I Did It!!

I just ran for 30 minutes straight!! Now that may not seem like a big deal to some of you who may be reading this, but for me, it's huge! It took me over a year and multiple tries at this training program, but I finally did it and I'm so excited! I did a little over 2 miles in that 30 minutes, which I know is still super slow, but I'm more worried about endurance than speed right now. I signed up for the Fort Worth Zoo Run 5K that's in a week and a half, so now my goal is to somehow add another mile(ish) to what I just did. Who would have ever thought a year and a half ago that I'd be running a 5K?!

Week 7

Ok so it's been awhile since I updated... But I've been running! I finished week 7, day 1 today, which is the furthest I've ever been in my program. I ran for 20 minutes, walked for 1, and then ran for 9 minutes. It was hard but I did it! Sarah and I are signing up for the zoo run that's on April 21st. My goal is simply to run the whole thing without walking, no matter how slow. I think that's a pretty reasonable goal... Hopefully I'll be able to finish these last 2 weeks in schedule and then have a couple of weeks to work on speed.

Week 1

Finished Week 1 of 8 yesterday.  Also my friend Sarah and I created a Google doc to help us keep each other accountable in our running, so I think that's going to be a great motivator as well.  All in all, Week 1 was pretty good, and I'll step up to Week 2 tomorrow!

Reset

So shortly after the last post I made on here (like the next day I think), I rolled my foot at the park while playing with the little girl I take care of... I really thought for a little while that I had broken it, but thankfully I didn't... However, it still put me out of commission for awhile, and then there were the holidays... so I haven't run very much over the past month and half or so.  I've been back in Ft. Worth for a couple weeks now and I've only been a couple of times so I've lost a lot of the gains I had made last semester...

I'm now restarting my 8 weeks to 5k training program and I plan on doing the Fort Worth Zoo 5K at the end of April.  A friend of mine mentioned it last night and I thought it sounded like a good idea, so I mentioned it to a couple other friends and I think we're going to make it happen.  I'm determined to get back on track and actually finish this thing this time!  Today was Week 1, Day 1 and so far so good!

Halfway There

Finished Week 4 today... I've missed a few days here and there, but I've actually hung in there pretty well the past few times.  Could have to do with it being SO COLD!  Today was 2 10 minute runs and an 8 minute run.  I went a little further before I turned around, so it was probably 2 1/2- 2 3/4 miles... did it in 46 minutes.  I know that's still super slow, but right now I'm just focusing on doing it.  I guess speed will be my goal next year :)

Week 3

Started Week 3 today.  I had to repeat a day of Week 2 since I had taken a couple days off, but now I'm back on track and today's run was actually pretty good.  5 5-minute runs with 1 minute walking in between.

Week 2

Started week 2 today... Run 2 minutes, walk 1, repeat 10 times... I could definitely tell that I haven't run since last Wednesday, but I guess considering that, it wasn't too too bad.  As always, pretty slow, particularly towards the end, but I'm ok with that.  Keeping on keeping on.

Week 1

Finished Week 1 today... I thought I was going slower today, wasn't feeling great, foot was kinda bothering me... but then I actually made it to my car in the same amount of time as I did the other day.  Maybe I was walking faster, maybe I parked closer, who knows.  Got it done though.  36 mins. for a little over 2 miles... ran 10 mins. of it... I'll start Week 2 Friday with running 2 mins. and walking 1 min. in between.

5K

Started my 5K training program today.  It was ten 1 min. runs with 2 mins. walking in between.  I think I did pretty well... tried to speed up my running a little bit... Did so more on the first couple than the rest, but still overall, I think it was faster.  Total, I went a little over 4 miles in 1:12, and I ran a total of 25 mins. of that.  If I do it in exactly 8 weeks, I should be running 30 mins. straight (theoretically 5k, but I know I won't be going that fast) by Dec. 23 (1 week after graduation!).  But because of holidays and whatnot, I'm going to give myself some grace, and my goal is to be there by the end of the year.  I would even be fine if I got there by my birthday (Jan. 14).

Good Workout

The past week or 2 I've just been kind of reveling in the fact that I can run for 10 mins. straight (albeit slowly).  On my 2nd miles I've been repeating days from other weeks, usually ending up with about 19 total mins. running for the workout.  Today, I decided to go further on the trail, so I went almost 4 miles in 1:05.  I did the 10 min. run twice and 2:15 four times, for a total of 29 mins. running and 36 mins. walking for the entire workout.  Again, my runs were still slow, but I think I'm doing really well, and I burned over 500 calories.  Hopefully I didn't overdo it today.  I plan on starting my 5k training program on Friday.  With shorter running times at the beginning of the program, maybe I can work on my speed a little bit.  Overall, really proud of myself!

I DID IT!

