I woke up at 7:30, and I had every intention on doing the same route I did on Thursday, except I was going to increase my running distance. On Thursday, I ran up my street, and walked down, and did that for 2 miles (at least that's what my crappy HRM said). My plan for today was to run up the street, and back down half, and then walk the other half, for at least 2 miles. I got up, got dressed, was all ready to go, and I step outside, and it's effing FREEZING outside, and it's raining/sleeting/snowing. I was bummed, but the lazy part of me said "it's all good, I can just go tomorrow". So I came inside, sat down, and turned the tv on. I sat here for a second, and thought "maybe I'll just go to the gym and do the elliptical". I HATE the elliptical, so that idea wasn't all that great. I really had every intention on just sitting here and relaxing, but something made me decide to get up and go outside and run away.
When I got outside, I saw that it had stopped raining! So I went out and started my workout. Running farther was hard, but I was able to do it. The problem that I ran into was the air. Does cold air bother anyone elses lungs? It was about 40 degrees outside, and after about 15 minutes, my lungs started to burn so bad. I've had this issue just about every time I've run outside. I start coughing and it's hard to breath. I'm working on trying to breath better when I run, so that I'm not so out of breath the whole time, but with the cold air, it's so hard to do that.
I went for about a mile before my shins started to ache, my lungs were bothering me so bad that I was out of breath even when I was walking, and it was just time to go in. About as soon as I hit one mile, and decided to come inside, it started raining again. I was grateful that it stopped raining long enough to get a short workout in, even if it wasn't as long as I had originally planned. I'm gonna try again tomorrow and see how it goes.
I'm sitting here now though, and I'm icing my shins. After Thursdays run, my shins and ankles were super stiff all day. I always felt like they needed to be stretched, even after I had stretched them. I am super terrified of getting shin splints, so I am hoping that icing them after each run will help keep them from injury.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Giving up is for Rookies
Disney has the best inspirational quotes. :)
I couldn't sleep this morning, so I ended up waking up around 6:30 and since I couldn't fall back asleep, I ended up getting up around 7:15ish. I decided since I was awake, and it wasn't raining, that I'd go out for a run again. (That's 3 days in a row, in case you were wondering :) )
Yesterday during my run, I forgot to wear my HRM, so I remembered to grab it today. I have a crappy HRM, it's a Sportline somethingorother.
I grabbed it this morning, if for nothing else, to see the distance I was going. I decided to do the same type of "intervals" that I did yesterday. I walked down my road, to the dead end, and ran from the end, up to the corner. According to my HRM, I did it for 2 miles! Those two miles took me about 42 minutes. Why it took so long, I'm not sure. I'm fairly sure I can walk faster than a 20 minute mile, so I think something isn't right. But oh well. I still feel like I went 2 miles, and I feel good about that, because that's the farthest I've gone since I've started doing this. I think I'm gonna keep doing the same type of intervals, until I can get faster, run longer, and I'm gonna start trying to go for at least 3.1 miles. That way, in 3 weeks when I do my 5k, I'll be ready for it! Once I'm able to comfortably run 5k, I'm gonna start the couch to 10k program. I'd like to be able to run a 10k by August/September. I'd really like to be able to run more than that by September, so that I'm comfortably read for the Princess Half in February. I'm nervous about how I'm gonna run in the winter with the snow....hopefully we'll have a winter like this past one, where we hardly got any snow!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Attempt #2
I decided to give another try at running today. I decided that I'm gonna take a bit of a break from the c25k program. I almost think that starting on the treadmill, and then moving onto the track, is hindering my progression. I wish I had started outside right away, even though when I started, it was super snowy outside. I have a 5k in less than a month, and I've only run outside twice now. I think I'm gonna just do my own thing now, until at least after the 5k and I increase my stamina.
I downloaded an interval timer, but I set it for farther than I think I can go. It's weird how different it is, running outside vs. running on an indoor track. The track basically gives you the most perfect running condition. The ground is level (except around the corners, which has an incline), there is no wind to deal with, the temperature in the building is always perfect. When I run outside, I have the wind to deal with, the cold air messes with my lungs, and the ground is uneven, which makes it harder. So I think until I run the 5k, I'm gonna only run outside (unless it's raining), so I can condition myself to be able to run the race.
