A nice trail

Didn't get a 3rd workout in last week, so this week I'm determined to get in 3.

Monday - 3 miles (mostly jogging)
Wednesday - 3 miles (mostly jogging)

Today I ran in a new location. Rather, it's another, farther away, section of a trail that runs near my house. The difference between my section and the other sections is that the other sections are actually maintained. The part I ran today is a lovely packed gravel path, very shady. It rained all night last night and there was only one puddle on the path that required me to get my feet wet. (This would be the reason I did NOT run in my usual location - it would have been very muddy.)

Both times this week, I made the kids come along, though they only went about 2 miles, and they mostly walked. I figured it's been a while since I made them run, so we need to ease back in.

I plan to run again on Friday. And maybe tomorrow, I will play in the water at the beach.

More Jogging

Accomplished:
Monday - 2.5 miles (1.75 jogging, the rest walking)
Wednesday - 2.5 miles (1.5 jogging, 1 mile walking)

Nothing with the kids - hard to work around soccer schedules and field trips. We will get back to it though. I'm not giving up! Soccer is done this week and we have all of June & July before David starts soccer. I want him in excellent condition.

I'm thinking about joining a women's soccer league. Am I insane?

Also tempted to do some kind of push up challenge that Jennifer is doing.

Catching Up and Getting Back on Track

The kids haven't run in a couple weeks. The last time I posted was my last run until this week.

However, this week, I did manage to get out twice and run. Tuesday (I think so anyway) I enjoyed a two mile run all by myself. Walked about 1/2 mile of that, plus there and back, so ran 1.5 miles probably and went a total of 2.5?

Friday I went for a trail run, hoping for 2 miles again, but the trail was washed out. I'm guessing it was about 1/4 mile from the end of the 1 mile trail. I could see the gate at the end, so it was fairly close. So, I went back. Ended up probably about 1.5 miles and a short walk to the trailhead. There was a significant stretch of trail that was very muddy and filled with puddles, but I just splashed right through. I came back with soaked muddy feet and spots of mud all up the backs of my legs. LOL That was a first for me!

Hopefully this week, I can get back into a regular running schedule for myself and get the kids back on their training. It will be H-O-T this week, so I am going to try to run 3 mornings. Don't know quite when I'll get the kids out there, but it may be on the off days (the days I DON'T run) and I will just walk and time the kids running.

I realized I've gained about 7 pounds since my lowest weight in February.

Those few weeks I got off my exercise plan due to my foot injury really put me in a downward spiral. Starting work right about the same time meant I was really sedentary and plus under tons of stress. For me, extra stress = eating more. Bad all around.

Just got to get back on track.

I had originally set a goal to weigh a certain amount at the end of June, but since I've both sabotaged myself and been forced to slow down, I reset that goal for my birthday in September. It's about 22 pounds now, though. Not sure I can do that in 4 months with the weight gain, but I'll do what I can.

Calorie counting is key for me, but anything special (like a birthday, buffet, eating out) sets me back. I need to figure out how better to handle that.

Couch to 5K - W3 D2

Ran/walked 3 miles tonight. The kids did a mile or so with me. I didn't encourage them or time them, just made them come along. I am counting it for the Couch to 5K W3D2.

The first three half-mile loops I ran the whole loop and then walked for a few yards. The last three loops were about half walking and half jogging. My foot was bothering me a little but not painful if that makes any sense. Just felt like my shoe was on "wrong".

I will be able to get back to running 3 miles without stopping. Right?

And I will be able to lose weight again. Right? Cuz right now, life is HECTIC. And STRESSFUL.

Update

Let's see -I have not had time to post. I have not been counting calories. I have been over-indulging. Candy is so GOOD! I have been making excuses to not exercise.

The kids and I did Week 3 Day 1 of Couch to 5K one day this past week. When we do Day 2, I will post the requirements of it. I can't remember them right now and I just don't feel like looking it up. lol

I ran/walked 3 miles yesterday. It felt good, but it was HARD. Oh so HARD. I used to be able to run the 3 miles without stopping. I only ran about 1.5 miles of that, though it was a hilly course - not my normal running path.

