On The Road (Win)

Yes!  Yesterday I completed one of the Week One days in the C25K app at the gym.  It was an awesome feeling.  I rewarded myself, not with sunglasses, but with a Fitbit Zip.  On sale at Best Buy for $49.  I got the green one--it's cute.  I think it is a better first goal reward since I already have some sunglasses that I can wear.  My new Fitbit will tell me how many steps I walked in a day (like a pedometer), the distance those steps add up to (miles per day), and the approximate number of calories I burned with my steps.  It syncs with my computer wirelessly, and with my phone via Bluetooth.  It is linked to my Facebook and to Endomondo!  It's pretty neat!  So far this morning (at 07:49) I've walked 5,434 steps I bet I will easily pass 10,000 today!

This morning I was able to complete Week One, Day Three out on the road!  I found a quiet neighborhood near my apartment that was nice to run in.  And, there were only about three cars driving by which meant that I could run on the asphalt instead of the sidewalk and still be safe.  I liked being in the neighborhood with no one around instead of out on the main street because I was less self conscious about running--especially with long pieces of bright pink tape on my legs.  But, once it was time for coffee at Starbucks I was over it and actually was hoping that someone would ask me about the tape.

Time/Weather:

     I left the house at 06:00 this morning.  Again, a little trouble getting out of bed this morning.  The weather app on my phone said it was 65*F.  The sun was coming up and there were a few clouds in the sky.  A beautiful morning.

What Worked:

     Everything!  Pants worked. Tape worked. Half a bottle of Gatorade worked. 

     Pants were brand new compression capris from Old Navy.  They stayed in place nicely and were very comfortable.  I love those pants!

     KT Tape did wonders for my shin splints!  I was surprised that my leg bones are no longer trying to escape through my skin while I am running and it is even helping with some of the pain after I am done.  I need to find some good exercises to help strengthen the front shin muscle so that it wont hurt so much.  But for now, the tape is great.  

     Since I was running today and wanted to be able to finish the C25K Week One, Day Three program I decided to take some fluids with me.  I had just opened a bottle of Gatorade and poured half of it in an empty bottle from yesterday.  It was great and I tried to take only small sips so that it would last while I was out.  I think that I am going to get some of those little 8 oz water bottles that would fit more easily in the palm of my hand.  

What Didn't Work:

     Foam blister tape didn't work today.  Yesterday's blister was bigger and more tender after my run on the treadmill at the gym.  Decided to go out running this morning and wasn't going to let one (kind of big) blister stop me in my first week.  Under two layers of foam tape it still popped.  Oh well, better now than to worry about a full blister for three days.  Birkenstocks all day so that it can dry and heal and hopefully be ready for another run tomorrow morning before work.
     Forgot my sunglasses.  But luckily I was okay without them this morning.

Motivation: 
     Today's motivation was simple.  I ran yesterday at the gym, which is much easier than running out on the street. So, I knew that I had to go out this morning and do it again!  I feel like I have accomplished so much in just five days!  Going from the idea that running should only be for when someone or something is chasing you (or a student runs out of your classroom and you have to go find him) to making it something that is fun and enjoyable.  It is starting to get fun, and starting to get enjoyable.  Looking forward to rocking the Firehose 5K Fun Run, and picking the half-marathon that I will run in February!  So far, thinking about the Run RockNRoll in Pasadena!

5K Active Logo-From website.

Below it is listed as "running" but it was mostly walking since I walked to Starbucks after completing my run, but left the Endomondo running.