So today when I went out, I decided to start with the interval timer, but I didn't like that thing, and decided to just run what I felt like I could. I also decided, since I had trouble finding a place to run yesterday, that I'd just go on my street. We live on a dead end, and although it's not the longest road, I figured I'd just run up and down my street. Boring, yes, but at least it's outside and it will help me figure out distance. I started at my house, and ran as far as I could...which was to the end of the street. I then walked the other side. And once I got to the dead end, I ran again, and ran to the end of the street. I did this 5 times. I know that's not far, but it was about a 25 minute workout total.
I think I'll try to run again tomorrow, and maybe take Friday off. I can't keep doing this thing I've been doing, where I run a day, and then take 2 or 3 days off. That's not helping my progress. I'm gonna run at least 4 days a week. I have 3 weeks and 3 days before my race, so I have a lot of work to do in a short period of time. I think as long as I stick to my plan, I should be able to run a good amount of the 5k!
I downloaded an interval timer, but I set it for farther than I think I can go. It's weird how different it is, running outside vs. running on an indoor track. The track basically gives you the most perfect running condition. The ground is level (except around the corners, which has an incline), there is no wind to deal with, the temperature in the building is always perfect. When I run outside, I have the wind to deal with, the cold air messes with my lungs, and the ground is uneven, which makes it harder. So I think until I run the 5k, I'm gonna only run outside (unless it's raining), so I can condition myself to be able to run the race.
So today when I went out, I decided to start with the interval timer, but I didn't like that thing, and decided to just run what I felt like I could. I also decided, since I had trouble finding a place to run yesterday, that I'd just go on my street. We live on a dead end, and although it's not the longest road, I figured I'd just run up and down my street. Boring, yes, but at least it's outside and it will help me figure out distance. I started at my house, and ran as far as I could...which was to the end of the street. I then walked the other side. And once I got to the dead end, I ran again, and ran to the end of the street. I did this 5 times. I know that's not far, but it was about a 25 minute workout total.
I think I'll try to run again tomorrow, and maybe take Friday off. I can't keep doing this thing I've been doing, where I run a day, and then take 2 or 3 days off. That's not helping my progress. I'm gonna run at least 4 days a week. I have 3 weeks and 3 days before my race, so I have a lot of work to do in a short period of time. I think as long as I stick to my plan, I should be able to run a good amount of the 5k!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
New House! (Picture Heavy!)
Okay, so I told you guys that I'd post some pictures of my new house, so today is the day. :)
So a little info about us, and our house. My husband bought a condo when he was 21 years old. It was a small, one bedroom/loft type of condo. He was also married at the time, and his ex hated the condo. It was also difficult for them, because the condo association fees went up $350 from when he first bought it. It became too expensive, and he wasn't able to sell, and he ended up divorcing his then wife, and eventually it went into foreclosure. He had intentions on living in an apartment for the 7 years that it would take for his credit to become better, so that he could afford a new house. Well, then we met, and lived in an apartment for 3 years, and when I started my new job, my boss told me about how she was selling her house. That kind of turned us on to looking for a house. My bosses house ended up not working out the way we had hoped, but this house was introduced to us through her realtor.
Because my husbands credit was bad, and I had only been at my job for a few weeks, the bank wasn't willing to give us a loan. They said we'd be able to get an FHA loan, but not for another year. So our options were limited. The house that we were looking at (and eventually bought) said it was a possible land contract, so that's what we did. If you don't know what a land contract is, it basically means that the lady we bought the house from owned the house completely, and instead of getting a loan from the bank, we paid the down payment to her, and we will pay our monthly payments to her. All the money we pay her will come off the total price of the house, and our contract says that in 3 years, we will have to get a loan from the bank, and pay her off, and then we will have a regular mortgage payment. She lives across the street, so that's super nice because we can just walk our house payment over to her. :)
The house is super small. It's about 900 sqft. Which is okay, because that's all the space we need. It was built in 2003, so it's pretty new, and everything in the house is in great condition. The only things we had to change were paint colors, and some cleaning. Eventually, we plan on getting a hot tub, and Cody is going to turn the garage into his "man cave", complete with a keg-orator haha. There is two bedrooms, one bathroom, and it came with all appliances. We have half an acre, so eventually, if we decide, we can expand if we want, but with the land contract, when the 3 years is up, we can either take out a mortgage, OR we can choose not to, and we'll just lose our down payment, and the money that we have been paying each month.
