I have a pandora bracelet that I love!
This is what I want.
When I finish the C25K.
I have a birthday, anniversary and valentines coming up. Do you think he will get the hint?? (and should I link him to this page???)
LOL!
You don’t love EVERY run right? February 2, 2009
And some are just plain tough.
I knew it would be tough. Mentally – I wasn’t there. Physically – not feeling 100%. Plus I took the run off the nice smooth even running path and onto the roads near home.
And it was not a fun run. It was tough. I sweated a lot. My legs ached. And I began to HATE even a gentle uphill.
But I finished strong. I did NOT give up. I ran when previously I would have not even begun not so long ago. And I ran pretty well. The last 2k was consistent speedwise. And really – my pace was pretty good !
You learn something every run. I am believing that. Today I learnt that I can go on even when my brain is telling me there is no hope and I may as well quit. I am not a quitter 
Todays stats
Distance 3.68km
Time 25:10
Pace 6.50 min/km
Calories 333
Max HR 168
Avg HR 158
(plus I did 30 min free step on the wii-fit too!)
Week SEVEN day 1! FLYING! January 31, 2009
Week SEVEN! You hear me! Can you believe how fast this program has gone?!!!!
Paul is heading off in a few hours … part of a team doing the “Hell of the West” Triathlon – so I had to get my run in the morning for a change.
It was hard to talk myself into it. I just wanted to sit home and drink coffee. But … luckily the day was cool … and I want to DO this enough that I forced myself to get moving.
You know what ? All but the last five minutes was fun. The first 10 felt GREAT! It’s amazing to start a run KNOWING you will be able to finish it! And I was able to go just a little bit faster – a little bit further …
It felt GOOD. It was fun! I’m loving this.
Todays stats
Distance 3.72km
Time 25:07
Pace 6.44min/km
Calories 336
Now THIS run I loved!! January 29, 2009
You know – one thing I have been certain of from the beginning of the c25k is that every time I run – God teaches me something about myself.
Every single time is a learning experience and truly opens my mind.
Today I had that revelation around the 15min mark. I was far enough in to know I would finish. I was far enough in to know I was doing ok. But I had far enough to go to still have a challenge ahead of me. And I was looking forward to it. And then I crossed paths with a runner running the other direction. For once I looked her in the eye instead of looking down – and it hit me. I. AM. A. RUNNER.
No one can take this away from me. If I keep striving – if I just keep turning up – shoes on and running – then this is mine. I AM A RUNNER!
End of week 6. This is a milestone run. 25min straight – and more importantly – NO MORE INTERVALS. It is all straight runs from here on in. Scared?? Absolutely. But I can’t wait.
Todays stats
Distance 3.69km
Time 25.08min
Pace 6.48min/km
Calories 334
HR monitor once again went kinda mad. But avg was about 164. So I was working.
Happy trails and treadmills!!!
THIS is what it’s meant to feel like!! January 27, 2009
Week 6 day 2. Run 10 min. Walk 3. Run 10min.
What can I say? FINALLY – this felt good. I mean – there WERE spots it was tough – but overall – it felt GOOD! I felt I ran smoothly – at a pace I was happy at. I could have kept going on either run. My route was less downhill. More uphills. I felt stronger. I felt HAPPY! I felt like a RUNNER!!!!
FINALLY!
Todays stats
Distance 3.24km
Time 23.09m
Pace 7:07min/km
Calories 294
Max HR 162
Avg HR 154
Just a little observation … January 25, 2009
I noticed tonight I don’t have so much anger in my running.
On Boxing Day when I got the news that my body had failed me again - and began C25K I was SO angry. Angry with myself. Angry with life. Angry with God. (still loved Him but was MAD at Him!) When I began every step was a step laced with anger, – I was furious.
But tonight I noticed I wasn’t running in that intense emotional pain. For once I wasn’t running FROM something. I was running forward. Running towards a new hope.
