High Tech

Today is an "restore" day (thank you, Jesus!) so of course the humidity is down. Oh, and in case you're wondering, I look much better today than in yesterday's photo. ("You're not going to actually put that on the internet are you? Honey...you'll scare people!"--Steve)

I did some shopping today, though. See, the reason my face was the the color of a protective cheese coating was because my heart-rate was WAY too high. I suppose it was a combination of the heat, humidity, and me running faster than I should have. Whatever the reason, I'm doing a couple of things to help me keep it between 130-136. I have downloaded some podcasts that have music set at specific beats-per-minute (bpms), assuming if my feet move at 130 bpms, my heart might follow suit.

But the super cool find was techno-bras! Sports bras with a heart rate monitor built in! They are pretty (most important), supportive (let's not go there), and a package comes with the receiver watch too! Here's where I found it...http://www.numetrex.com/about/heart-rate-monitor-sports-bra and here are some reviews from serious runners:

http://www.martinrothonline.com/personalhealthmonitor/Reviews/NuMetrex_sports_bra.htm

I can't wait try it out. Of course I'll report back...just don't expect any photos.

What was I thinking?

Skies: Cloudy

Temp: 72 degrees

Wind: 9 mph

Humidity: 80% (!!!)

TOD: 8:30 a.m.

Uuaaaaaaagh! Dear God, what was I thinking?

Since it was raining earlier and we were away yesterday until after 9 p.m., there really was no chance to workout on Sunday as scheduled. But today I have the holiday off, so, yippee! I can workout at my leisure. That ended up being this morning. My goal was to walk, and then increase my running time just a bit...like from 1 minute to 2 minutes, and do that until I had my 3 minutes of running under my belt.

What was I thinking?! I was jogging through SOUP this morning! Pound...pound...pound...gasp, gasp, GASP! Can this truly be good for me? Someone tell me once I regain consciousness.

Before

W2D1 (27/3) - Tuesday
Skies: Clear
Temp: 68 degrees
Humidity: 46%
Wind: 2 mph
TOD: 7:00 p.m.

I've known from before I began this that it was going to be a battle of the mind. Of obedience. I am incredibly undisciplined. The only thing I do daily is brush my teeth, brush my hair, and pee! Seriously, everything else falls under the "do I want to do this?" umbrella.

I've said publically that I can do anything...for three weeks. Then, I fall apart. So, being on W2 in my "5K Training Program" (which sounds soooo much cooler than a weight-loss plan), I figured I'd better haul out some real motivation.

My "Before" picture.

Stats to come.

Month 1 Schedule

W1D3 (Week 1, Day 3) - Sunday
Skies: Clear
Temp: 50 degrees
Humidity: 67%
Wind: 1 mph
Time of Day: 8:20 pm

Okay, I confess. This was a mental struggle. It was a Sunday evening, after a very busy week with a full Saturday leading worship at a women's retreat (love you WBC gals!) followed by an evening at the baseball park. Then, Sunday morning worship, a nap that was too short Sunday afternoon...you get the picture. So, when it was chilly outside ("Man, my butt's cold!) and I was tired...it was just tougher getting started. But, since I'm being very public about doing this, I was motivated enough to get out there and go!

Not bad once I got started. It was dark...I took a flashlight and my dogs. It was chilly, but everything warmed up as I started off with a song in my head that was a good, quick beat. The goal today was just 30 minutes of brisk walking, a cool-down, with good stretching afterwards. I walked just about a mile when my timer told me to turn around. The stars were out, the air was fresh, and I was not hurting.

I was, however, noticing my left knee and left calf. They were "making themselves known"...not hurting, just, you know, there. I promised myself some extra attention to both areas during my stretch.

You've asked for the schedule, so here's the first 4 weeks (from http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/):

Week 1 - T (25/0), Th (30/0), Sun (30/0) Total 85/0 (other days are OFF)
Week 2 - T (27/3), Th (27/3), Sun (27/3) Total 81/9
Week 3 - T (24/6), Th (24/6), Sun (24/6) Total 72/18
Week 4 - T (27/3), Th (24/6), Sun (24/6) Total 75/15


I've seen other C25K plans, but they are not 16 weeks like this one...more like nine. And they move right into running the first week. I'm taking it slow and steady. But I'm open to moving to those training schedules later as I succeed here.

Before the weekend's over I will publish an official "Before" picture. Gotta perserve some things for history (and hope that change cometh!). Feel free to comment or ask questions below. I'm an open book!

Potato

Skies: partly cloudy

Temp: 75 degrees

Humidity: 69%

Wind: 1 mph

Time of Day: 8:35 pm

It's the BIG DAY! I'm starting my program. How in the world, though, to get started? Remember Eric, my Fleet Feet store guy? Eric told me to google "Couch to 5k". Embarrassingly, that seemed to fit! I found numerous helpful sites. The one I'm pulling most of my information from is http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/ where I found this workout plan. (Now, now...no snickering.) Based on this plan I will be running for 30 minutes straight in 4 months.

The coolest thing is that it starts out with just walking...that's it. 25 minutes. Then 30. Three times a week. You gradually start alternating this with running, i.e. 28/2 (walking to running). If I can figure out how to put the first month's schedule on here, I will.