Okay, now picture time!!! This is our house...no stalking! :)
The landscaping was all done by the previous owner, and there are already flowers and stuff blooming. I'm gonna go through and take out all the dead stuff, and hopefully it'll look a little bit cleaner.
This is the living room....
This is our little dining room area...
And the kitchen....
Our new patio furniture!
And the backyard...
(ignore the two bags of leaves and stuff, I forgot to move them!)
Like I said, it's kinda small, but we love it so far....it for sure beats living in an apartment!
And, one of my favorite pics of Remy...
In other news, I just was told today that the Color Run is coming to Grand Rapids, which means I get to do it!! it's in August, so I had better be able to easily run a 5k by then! Even though, from what I've heard, you don't really have to be able to run in order to do the Color Run. I'm so excited!!!
So a little info about us, and our house. My husband bought a condo when he was 21 years old. It was a small, one bedroom/loft type of condo. He was also married at the time, and his ex hated the condo. It was also difficult for them, because the condo association fees went up $350 from when he first bought it. It became too expensive, and he wasn't able to sell, and he ended up divorcing his then wife, and eventually it went into foreclosure. He had intentions on living in an apartment for the 7 years that it would take for his credit to become better, so that he could afford a new house. Well, then we met, and lived in an apartment for 3 years, and when I started my new job, my boss told me about how she was selling her house. That kind of turned us on to looking for a house. My bosses house ended up not working out the way we had hoped, but this house was introduced to us through her realtor.
Because my husbands credit was bad, and I had only been at my job for a few weeks, the bank wasn't willing to give us a loan. They said we'd be able to get an FHA loan, but not for another year. So our options were limited. The house that we were looking at (and eventually bought) said it was a possible land contract, so that's what we did. If you don't know what a land contract is, it basically means that the lady we bought the house from owned the house completely, and instead of getting a loan from the bank, we paid the down payment to her, and we will pay our monthly payments to her. All the money we pay her will come off the total price of the house, and our contract says that in 3 years, we will have to get a loan from the bank, and pay her off, and then we will have a regular mortgage payment. She lives across the street, so that's super nice because we can just walk our house payment over to her. :)
The house is super small. It's about 900 sqft. Which is okay, because that's all the space we need. It was built in 2003, so it's pretty new, and everything in the house is in great condition. The only things we had to change were paint colors, and some cleaning. Eventually, we plan on getting a hot tub, and Cody is going to turn the garage into his "man cave", complete with a keg-orator haha. There is two bedrooms, one bathroom, and it came with all appliances. We have half an acre, so eventually, if we decide, we can expand if we want, but with the land contract, when the 3 years is up, we can either take out a mortgage, OR we can choose not to, and we'll just lose our down payment, and the money that we have been paying each month.
Okay, now picture time!!! This is our house...no stalking! :)
This is the living room....
And the kitchen....
Our new patio furniture!
Like I said, it's kinda small, but we love it so far....it for sure beats living in an apartment!
And, one of my favorite pics of Remy...
In other news, I just was told today that the Color Run is coming to Grand Rapids, which means I get to do it!! it's in August, so I had better be able to easily run a 5k by then! Even though, from what I've heard, you don't really have to be able to run in order to do the Color Run. I'm so excited!!!
Good Intentions don't get you anywhere in life.
