Thankful

Last week, there was plenty of talk around the sphere as to what constitutes a runner and I still say that no matter if you run for a min or run a full marathon, the fact that you laced up your sneakers and make an effort, it makes you a runner.

It's funny to me that I say this now. I have 6 days until the Rock 'n Roll San Antonio half marathon. My first half.

Over the weekend, I posted a thank-you via FB to various people who have provided the motivation to get off my butt and run and workout. This thank-you has lead me to reflect back on why I run.

Growing up, I wasn't the most active child. I spent a lot of time reading. I did play volleyball in elementary school and moved on to tennis in junior high and high school. When I started college, I was on an Army ROTC scholarship. This meant meeting a weight requirement for my height (I never reached the weight requirement), regular PT (that included running). At this point, I was only partially running on a track (running the straights and walking the curves) to keep my endurance up for tennis. I HATED running. On PT runs, I was always the one behind the safety patrol. I never ran in rank because I could never keep up. I was made fun of and was truly miserable.

Fast forward 20 years. I haven't played much tennis these days because it's difficult for me to find people who know how to play. Thanks to a co-worker, I bought TurboJam a few years back and got hooked on TKB. I've lost 40lbs and stalled. So I started reading more fitness blogs and saw that folks were shedding pounds through running. Thanks to various blogs such as Carli over at Running Into Shape, Tricia at  Endurance Isnt Only Physical, Kim at to dream the KIMpossible dream and a few other now-defunct blogs, I decided to try Couch to 5K. The program seemed easy enough, especially on a treadmill. I found myself running almost everyday before or after my workout classes at the gym.

Then I moved to Sacramento. This move threw my workout schedule a curve ball, but after a few months, I was back on a workout schedule with plenty of TKB  and Body Pump classes. But I still wasn't really running. In an effort to meet people outside of work, I answered a CL ad for a workout buddy and we signed up for my first 5K with the intention of walking it. A recap of that race can be found here.

Following that race, I wanted to challenge myself to run outside even more. I completed a Fun Run. Still looking to meet people and make a home in Sacramento,I came across Black Girls Run and noticed they were starting local running groups. My running has spiraled into an activity that I am really beginning to enjoy (even though I swore I would never run further than a 10k). While in Sac, I promised the ladies I would run the Urban Cow Half if I was still there. Unfortunately, I'm not. But to hold up my end, I picked a race on my birthday, the BIG 4-0 (it's even national running day).

Even being back in Houston, I look forward to my early morning Saturdays and my after work running sessions. I've recently started running without music and have my races picked out from now until April 2013, including 2 more halfs. To date, I have completed 2-5Ks, 3-10Ks, 1-12K and come Sunday I will have run my longest - a half.

So I have to say thank you to the many who have crossed my path to serve as motivators to get me to do the one thing I never liked and to go further than I ever planned.

I guess this is a true testament to never say never.

Thank you!

It totally pays...

To workout when The Biggest Loser is on.

Well, actually I did an hour before the show started and I have to say that I think the C25K is working. Yesterday, I ran (except for a 5min warm-up and a 5min walking break) for 4 miles!!! I am so proud of myself. The last 1/2 mile took forever, but the commercial showing Elizabeth pushing through her issues keep me prodding along (I would have voted her off a long time ago). Ada makes me smile each time the show comes on.  She runs circles around those guys! Go Ada!

So a pat on my back for 4 miles in 50mins even with the crappy treadmill with an incline-mind of its own (the incline kept lowering).  I don't think I will get in 25 miles this week, but I know I can do another 4 tomorrow (Zumba tonight) and Sunday, totaling 16 miles.

So what's your woo whoo for the day? Who are your cheering for on BL?

C25K what?

I know - it sounds like a curse word. Believe me, "Run" has never been in my vocab unless I'm being chased by Jason, Freddie and Michael all at once (even then, I probably would just throw shoes). When I started college many many many moons ago, I went on an ROTC scholarship. My plan was to be a biochemist (FAIL).  So in order to maintain the scholarship I had to loose weight (about 20 or so lbs if I remember correctly) and pass the PT test (FAIL, again). I HATED the weekly run. We ran by the psych ward, we ran around campus, we ran and I hated it. I never did enjoy having ppl yell at me either. That totally sucks. I was the one lagging waaaaay behind the safety guards on the runs. And now I know why. I never learned HOW to run. Yes, there is a proper way to run that includes foot placement, arm movements, and breathing. And as with many things, if we don't learn the proper way to do something, we won't do it and if forced to do it, we won't enjoy it.

Needless to say, other events took place among not passing those damn PT tests and I lost my scholarship. I also changed schools and majors too many times to count. No biggie. I did finally finish my degree (that 20-yr plan works wonders) and I became a walker.