Here's what they say: "Starting on week two, you will see that you run and walk a certain number of minutes each. This means that you may run for 1 minute, walk for 5 minutes, run for another minute OR maybe save the running for the middle of your routine and walk before and after your running...anyways, you get the idea. Do whatever is comfortable to do the required minutes. However you choose to do it, you are still building up. It is SOOOO important to not overdo the running...and don't even think about speed. Run at a leisurely, comfortable pace. It does not matter how fast other people are running."

I can do this! I CAN do this. (p.s. You can, too.)

So tonight, I walked at a brisk pace for 30 minutes. Did a leisurely cool down for 5-10, then some good stretching, all while talking on the phone to my dear friend, Lynn, who is encouraging me from afar.

Day one...done!

Essentials

(This picture is not me...yet!)

Here are a few "essentials" that I'm running across (no pun intended) from multiple sources:

• Get fitted for a proper running shoes at a dedicated running store FIRST!!! A lot of injuries can be avoided this way. (Whew! That's done, and it looks like it was a good thing.)
• Avoid running on asphalt or concrete....find a good, smooth trail.
• A good warm-up is imperative to a safe run. A recommendation is to start with a 5min walk, 1-5minute light, slow jog , 5min walk, LIGHT, gentle stetching, 5min walk THEN start your routine. Doing this will get some blood flowing to your muscles before stretching. NEVER stretch a cold muscle.
• Cool-down. Very important. Cool-downs eliminates lactic acid, brings your heart-rate to normal and prevents muscle cramps. Walk for at least 5-10minutes. The more the better. Do a LIGHT, gentle stretch session after your walk, walk some more. Later that day/night, do a more intensive stretching.

I also have a training schedule! More tomorrow...

Fleet Feet

Since I know absolutely nothing about running, but I do know I have feet that over-pronate (they fall inward at the ankles), I needed help in choosing a running shoe. My experience last week in my old (not actually sure how old...that old) cross trainers convinced me that buying new shoes was a must. Besides that, I'm a girl. You understand.

So at the advice of people smarter than me, I visited the Fleet Feet store in Brentwood, TN. I read about them online after hearing that they would actually spend time studying my feet to suggest just the right shoe...even if I didn't choose to buy them there. It was true.

Eric, my helpful experienced runner-guy not only measured my feet in about three different ways, he then asked me to walk around the store barefooted. He watched my feet. (Fortunately, I have maintained a never-say-die pedicure from over two weeks ago!) He saw my ankles collapse. He noticed how hard I hit with my heels and that I lift my big toe when I walk. He dashed in the back and brought back two different pairs of shoes, as well as two different inserts that needed to go with them. My feet need solid support around the heel and ankles, and my arch needs a helping hand as well.

After trying various combinations and walking around, he asked me to either get on the treadmill there in the store, or go out and run in the shoes for a couple of blocks and see what I thought! I chose the treadmill. I was able to maintain a jog for more than a minute (I am truly a beginner, remember) while he, again, watched my feet. I made my selections, added some non-cotton socks (cotton absorbs sweat which leads to blisters) for me (and I tossed in a pair for Rachel, my new "coach") and headed home with no more excuses.

Ok, except for one...Eric did suggest that I wear the inserts in my work shoes, and then in the running shoes, for a day or two before I actually tried to run (ahem, jog) in them on my own. So, here I sit on my back porch in my new shoes. Saucony. Until Thursday.

It's really, really hard to suck in your ankles. Oh, I have so much work to do!

Beginnings

When I was 19 (30 years ago) I worked as a secretary for the track coach at Western Kentucky University. Knowing that I did zero exercise was almost more than he could take for someone on his "team". So, Coach Hessel made up a training program for me.

On Day One, I was to "jog around the track - 12 minutes."

"Just to get you started," he said.

Twelve minutes?!? Are you kidding?!!! I gave it my best...and 5 minutes later I declared I would never, ever be a runner. I have kept my vow.

Until last week.

I am now on the cusp of my fifth decade. I have been working for the last six months on specific health related issues...but the one that still haunts me is the...ummm..."wide in my glide"...an extra 50 pounds that needs to go.

I have a goal...to be 50 pounds healthier by my 50th birthday. I am changing the way I eat, doing it with medical counsel and professional nutritional support. But the exercise thing is kicking my butt. I have not gotten it down. I keep attempting, but it is not gelling.

So last week, I had a heart-to-heart with my daughter-in-law, Rachel, who declares herself to be a BWR...a Bookworm Who Runs. She has learned to be a runner in the past year. And she is motivating me to do the same. I have athletic abilities and even some coordination. But besides my current lack of physical conditioning, it's the mental struggle that eats my lunch. This blog is, hopefully, a way to attack both head on.

I had one experience last week on the road...in a bad pair of shoes. I am taking care of that tomorrow. Then I will have no excuses.

Dear Readers and Friends, I'm asking you to join me. I will attempt to record this journey between now and February 27, 2010. I will tell all...the triumphs and struggles, and the things I learn along the way. Any words of wisdom you have for me are certainly welcome and greatly appreciated! Thanks for joining me.