One Workout in Two Weeks

I ran one time on vacation last week - the date was July 4th. LOL The rest of that week was EXTREMELY hot and I was camping without Bob. I could have gone for a run if I had made it happen, but... well, I did not. So there it is.

And this past week? SOOOOO tired. Just couldn't muster the energy.

Must get back to it though. Someone kick me in the butt, please.

Endurance

This was a good week for running, though I did only get two runs in still. Life is just so hectic.

I ran on Monday and Wednesday and did 5 loops each day. On Wednesday I did three loops without any walking. I have been working on endurance rather than increasing distance and I can see improvements. In December I was running 3 miles (6 loops) without stopping to walk though, so I have a ways to go to get back to where I ws.

I had intended to run one more time, but Friday was a very hectic day and I knew I would not get to it. So, Saturday was the target, but I stayed up way too late Friday and slept late and also my OTHER foot is bothering me today. So, I will run Sunday instead - no excuses. Aiming for a "long run" though I don't know quite what that will be.

When I was coming home from my run on Wednesday, I noticed the kickboxing class was letting out so I went in and grabbed a flyer with class times. They have switched back to the early time for summer. (During the school year it was 9:00.) So, I think I will add in one kickboxing class on Wednesday mornings. That is the only morning with Cardio Kick. I will see about maybe an evening class too.

I am not counting calories. It's like a hobby, really - it sucks up that much time. I KNOW what I should be eating, but if I don't write it down anywhere, then I just ignore the numbers. BAD Lisa.

Mile and a Half without stopping!

Two workouts again this week. Computer problems sucked up so much of my time and left me drained. It was also very hot several, which limited my choices for running.

I ended up running twice - once on Tuesday with the kids and once on Friday without them.

On Tuesday, I ran 5 laps and the kids went the other way around the loop so I could check in with them more frequently than lapping them. They mostly did 3 loops. I did walk part of the way - I think I ran about 1.5 loops then walked about .25 of a loop, and continued sort of that way.

On Friday, I went earlier than I normally do and the weather was just perfect for running. Not too hot, not chilly at all, a nice breeze and some sunshine. I saw a deer and a rabbit. My goal was to run at least a mile without stopping to walk, but I exceeded my goal and ran 1.5 miles without stopping. Then I walked a bit and then ran a little more than a loop before walking again. So in total, I did run just over 2 miles that day, I believe. So a nice workout.

I had intended to run Tues/Thurs/Sat, but since I didn't get to it on Thursday, I couldn't run Saturday since I don't run two days in a row. (Hard on my hips to do that.) I thought I might do Tae-bo on Saturday, but I was lazy and didn't.

Maybe I'll do a bike ride today?

Audiobooks

2.5 miles again on Tuesday. Would have gone longer but for 3 things: 1) phone call expected and needed to be sure to be back in time, 2) MP3 player battery died at 2 miles, 3) needed the restroom in a bad way. lol

Foot feels good. Endurance is improving, though I am still walking about 1/16 mile of every 1/2 mile loop. Next time I'll try for 5 loops instead of 4.

The kids have been doing no running. Gotta muster the gumption to get them moving again. It's harder to motivate them than it is to motivate myself!

Oh, by the way, I usually listen to audiobooks when I run. Sometimes I need the rhythm of music to set my pace. However, if you know anything about me, you know I am a multi-tasker and am easily bored by repetition. So, listening to an audiobook (usually Diana Gabaldon, who writes Really Long Books) helps me feel like I am accomplishing something while I run.

I know, just running is an accomplishment. But I can't help it!

Friday Run

Jogged again Friday morning. About the same as Wednesday - mostly jogging with walking breaks for a total of 2.5 miles. I felt tired and my foot hurt a little. Had to push myself to run past the first mile. Glad I did.

Kids did no running. James had 2 soccer games and they were intense!

Hoping to run this week back up to the 3 mile mark. It may even be 3.5 with the walk to/from.

Comments are nice! Are you running? Walking? Exercising?

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.

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.