I woke up this morning, and once again, didn't wanna go run. But I knew that if I didn't, I'd regret it...so I got my shoes on and left. I was about to get on the highway to go to the gym, and I decided that I wanted to try the 20 minute run, and that the best way to do that would to be running outside. I was afraid that the track at the gym would get me way too bored and I wouldn't have anything to focus on other than the fact that I was running for 20 minutes, and I wanted to stop. The problem is, I didn't know where to go.
So, I drove down the street. I want to figure out what my pace is, so I was excited that I'd be outside and my GPS would work on my phone, and I could use the mapmyrun app to figure all that out. I drove down one of the side roads that is a few miles from my house, off of the busy road, and drove. I was hoping to find somewhere that I could park, but there really wasn't any. So I parked my car along side of the road, next to a field. I was worried that I'd get yelled at for parking there, but I don't think anyone really cared.
So, I got all my stuff out, and got out of the car. I decided I'd stick kind of close to my car, just in case someone wanted me to move it, I could do so pretty easily. I started my c25k app, and the mapmyrun app, and pandora, which is generally what I do when I go to the track. I did my warm up, and started running (and I still can't figure out why the countdown only had me running for 8 minutes, before it started a cool down?). I was doing the run/walk intervals, where I'd run for 90 seconds, walk for 30, hoping that would help me get through the entire 20 minutes. Well, I did 8 minutes, it had me starting my cool down for some reason. And basically, it was hell. I know that I'm having trouble with the 2 8-minute intervals, but at least I can generally run one of the two intervals! I had such a hard time running. I don't know if it was the cool air, or the wind, or the uneven ground, or a mixture of all of that, but my lungs were burning so bad. I was coughing like I've been a smoker for the last 25 years. I still am coughing like crazy and my chest hurts. And, I got stopped by 2 different cars, asking me if I needed a ride. They saw my car and thought that my car had broken down and that I needed a ride. And then, somehow I hit a button on my phone, and it closed down the c25k app! I was so frustrated by this time that I walked to my car, and started to cry, and went home.
I just feel so defeated. I want to be as proud of myself as I was when I did the 5 minute run. I dont know if I'm doing so badly because I am slacking, or if changing up my running environment is messing with me, or what the deal is. I decided I'm going to get back to a regular schedule. Every other day, doing my run. I have been slacking a bit, when it comes to my schedule. Instead of running every other day, I've been running every 2-3 days. I'm sure that's part of the problem. I need a way to make myself feel motivated again.
Sorry if my blog is becoming more depressing than inspiring. I love having you all read this, and give me advice. I am listening to your advice and it is helping me so much! If it weren't for you guys, I'd probably stop by now!! So THANK YOU!
So, I drove down the street. I want to figure out what my pace is, so I was excited that I'd be outside and my GPS would work on my phone, and I could use the mapmyrun app to figure all that out. I drove down one of the side roads that is a few miles from my house, off of the busy road, and drove. I was hoping to find somewhere that I could park, but there really wasn't any. So I parked my car along side of the road, next to a field. I was worried that I'd get yelled at for parking there, but I don't think anyone really cared.
So, I got all my stuff out, and got out of the car. I decided I'd stick kind of close to my car, just in case someone wanted me to move it, I could do so pretty easily. I started my c25k app, and the mapmyrun app, and pandora, which is generally what I do when I go to the track. I did my warm up, and started running (and I still can't figure out why the countdown only had me running for 8 minutes, before it started a cool down?). I was doing the run/walk intervals, where I'd run for 90 seconds, walk for 30, hoping that would help me get through the entire 20 minutes. Well, I did 8 minutes, it had me starting my cool down for some reason. And basically, it was hell. I know that I'm having trouble with the 2 8-minute intervals, but at least I can generally run one of the two intervals! I had such a hard time running. I don't know if it was the cool air, or the wind, or the uneven ground, or a mixture of all of that, but my lungs were burning so bad. I was coughing like I've been a smoker for the last 25 years. I still am coughing like crazy and my chest hurts. And, I got stopped by 2 different cars, asking me if I needed a ride. They saw my car and thought that my car had broken down and that I needed a ride. And then, somehow I hit a button on my phone, and it closed down the c25k app! I was so frustrated by this time that I walked to my car, and started to cry, and went home.