Well, folks, I just ran for 10 minutes straight!  It definitely wasn't a mile, like it's theoretically supposed to be, but I'm super proud of myself.  During my second mile, I went back and repeated a day from week 3, which was 4 intervals of 2:15 with 0:45 in between, so total, I ran 19 minutes!  Again, it's still slow, but it's not walking, and I ran more than I walked, which is exciting.  And I'm also really excited that I made it the whole 10 minutes on my first try!  I remember in the spring when I got to this point I had to repeat this last day several times before I made it the whole 10 minutes.  My speed/endurance tonight may have had something to do with the fact that I went at night and it wasn't quite as well-lit as I remembered so it was kinda creepy in places... but it still counts... motivation is motivation, right? :)  My plan now is to revel in this for a few weeks and try to work on my speed, and then start the 8 week to 5k plan and hopefully be at 5k by the end of the year... We'll see how it goes!

Back on the Wagon...

So it's been pointed out to me that I've kinda fallen off the blogging wagon lately... Possibly because I also fell off the running wagon... But in my defense, it's really hot here.  No.  Like really hot.

However, I have now started back running and have, as of this morning, completed 3 weeks of the 4 weeks to a Mile training program.  My ultimate goal is to be able to run 5k (although whether I run IN A 5k is another question...) by the end of the year.  Theoretically, I should be there by December 16 (graduation day!!)  So we'll see!  My hope is that it will be easier building up as it gets colder outside than it was as it was getting hotter.

I'm still not sure I'll post every time I run... it got a little monotonous after awhile... but I'll try to at least post after I finish each week.

Week 2, Day 3... take 2

Well today was attempt #2 at Week 2, Day 3... and it was better than the other day, but still not perfect.  A little over halfway through I got a text from my boss that I needed to answer, so that paused my workout and then when I started back I thought it was on the walking part and it was on running, so I ended up skipping on of the runs and... excuses, excuses, I know.  However, I did make 2 loops instead of 1, for a total of a little over 4 miles, and I did another couple of 1 min. runs at the end to make a total of 20 mins. or so of running.  I've decided (even though this may not be the best idea in the world) that I'm going to keep running every day instead of every other until I can actually do this thing.  I've basically got the next week off work except for taking care of their dog, so I'm really going to try to hit everything hard.

Also, I mentioned to my mom that we should do the FBC Clinton Hit the Bricks 5k on July 16... so that's 6 weeks from now (meaning I'll barely be done with this training program if I keep up with it... yikes!)  I have a feeling I'll be walking at least part of it, but I think it'll give me a good sense of accomplishment just to do it.  Also, my mom posted on facebook that we're doing it, so now there's no backing out... :/  Like I said, I'm really gonna try to hit it hard this week, both with exercise and diet, so I'm looking forward to good results.

Week 2, Day 3... ish

So it's been almost a week since I did Day 2... so we all know how this is gonna end... not fabulously.  It also didn't help that I had way too much On the Border for lunch and a piece of Sarah's leftover birthday cake... I got about halfway through the workout and was pretty sure I was gonna die, so I just walked the rest.  Will try again... I really need to get more consistent with this.  Weekends are hard.  Long workdays are hard.  I need to start making it more of a priority.  I'm never going to build up if I keep taking days off.

Week 2, Day 2- 3rd time's a charm

Did Day 2 again on Thursday.  I actually did pretty well... wasn't fast but I made it through.  Day 3 tomorrow... skipped Saturday though, so it might not be fabulous... will see how it goes!

Week 2, Day 2 again...

Ok so I took several days off... and that was bad.  I could definitely tell.  Once again, attempted Week 2 Day 2 of the 5k plan, and once again, took breaks and ultimately quit.  Ran a total of 10 of the 23 minutes I was supposed to.  Oops.  I've really slacked off in both diet and exercise the past couple weeks, so this next week I'm really going to try to be consistent in running every other day and doing some other form of exercise on the days in between.  I did the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown last night and ran/walked (albeit poorly) this morning, so I'm off to a good start.

Week 2, Day 2 (sort of)

Today I started week 2, day 2, which consisted of 3 minutes running alternated with 1 minute walking and ending with a 2 minute run... But I really just wasn't feeling it today... could definitely tell I skipped 2 days instead of 1 and hadn't been drinking enough water.  Ran a little bit, but cheated and walked most of the time.  Oh well, still got a decent workout.  Will try this one again on Saturday.

Week 2, Day 1

Guess I forgot to write about Week 1, Day 3... whatever.  I did it.  Started week 2 today, which is the opposite of Week 1: 2 mins. running, 1 walking, for a total of 10 runs.  My walking was definitely a lot slower and my running was pretty slow, too, particularly the last few, but I tried to push myself and made it through them all, slowly but surely.

Week 1, Day 2

Did Day 2 today and I think I did pretty well... It was the same as yesterday, 10 intervals of 1 min. running/ 2 walking.  Not much else to say... Still keeping on keeping on!

8 Weeks to 5k- Week 1, Day 1

I started my "8 Weeks to 5k" Plan today... I skipped running all weekend, so I missed 4 days instead of 2 and this one was actually easier than the 10 minutes, so I figured why not.  The workout consisted of a 5 min. warm-up, 10 1 minute runs with 2 minute walks in between, and a 5 min. cool-down (plus a few extra minutes of walking at the end until I got to my car).  My first few times running were actually pretty fast (relatively speaking), but I did slow down as I went.  Overall, it was a pretty good workout and I'm going to try to push myself and stay on track with the 8 weeks.  We'll see how it goes!