So what's the all the hype behind Couch to 5k? Or am I just following the herd?

The hype is like P90X. You keep hearing enough about it and you just have to investigate (I'm still not sinking my money into P90X, though). It gets you moving faster than you were before.  Yeah, Yeah, slow and steady wins the race - I get ya...but going faster each time is exhilarating for me. I've recouped nicely from my ankle issues and finished out week 1 yesterday. I would have finished Saturday, but my Turbo instructor conned me into doing weights with her (let's just say I still have trouble hooking my bra in the morning - noodle arms).

I know - it's only a 60sec interval, but I am looking forward to week 2. Actually, I am looking forward to running an entire 30min interval. This has felt like a natural progression over my walking. I already have a fast pace, naturally and when I'm on the treadmill I keep my pace somewhere in the 4.0-4.2 range. So now, my first week of jogging I set my pace between 4.4 and 4.5 with a 2.0 incline so I'm not walking downhill.   My plan for week 2 is to increase my jog pace between 4.6 and 4.8 with an include of 3.0.

I still possess some sort of mental block when it comes to a food diary. Grrrr! I did find a nice undated calendar that I can use to make my daily menu - now to just pull that thing out the bag and start using it. Therein lies the issue!

Do you keep a food journal?  Do you keep it in paper format or online?

And I ran...

Ran not too far, but at least I ran.  I've completed week 1 of C25K. Today was easy. I even bumped up my run speed on the treadmill from 4.4 to 4.5. Whoa!!! Watch out for the speedster!

I know that the treadmill is no real challenge for running outside, but man oh man, it's  just too damn hot. Kim and Merry - big ups to ya'll for running outdoors. I will be there once the temps start to fall. I also know I'm pushing myself by doing this back to back. But I am trying to find my groove with my workout days.  Yesterday, my heart rate monitor claimed I burned 1400 calories combining my run and kickboxing class.

Yeah, that's bad-ass.

But what makes this C25K appear easy this week is the podcast. I downloaded 3 separate podcasts so that I don't have to listen to the same mix each run. The music is good and I find myself singing along and I found myself getting peeved when the voice from beyond told me it was time to my brisk walk!

I'm not a runner - just playing one 3 days/week at the moment. But I will keep ya'll posted.

Do you run? What do you listen to when you workout?

Do you C25K?

I did last night!  After my TKB workout, I found an empty treadmill. Of course, it took me a few minutes to get my heart rate down to a normal range (those burpees in this TKB round are challenging).

But in straight-up LTD style, I didn't pay attention to the rules (who reads the instruction packet anyway?) I didn't realize the podcast was for 30mins and instead set my treadmill time to 20mins. I did manage to get in 6 runs and was interrupted by my TKB instructor.  That's a great interruption!

So Saturday, I will do Wk1 Day 2 and Sunday will be Wk1 Day 3!!!

Yeah baby!

You did what?

Um, well, ok...I...I...I said I would start the Couch to 5K. Yeah, I think I hit my head and in a fit of amnesia, I posted on FB for all the world (my few friends) to see that I planned to start the C25K.  Oh yeah, and to top it off I challenged my cousin who started her C25K a week ago to a race (luckily, we haven't picked which one - hence, no date set - YET).  OOOOO and to add insult to injury, I e-mailed Kim who's blog I read as soon as she posts to tell her. 

Woozers!

So after boasting that I would start, I found a few podcasts (dance and rap) to add to my iPod (I don't own a smartphone or iPhone and refuse to pay for apps). My game plan was to start yesterday - 20mins on the treadmill because it's like the 4th ring of Dante's Inferno outside and a quick 20 minute upper body workout (I even printed out the moves). I was prepared! I was pumped! I was all gung-ho!

Enter the bubbly Group X instructor with her shiny disco ball and perky attitude. I dislike bubbly, perky, ultra thin aerobic instructors (not really). I secretly want to be one (perky and bubbly - not ultra thin).

Ahhh hell - out the door went my plans for yesterday. I ended up doing 45mins of Nightclub Cardio!  And let me tell you - this low-impact aerobic class aint no joke. We squatted, party-pumped, booty-pop it till we were all dripping in sweat. We did so many chest flies that after the class all I wanted to do was get on the bus and head home!!!

Luckily, today is a new day.  Today is Zumba day (thank goodness no party-pumps in this class).  That means I can get in the 20-min Week1 Day1 of C25K AFTER Zumba. Plus, there should be available treadmills at 8pm tonight.

So wish me luck. Pray that I don't say (in my best Cartman voice) F* this, I'm going home!