I just feel so defeated. I want to be as proud of myself as I was when I did the 5 minute run. I dont know if I'm doing so badly because I am slacking, or if changing up my running environment is messing with me, or what the deal is. I decided I'm going to get back to a regular schedule. Every other day, doing my run. I have been slacking a bit, when it comes to my schedule. Instead of running every other day, I've been running every 2-3 days. I'm sure that's part of the problem. I need a way to make myself feel motivated again.
Sorry if my blog is becoming more depressing than inspiring. I love having you all read this, and give me advice. I am listening to your advice and it is helping me so much! If it weren't for you guys, I'd probably stop by now!! So THANK YOU!
Motivation
I dont know why I have been lacking motivation lately. I almost feel like I'm getting bored with running, even though it's hard. I'm getting bored of running at the same place. I know that the way to change this is to run somewhere else, but at this point, I don't know where to go. My house is right off of a busy road, so running from my house is basically not doable. Since I'm new to this area, I don't really know of any parks or running trails. I've tried using MapMyRun, but I haven't been able to find any good, interesting trails. I'm scheduled for a run tomorrow, and I was hoping to go outside, but I think I'll just do it inside again. It's supposed to be about 45 degrees tomorrow morning, so it may be a little bit too chilly for me to run outside. I also think that I wish I had a running buddy. I don't mind running alone, because it gives me time to think, and I have to stay in my own zone to be able to finish. But it'd be nice to have someone with me, to help motivate me.
Maybe once I start doing some 5k's in the area, I'll meet some people, and then I'll find a runner who is at the same point in their running journey as I am. I just wish I lived near some of you that read my blog, and we could all run together! :)
I've been thinking a lot about the Princess Half Marathon, and I am super worried that I'm not gonna be ready for it. I probably need to start working harder than I am right now, but I am worried about over doing it. I don't wanna hurt myself. I have a friend who started running, and went from not running, to running every day. She now has a completely screwed up knee, and she gets shin splints every time she tries to run. She is giving up running for a while. I don't wanna do that! I wanna be able to run without a problem.
Speaking of the Princess Half, I decided I want this once I finish the race:
How adorable is this???
Okay, I'm off to bed. I'm going to give my Week 5 Day 2 a try tomorrow, hopefully being able to give myself a few walking seconds within my 8 minute intervals so that I can run it without a problem! So I can FINALLY move on to giving the 20 minute run a try!!! Night ya'll!
Maybe once I start doing some 5k's in the area, I'll meet some people, and then I'll find a runner who is at the same point in their running journey as I am. I just wish I lived near some of you that read my blog, and we could all run together! :)
I've been thinking a lot about the Princess Half Marathon, and I am super worried that I'm not gonna be ready for it. I probably need to start working harder than I am right now, but I am worried about over doing it. I don't wanna hurt myself. I have a friend who started running, and went from not running, to running every day. She now has a completely screwed up knee, and she gets shin splints every time she tries to run. She is giving up running for a while. I don't wanna do that! I wanna be able to run without a problem.
Speaking of the Princess Half, I decided I want this once I finish the race:
Okay, I'm off to bed. I'm going to give my Week 5 Day 2 a try tomorrow, hopefully being able to give myself a few walking seconds within my 8 minute intervals so that I can run it without a problem! So I can FINALLY move on to giving the 20 minute run a try!!! Night ya'll!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Real Update
I promised a real update tonight, so here I am. :)
Monday morning was very hard. We brought Remy to the vets office for her surgery. I had such a hard time leaving her, because I didn't wanna leave her there all night. I knew she'd wake up and be scared and hurt and I just felt bad. We dropped her off at about 8:45, and around 11 they called and said the surgery had gotten done about an hour ago and that she was already awake, and alert, and sitting up, so she was doing great. That made me feel better, but I really didn't feel comfortable until we picked her back up on Tuesday. When we picked her up, you would have had no idea she had surgery the day before. The vet said we have to try to keep her calm, limit her activity....but that's basically impossible. I'm glad she's feeling good!
