I Tried, I Really Did (Loss)

Motivation:

I really tried this morning, I did.

It was a tough run. I barely made it through the first five minute segment and then during the eight minute segment I had a stitch in my side so bad that I had to start walking.  Then, I had trouble starting again. So I backed up my C25K app to give it another go at the eight minute segment. But it just wasn't working this morning.

Tomorrow I am going to give it another go and hopefully has a better run.

Friday I am going to hike Telegraph Pass with teachers from school. Hopefully, that goes well too!

20 Minutes, Well 17 Actually... (Win)

Motivation:

I was worried about this morning's C25K run. It starts off with the same five minute warm up, then twenty minutes of running, and the same five minute cool down. Yes you read that correctly, twenty as in 20, minutes of running.  What?! I just conquered eight minutes and now I have to do more than that, more than double?  Okay, I am up for the challenge.  I will see your twenty minutes but give you only 17 minutes.

Seventeen minutes is still kind of awesome!  I took a walk break for less than three minutes when the C25K app told me I was half way there.  I walked for the remainder of the song I was listening to and when it was over I was back to running.  I had a slower running speed this morning than I've had lately but I tried to keep it slow to conserve my energy to be able to last the full 20 minutes.  I am just glad that I didn't give up around 12 minutes, or stop to walk and never go back to running.

All was well, and I am glad to be done with Week Five.  Week Six starts off with five minute and eight minute segments, and then Day Two is ten minute running segments.  Oh but wait, Day Three is running for 22 minutes.  Week Seven is full of running with no walk breaks, and Week Eight is a full 5K, running! I think after I finish the program I will work on 3 mile runs for a while and try to get my time down. Then, I'll move on to the 10K Trainer app and work on distance.

Eight Minutes-I Kicked Your Butt Today (Win)

Motivation:

 

I had my doubts about the eight minute running segments in Week Five, Day Two. But I decided I was going to run as much as I can and then I would walk the remainder of the time. If I needed to, I would try again tomorrow. But I was pleasantly surprised this morning when I was able to run the full eight minutes both times!  I has just conquered the full five minutes only days ago, and didn't think I was ready to increase my running time by more than 50%. 

The new challenge will be Week Five, Day Three. That's twenty minutes (or two miles) of running.  I think that something is out of place here, because I am going from eight minutes to 20 minutes. Then, Week Six, Day One is 5 minutes/8 minutes/5 minutes. But, I am up for the challenge. I'll give myself a walking break if I need it around the ten minute mark. As long as I keep going I think I will be okay.  I'll just make sure that I have the best music play list for tomorrow! Since I've hit these longer running segments I have been relying on music a little more to take divert my concentration. Usually it works until I get to the end of the song and I try to guess how long the song was and how much of the next one I have to listen to.  It keeps me going, so it's a good way to train.  

Time/Weather:

     I stayed in bed only until 05:00 and was out the door at 05:25. It was lovely out, clear without a breeze. My phone's weather app couldn't decide what temperature it was outside. On the map is said 72ºF but it was telling me 77ºF. That's quite a difference.  It was nice though, that's all I have to say.  I didn't mind running in the weather this morning. 

Summer Solstice 5K School Supply Drive Run/Walk (Win)

Yes, I am going to call this one a "win" even though I didn't run. I was very wishy-washy about going to this event.
Pro: I would get some school supplies!
Con: It was at 19:00 and would be very hot and mostly sunny.
Pro: My parents were participating also!
Con: It was at 19:00 and would be very hot and mostly sunny.
Pro: It was an event sponsored by a running group that I want to join!
Con: It was at 19:00 and would be very hot and mostly sunny.

Still, even after starting out my morning with a nice run, taking the summer school kids to the water park, packing up my stuff because it was the last day of summer school I still made it to the event (despite my worries about the weather). I walked the whole thing, even though my legs were still sore from Wednesday's "leg day" at the gym.

The weather did not turn out to be a problem. Yeah, I was hot, and was a little sweaty before I even started; but it wasn't the major buzz kill I thought it was going to be. I bet that had I run at the event I would have been complaining about the hot weather more.

So, after yesterday, I decided I would take today as a rest day.  Here is how I feel about today's rest day...

Tomorrow morning I am going to get up early and run. I am going to try for Week Five, Day Two and see how awesome I am at eight minute running segments. I should be well rested and ready for it!  Only packing today, but that is a different kind of workout in itself.

