W4D1.

I was NOT looking forward to today.  Last night, I knew I was gonna run, but until about 10pm, I thought I'd just do w3d3 another time, because I was having a hard time running for 3 minutes.  I got an email from my cousin, with information about the 5k race I plan on running in May.  It's on May 19, and after looking into it a bit more, I realized that the 5k is 6 weeks from Saturday.  If I keep doing weeks over, I dont think that I'd be ready for the 5k, especially if I have yet to run on anything but a treadmill.

So, I decided that I'd give week 4 a try, and instead of going on the treadmill again, I'd go to the YMCA and run on the indoor track that they have.  This was going to be the first time since I've been running that I'd run on something other than the treadmill.  Because of that, and because week 4 is much harder (and from what I've heard, it's hard to go from week 3 to week 4), I was prepared to not be able to finish todays workout. 

For those of you that don't know, Week 4 consists of this:

5 Minute Warm Up
Jog 3 Minutes
Walk 90 Seconds
Jog 5 Minutes
Walk 2.5 Minutes
Jog 3 Minutes
Walk 90 Seconds
Jog 5 Minutes
5 Minute Cool Down
Total Workout: 31:30.

I totally stalled this morning.  I got up, got dressed, decided to go on the computer for a minute, spent some time with stella (the cat, who has hated me ever since we got our puppy), checked the mail. Then I drove to the YMCA, and finished listening to a song, went inside, walked around a little, until finally I decided to just go to the track and get it done.  

I'd never been on the track at the YMCA, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  It was above the gym, so that was kinda neat.  There was no one else in the gym, or on the track when I got there, so I was happy about that. I decided to listen to my Disney Pandora Station, because I figured that would help me remember that the whole reason I'm doing this, is because I want to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon. I started the work out.  Got through the warm up, and first 3 minute walk, no problem.  I was totally nervous about running for 5 minutes, but next thing I know, I made it through 5 minutes! I was so proud!  I think that having the phone in my hand, instead of watching the time go by as i run on the treadmill. 

So I kept running.  And walking, and then running.  And before I knew it, I was done. I finished the entire thing!  AND I finished it on the treadmill!  I was so extremely proud. It's been such a long time since I've done something that I've been that proud of myself.  It was an amazing feeling to have been able to finish the whole thing. 

On another note, I have gotten a few new readers, so hello to everyone!  Now that I have more people reading, I will try to update more!  :)

Trying again.

I kinda blew it this week.

Last Tuesday, Cody and I went to the YMCA and signed up, since Cody's work is giving us a free membership!  It's gonna be so great to be able to work out, and then go swimming, or play basketball - AND this is more likely to get Cody to go to the gym with me, because he doesn't really enjoy using the treadmill, or just lifting weights, but he will go to play basketball!  Plus I'm super excited to join in on some classes. They have a Saturday morning Zumba class that I may have to try!

We went on Wednesday, and I tried out their treadmills (they're different than the ones at our current gym) and Cody lifted weights, and then we played basketball until another class came in and needed the gym.  It was fun, and I'm glad that I got Cody to come with!

But we haven't been back since. 

I don't really have any excuses, except that we've been busy with House stuff.  (Oh yeah, if I didn't mention, we bought a house! YAY! I'll go into more detail about the house, once we close and have full access to it).  We've had meetings with the insurance company, and the real estate company, we had the house inspection.  All of our free time, that we would normally spend at the gym, has been spent on something with the house. 

I was afraid that this week, going back to the gym would be hard after taking a week off. Surprisingly, it wasn't. It was actually the opposite. Since Cody had to work early yesterday, I just went to my regular gym (mostly so I could go and cancel, but it's just closer and easier to go to this one).  I was able to do Week 3 just fine!  I ran both 3 minute sets, and had really no problem with it.  Week 4 has me running for 5 minutes, and I'm not sure that I can do that yet.  I'm nervous about it, because I know it's going to be super hard.  But I'm never gonna be able to run a half marathon, if I can't learn to run for 5 minutes!

Week 3

Well, I have officially stuck with the c25k program longer this time around than I did last time!  I'm super proud of that, and determined to stick it out to the end.  I started week 3 today, which means two repetitions of jogging for 90 seconds, walking for 90 seconds, jogging for 3 minutes, and walking for 3 minutes. I was able to jog for the first 3 minutes, but the second time I was getting sore legs again, so I only ran for 90 seconds :(  I'm super proud that I was able to get through the first 3 minutes, though! I'm anxious to try it again on Sunday and see if I can do both 3 minute jogs. 

After the gym, I went across the street and got some coffee and a bagel.  I love that the coffee shop is right by the gym.  I couldn't believe how foggy it is outside today, though! It was a big foggy last night on my way home from work, but today its so foggy we can't even see across the lake from us.  Which is fine with me, because apparently there were coyotes on there last night!  I didn't even know we had coyotes! 

I'm kind of excited, because I think we are going to be getting a free membership to the YMCA! Right now we go to Snap Fitness, which I like a lot because it's open 24 hours, but I haven't been using the late night option as much lately, because of my work schedule.  We pay about $50 a month, and our gym only has weight and cardio equipment.  With this free YMCA membership, we'd not only be saving money, but I'd have access to classes, and a pool, and all kinds of other things.  I'm super excited!

Shin Splints.

I don't know what shin splints are really, because this is the first time in my life that I've honestly ever done something to create shin splints.  But lately, when I've been doing my run, my legs have been hurting.  A lot.  My ankles get so cramped up that I almost can't even bend them enough to run, and there is a sharp pain that runs up my leg to about my knees.  I've always had issues with my hips hurting (I tend to credit that to working on my feet for at least the last 10 years and always wearing bad shoes), so the fact that my hips also hurt isn't a big deal because I'm kind of used to it.

 But my legs.....ugh.  At the end of week 1, I was okay. I took 3 days off between week 1 and 2, and I had the best run ever after those 3 days.  Then, day 2 and 3 hurt my legs so bad, especially the last day. I am nervous to start week 3, because I don't want it to hurt as bad as it did, especially since I have started a new job, and am working 40 hours a week again. 

The weather has been so nice out lately.  It's unusually warm for March in Michigan.  It's been averaging about 68 degrees the last few days.  I LOVE IT.  I love having my windows open, and having fresh air in the apartment again.  It also really makes me want to start running outside.  If I'm going to run the 5K in May that I am planning on running, then I need to start running outside.  I am working on finding a nice spot, I just wish I had a running partner to go with me to check out some places.