30 September 2010

Couch to 5k - Week 1

I just completed the first week of the couch to 5k program and I have a couple of thoughts. 

First, somewhere along the line I got it into my head that because I was on the heavy side I had to run slow.  I'm sure that came from a former coach but I won't name names here.   Back when I started running, 12 years ago, I ran at a pace that felt good for me. I didn't time myself or worry about minutes or miles or anything - I just ran.  I did that for quite a while and it got so I could run further and further at my comfortable pace.  After a while I had to check out the numbers and I found I was running 10-12 minute miles.  Now that is not fast by a long shot but it's a pace that was good for me.  I ran back to back 10ks at that pace and felt fine the next day.  So it was a good pace for me.  Then someone got into my head and convinced me I should be running slower.  I might add this was based solely on what I looked like and not on any abilities or lack thereof.  For whatever reason, I bought into this nonsense hook, line, and sinker.  And I ran slow.  For years.  and years.  and years.  One of the reasons I think I stopped running was that I didn't like the way I was running but it was stuck in my head and I couldn't see how to get it out.  Then, recently, I decided that was bullshit.  I see people, who are not fast at all, running 10-9-8 minute miles and I realize that's where I should be if not for some idiot years back.  With all these thoughts in mind I decided to do the C25K program and I decided to run how I felt like running.  Not slow. Not fast. Just what felt comfortable to me.  And I have been.  And it feels awesome. 

Second, because of all of the above, I am finding the joy in running that I had lost when I felt I had to run slow.  I love the feeling of running.  I love the wind in my hair.  I love the feeling my legs working to push me forward.  I love the breathing deeply that only happens when you run.  I just love all of it. 

Thirdly, because of 1 and 2, I'm going to run the way I want to.  I'm never going to listen to anyone tell me how I have to run again.  I'm going to do it my way.  If I burn out, I burn out.  If I succeed, I succeed... whatever, it will all be on me and no one else.  I'm never letting someone else hold me back again.

Pain

I'm having it. I've been hitting it pretty hard this week since I'm on break. On Monday I walked in the morning and did two cardio classes at night - Combat and Attack. Combat is like kick-boxing thing, while Attack is high intensity cardio. Both are good but both in one night? Maybe not the smartest thing I've ever done. On Tuesday my right butt cheek hurt so bad- it was horrible. Also I had a knot in my right shoulder. In spite of all that, Tuesday morning I ran and that night I did strength training. After my butt and shoulder felt pretty good. Last night I wanted to take the early class which is Combat. Halfway through it I felt my back/shoulder starting to seize up. I kept going though and finished the whole thing. Before I went to bed last night I put some of this stuff I have on it and I slept pretty good. I can feel it this morning but it's not too terribly bad. I tried to look it up online but didn't get very far. I found a number of tonalin cla reviews, but not much about this pain I'm having. I don't think the pain is anything serious. I think it has to do with the fact that I haven't worked out hard or consistently for 3 or 4 years. There is going to be some pain getting back into the routine of hard workouts. I also think it has to do with how hard I push myself and how quickly I jumped back into things. Here's the dilemma I have now. I could stop or significantly cut back on my workouts to let the pain subside. That will not fix what's wrong and I could fall out of the workout habit yet again. The 2nd option is to keep going and just lighten up a little. I'm thinking of avoiding Combat and see what happens. I don't want to stop working out. I love all the other benefits; I have more energy, I'm losing the puffy look, I'm moving better, etc. I don't want to stop but I also understand that pain means something. Ugh!!! Well, right now I have to go for a run and then paint. I'll decide later.

28 September 2010

Back in the saddle again

That's how I feel. Yesterday I got a little down about some things around here and instead of turning to food - which I would always have done in the past - I turned to exercise. I went for my morning walk, as scheduled, and went further than planned. After taking care of some paperwork and having lunch, which I really didn't feel like eating, I went for another walk because I was depressed. Then I decided to go to both workout classes last night. So we headed out and walked the dogs then I went off and did two workouts. By the time I got home I was super hungry and tired. Really tired. But I felt good. I still didn't sleep great but I feel awesome. I'm getting ready to head out on my run and then tackle the bedroom. Tonight is strength training and I think I'll stay for Combat also. Why not? What else am I gonna do? Come home and sit on my butt watching TV? Hubby is playing poker so he'll be busy.

There are so many trainers and so-called "experts" who say you don't have to work so hard. I've read people who would freak if they knew that I worked out for about 3 hours yesterday. They say that 30 minutes a day or 15 minutes of HIIT or 20 minutes of body weight exercises is all you need. I think the problem here is that they are not dealing with people who need to lose 20-30-40 lbs. They are dealing with people who need to lose 10-15, or get lean for an event, or lower their bodyfat % by a couple of points. And the worst problem is I don't think they make that clear to the people they are trying to sell their stuff to. So I've tried their way. I've tried to buy into what they are selling but it just doesn't work for me. Also, they say that you can't outrun a bad diet. While that is true I don't think it's that simple. I haven't really been watching what I eat that closely but still the pounds are just falling off. I'm working out and working hard and that is kicking my metabolism up and that is making things happen. I guess the bottom line is that you have to find out what works for you and go with it. Now that I've kicked the metabolism into high gear I could probably ease off slightly but I don't want to. When I get to where I want to be I will figure out how much I need to do to stay there.

27 September 2010

175

That's what the scale said this morning. 175. I was looking through my archives and near as I can tell, I have not been at that weight since 2008. Two years. I was thinking to myself that I was not feeling thin like I thought I should, but if I haven't been here in two years this is not the weight I feel thin at. I'm guessing it's around 170ish. I have a pair of pants that are a size 10. These are cut a little small and these are the pants that I wear when I'm feeling thin. I can not wait to get back into those pants but I think it will be a little while.

I was just going through my archives and I found an interesting thing. Apparently I didn't log my weight much. I talked about it a lot but didn't put the actual numbers down very often. That creates a bit of a problem since I don't know the weight at which I felt the best. Bummer. I did find a post that indicates 167.5 was a high. So that would lead me to believe that I felt the best around 160-165ish so that is going to be my immediate goal.

As I was looking over my archives I couldn't help but notice all the racing I did. I did a lot. Running and triathlons. I really, really want to get back into that. I enjoy racing. I love the training. I love the atmosphere on race morning. I love the getting up early and heading out. I love pushing myself to see just how much I can do. I love it all. So my return to racing is Sunday November 14th with a 5k right here in Kailua. I'm looking forward to that. After that it will be a 10k on New Year's Day and it will just continue from there. My first triathlon will be in March I think. When I think of racing I get very excited. I'm looking forward to my return to the world or racing.

26 September 2010

Couch to 5k - Week 1 Day 1

I found a cool Couch to 5k app for my droid. It uses your music and beeps at the appropriate intervals. I did it this morning. I liked it. I think I'll use it regularly. What does this all mean? I'm starting running again. I like running. I want to do it again regularly so here we go. Yesterday I got new running shoes and workout shoes. I'm off for the next 2 weeks, there is no reason why I can't run and workout every single day. So I'm going to. I actually look forward to it. Okay, that's all. I have to go walk the dogs now.

Conversation with Hubby

 So yesterday morning I presented my idea of working out at home to the Hubby. Once I presented it to him, he said he was in. I told him I h...