As I said before, we had our first real night in the house on Monday night. We spent all day Monday moving all of our stuff, which really was not fun. We didn't wanna spend the money on getting a U-Haul, so we just borrowed Cody's moms truck. It was supposed to rain, but we really wanted to start moving stuff, so we moved the tv right away when we knew that the weather was gonna be fine.We basically were able to move everything over to the house on Monday. Tuesday we got a few more loads of stuff over. We now are about 99% moved. There's still some smaller stuff at the apartment, luckily we have until the first of May to get out of the apartment, so hopefully on Monday, we'll be able to get the rest of our stuff, and clean it up.
So again, because I suck, I didn't run all week. I had my bad day on Sunday, and didn't run, and then we've been busy with moving and stuff the rest of the week, and I just haven't done it. I decided to go today, and I had the same issues I had the other day. I was able to run the first 8 minute interval, but the second one...I just couldn't.
I'm starting to feel like maybe I'm not progressing as fast as I should be. I feel like I should be able to run 8 minutes twice. I have been able to get through all the other days okay, but it just keeps getting harder and harder, and I'm finding it harder and harder to get through. I really don't know how I'm going to be able to run the 20 minute run that is scheduled for Sunday. I think I need to try Week 5 Day 2 again, because until I can run both 8 minute intervals, there is absolutely no way that I can run 20 minutes.
Does anyone else feel this way? I feel like I'm pushing myself and pushing myself, and I still am not getting any better. I just feel like I'm joking myself when I say that I'm trying to be a runner. Like, there is no real way that I'm going to be able to run the 5k in 4 weeks, or that I'm going to be able to run the Princess Half Marathon.
I'm sure I'll get motivated again. I just wish it would happen soon!
Monday morning was very hard. We brought Remy to the vets office for her surgery. I had such a hard time leaving her, because I didn't wanna leave her there all night. I knew she'd wake up and be scared and hurt and I just felt bad. We dropped her off at about 8:45, and around 11 they called and said the surgery had gotten done about an hour ago and that she was already awake, and alert, and sitting up, so she was doing great. That made me feel better, but I really didn't feel comfortable until we picked her back up on Tuesday. When we picked her up, you would have had no idea she had surgery the day before. The vet said we have to try to keep her calm, limit her activity....but that's basically impossible. I'm glad she's feeling good!
As I said before, we had our first real night in the house on Monday night. We spent all day Monday moving all of our stuff, which really was not fun. We didn't wanna spend the money on getting a U-Haul, so we just borrowed Cody's moms truck. It was supposed to rain, but we really wanted to start moving stuff, so we moved the tv right away when we knew that the weather was gonna be fine.We basically were able to move everything over to the house on Monday. Tuesday we got a few more loads of stuff over. We now are about 99% moved. There's still some smaller stuff at the apartment, luckily we have until the first of May to get out of the apartment, so hopefully on Monday, we'll be able to get the rest of our stuff, and clean it up.
So again, because I suck, I didn't run all week. I had my bad day on Sunday, and didn't run, and then we've been busy with moving and stuff the rest of the week, and I just haven't done it. I decided to go today, and I had the same issues I had the other day. I was able to run the first 8 minute interval, but the second one...I just couldn't.
I'm starting to feel like maybe I'm not progressing as fast as I should be. I feel like I should be able to run 8 minutes twice. I have been able to get through all the other days okay, but it just keeps getting harder and harder, and I'm finding it harder and harder to get through. I really don't know how I'm going to be able to run the 20 minute run that is scheduled for Sunday. I think I need to try Week 5 Day 2 again, because until I can run both 8 minute intervals, there is absolutely no way that I can run 20 minutes.
Does anyone else feel this way? I feel like I'm pushing myself and pushing myself, and I still am not getting any better. I just feel like I'm joking myself when I say that I'm trying to be a runner. Like, there is no real way that I'm going to be able to run the 5k in 4 weeks, or that I'm going to be able to run the Princess Half Marathon.
I'm sure I'll get motivated again. I just wish it would happen soon!
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