Ed in Reading this summer. I will probably give myself a breather in between, but originally when I went to school for teacher, moving on to the counseling side of things had always been in the back of my head. Now it's moving to the forefront.

Anyway, Thanksgiving break is coming up this week, so I get 5 days away from the kiddos to get perspective. Or just get loaded.