I intend to do a Tae-bo DVD tonight that I borrowed from the library. Hopefully I can get Couch to 5K Week 3 Day 2 in on Monday.

Couch to 5K - W2D3

It was a lot nicer weather today and since I had no internet service until around noon, we went for our workout mid-morning. It was chilly - sweatshirt weather, but sunny and calm. Today was our last day of Week 2, so we began with our brisk 5 minute walk and then alternated running 90 seconds with two minutes of walking.

Afterwards I ran a mile and David timed me at 11:07. I did break stride and walked for a few yards during the second half mile.

Tuesday night I walked a slow mile with friends. Should have been two. lol

No exercising tomorrow, but maybe Saturday we can do Week 3 Day 1.

Haven't been counting calories lately and have been gobbling sugar like it will be outlawed soon. However, my weigh in last Thursday showed me down a couple pounds, so I guess the return to running, even as slow as it is, has helped.

Maybe next week, I can add in a kickboxing workout.

Couch to 5K - W2D2

VERY WINDY and colder than I had planned was our Week 2 Day 2 workout. I even wore a headband over my ears and the kids all wore hats. We walked briskly for five minutes than alternated running 90 seconds and walking 2 minutes for about 20 minutes. The distance was more than a mile, I think.

I jogged a slow mile after the kids got done running - my foot feels ok.

Emily has surprised me by being the most cooperative and committed of the kids. It's probably the hardest for her but she is taking it seriously. I'm very pleased about that since she is the one that will benefit the most from this training, I think.

Couch to 5K - W2D1

Week 2 begins! This week's workouts start with a brisk 5 minute walk and then alternate 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of brisk walking, for a total time of 20 minutes. We did about a mile today in that time frame, maybe a little more. The weather was PERFECT - about 66 and sunny.

I added a half mile jog at about a 12:00 pace, but my foot felt wonky so I didn't go another half mile as I'd planned.

Emily was far and away the most cooperative and fastest runner today - surprised? I was! Suzy and David lagged behind and James went in spurts. I guess they can take turns with cooperation.

W2D2 will be Friday, I think. Maybe Saturday, depending on the schedule. Or maybe we will do D2 Fri and D3 Saturday or Sunday. Hmmm.... It will depend on the weather; who am I kidding?

Couch to 5K - W1D3

Day 3 of Week 1 was Monday April 12. After Spanish class, we stopped at a park with a 1 mile paved loop. Among the 4 kids, one had a sore toe, one had to use the facilities but didn't say so until we were 1/3 around the loop, and one was having her period. The remaining one was recalcitrant. So, it wasn't that great of a workout, although Emily did the best she's done thus far, despite her handicap.

I don't think we QUITE did the recommended amount of walk/run cycles, but the kids all went a mile. Then I ran another mile after them. David timed me and I ran approximately an 11:30 pace. I did break stride twice and walked for a few yards.

So, on to week 2!

Couch to 5K - W1D2

Took 3 of the kids running this afternoon. The oldest was gone for an educational event and since he is the most advanced runner of all of them, I figured he could skip it or make it up on his own.

So, we once again briskly walked 5 minutes then alternated 60 seconds of running with 90 seconds of brisk walking, for a total of 20 minutes.

That's Day 2.

Couch to 5K - W1D1

Started Couch to 5K with my kids today, against the older two children's wishes. They are 13 and 15 and sooo not thrilled. The eight and ten year olds were much more excited and compliant.

Today's goal was to walk 5 minutes briskly then alternate 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking until 20 minutes has elapsed. I pretty much pulled my 13 yo daughter along with me. But she did it! And so did we all.

I've done a couple 5K races already - all running - so my role here is coaching my kids. I don't think my 15 yo will find it much of a challenge, but it will be good for him anyway.

I also walked two miles tonight with friends at a local park.

Sparkpeople tells me I burned 329 calories during these activities and exceeded my daily goals.