First Day of Summer (Win)

Motivation:
     First, see previous two posts about kicking ass during Week Four of C25K.
     Next,

General AWESOMENESS? No. Total, overwhelming AWESOMENESS!  Yes, I am feeling quite awesome this morning. This morning's mantra was "You're fine, just do this!"  It worked! My legs were sore from Wednesday's "leg day" at the gym, but I pushed through. Also, listening to some Flogging Molly really helped too. 

Week Five, Day One is three segments of five minutes for running, with shorter walking segments in between.  I just conquered the five minute running segments in Week Four and was ready to move on. Day One is only three segments of five minutes, but Day Two is up to eight minutes for running, Day Three is even more.  This week is going to be more challenging because it changes daily and does so for the rest of the weeks. But, I know that I am up for the challenge--I mean, I've made it this far already.  On my next run I might do Week Five, Day One again, just to become really confident in these five minute segments.

My Nathan 5K waist pack arrived yesterday, so this morning's run was my first run where I didn't need to be so concerned about my phone and my bra.  It was nice.  I still need to adjust it a little bit more but overall I was very happy with it.  It wasn't flapping or bouncing around while I was running, and my phone and ipod were snuggly contained and easily accessible.  And, the best part was not having to deal with a sweat covered phone!

I took a new route this morning. The canal near my house that I have been crossing over when I run near the park. I should have looked on Google Maps last night to check the route first.  There was a longish section before getting to the canal that didn't have a sidewalk.  It was okay, I just made sure to move over onto the dirt shoulder when cars were coming, and luckily it wasn't a busy section of road and I was still able to run on the asphalt. I have one more week of running these routes before I have to change them all up with a new starting location!

Time/Weather:
     I was out the door at 05:25 this morning. It was six minutes before sunrise. It was clear with no breeze. The temperature was 78º but there was a spot just before I reached the canal of really cool air.  It was a sweaty run this morning, too bad the temperatures are only going to be getting warmer and then I will have to make sure I am on the road for my run even earlier.

My Legs Are Going To Die (Win)

Motivation:

I felt it as soon as I stepped out of the house this morning--my right shin was already hurting.  I knew it was going to be a tough run, and in the beginning I wasn't sure if I was going to make it.  A few times I had to remind myself that I did the same run yesterday and that I would be able to do it again today. And, I did do it again today!  It wasn't as fun, and it hurt more than yesterday but I did it! I think one more day of the Week Four runs and I am ready to move on to Week Five. Finally, I survived the fourth week. I had my doubts about meeting the challenge of five minute running segments, but now I know I can meet the eight minute running segments in the next week.

Time for a shower and some KT tape. It is going to be a long day with a trip to the gym in the afternoon.  Tomorrow is sleeping-in day rest day, a well deserved rest day I think!

Two Options For a Win (Win)

Motivation:

I thought of this while I was getting ready for my run this morning. While I wanted to sleep in or at least stay in bed, what I want more is to become a runner, a good runner!  And, by getting up and out of bed (even after turning off my alarm) and running this morning I helped myself to become a runner, a better runner!  It turned out to be a great run this morning, and that feels even better!

I set out this morning with two options to help myself have a successful run: a distance run or a stamina run.  I would start out towards the stamina run, but if I couldn't do it, I could change my C25K app to a lower week and go farther than if I was doing a stamina run.  This way, I would still be able to have a "win" for today because I really need it!  And, I rocked the five minute running segments this morning and rocked the stamina run--which is always harder than a distance run!

Saturday was a rest day for me, a full rest day, a planned rest day. On Sunday, I went out to try a stamina run, but didn't even make it one mile. My back hurt, I felt like I had no form, and I was running in a new area and just all around wasn't off to a good start. Yesterday,  I was tired and didn't want to go out for a run, even though I probably needed it the most. So, last night I was preparing myself to get up and run this morning. To run and push myself, to run and run harder, to run and make it a good run.  And it was!  I was so happy that I did well this morning, I really needed it!

I finally ordered my Nathan 5K Waist Pack from Amazon.com!  I can't wait for it to arrive! I am so sick of having my phone slide out the bottom of my bra while I am running, or having to carry it in my hands. But, I need my phone--I need to have those great maps and other useful information from Endomondo while I'm running.  Look at the awesome information below!  A 40 minute run, a max speed of 7:47, and (my favorite part) three little trophies!  This morning I had a best 1 mile time of 12:22!

Today was a stamina run, and a WIN. Tomorrow, I will try a tabata run again with more distance than last time. Hopefully it will go well--I can't wait to try the tabata run again!