God does heal us. Even in the depths of pain. It took a lot of sweat, tears and beating it out on the footpath for me to open my heart to Him again. But I think we are getting there. Just like my running. One step at a time.
Run strong in Him
Week 6 Day 1 January 25, 2009
Praise God for cooler weather!
Today was a tough day mentally. I was tired. And had been busy all day so hadn’t prepared myself to run tonight. I just didn’t want to.
Then I went outside – felt the the cool in the air and KNEW I could!
Tonight was back to intervals 5min 8min 5min with 3 min walk breaks. The first 5 min was by far the toughest. I wasn’t in the mood – couldn’t find my stride and just wanted to STOP. Luckily that walk break appeared! I didn’t need it all – but it was sure nice to be able to walk myself to flatter, more familiar roads and get in a better place for the next run.
My last 5 min was FUN! I loved it. I even found me a hill for my last 15 sec and pushed myself HARD uphill to end!
Today’s Stats
Distance 3.36km
Time 25.01
Pace 7’26″/km
Calories 304
Max HR 164
Ave HR 145
Week 5 day 3. Done and Dusted. January 23, 2009
I have been in awe of week 5 day 3 since deciding to start this plan. To go from running intervals – to running 20 minutes straight just seemed insurmountable to me. Truly.
It wasn’t the best day to do the run. Today was hot. And humid. Really humid. And although I thought it was cooling down when I left as soon as I started running I realised it truly hadn’t.
But I ran. I ran the whole 20minutes. Minutes 5-9 were torture and a real mental battle. Then a dog tried to attack me and that got the adrenaline going!
It was a slow run. Probably just a shuffle in parts. But it got done. And when I finished – I kinda thougth I might have been able to go a little bit further.
Truly – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me … even a 20 min run. It might be slow – it might not be pretty – but it was MY victory!
Todays stats
Distance 2.92km
Pace 6’52″/km
Time 20’07
Calories 264
Max HR 167
Avg HR 157
Un.Believable. January 21, 2009
Week 5 day 2.
run 8 min. walk 5. run 8.
I did it. Again. This program ROCKS! The hardest part was around minute 6 of my first run. I so wanted to stop. I had to tell myself “you can breathe easy. Your legs are ok. It is NOT your body that wants to stop. It’s your mind. And it is NOT going to win.”
Suprisingly – the battle was all in the first run. The second run was easy and I really enjoyed it. Again. This running stuff might be fun one day. Maybe.
It was only on the walk home that I stopped and thought and realised that I RAN 8 minutes. TWICE. And that up till now the most I have run is FIVE minutes! Un. Believable.
Todays stats
Distance 2.82km
Time 21″16′
Pace 7″31/km
Calories 255
Avg HR 154.
Max HR – ummmm – well it says 227 but Paul says I would still be stuck out there on the road if that was the case… so let’s just call it faulty equipment!!!
Week 5 day 1 January 19, 2009
Do you know how much I dreaded this?? Do you remember how hard the 5min runs were last week??
Well – I just did week 5 day1 … and you know what??? I DID IT and I LOVED it!!
Todays run was 3x5min with 3 min walk breaks. It was relatively easy. I felt like I was actually running. The hardest bit was starting up again after the first walk. Granted – I did find myself a lot of downhill stretches – but that allowed me to work on trying to get a more even stride.
I was enjoying myself so much that I even extended my final run by 2min!!
What am I learning? That I really CAN use God’s strength in my runs … that my mind is my weakest link but also my strongest asset … and to trust in the program. It really seems built so you can succeed.
I do have two BIG challenges ahead of me tho … Wed is 2x8min runs (I haven’t even run 8min once yet!) and then Friday is the dreaded (and much anticipated) 20min run! I am excited and scared all at once!
Oh – and on other news … I’ve lost 9cm off my waist and my hips since I first started 5 weeks ago! No wonder my clothes are fitting just a little better!
Till next time
Run STRONG in Him!
(no stats this time – I forgot to charge my ipod!)
