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

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 4 day 3!! (A belated post from yesterday) January 18, 2009

No two ways about it! Saturday was going to be busy! We had a trip to Toowoomba, a birthday party and an overnight visit from much loved friends. There was no way I could get my afternoon run in.

Much negotiation with my husband pursued and I “stole” his morning excercise time from him. So I went for my first morning run – and you know  – I kinda liked it!

The 3 min run was easy peasey. Remember how much I struggled last week with those? The first 5 min wasn’t too bad. The last minute was a drain but I could do it.

The third 3 min – easy again. I think I am made to run 3 min at a time. The last 5 min run was tough. I’ll admit it. At times I shuffled not much faster than a walk. But I fought through it – and wonder a little if my mind slowed me down a bit. I was tired – yes. My legs WERE heavy. But I was breathing well. That in itself is a big improvement.

Onwards and upwards – next week – week FIVE (and yes I am scared of it!!)
Stats

Distance 2.89km

Time 21″40′

Pace 7:28min/km

Calories 262

 

(can’t remember my HR – will have to update!)

Week4 day 2! January 15, 2009

Every day I suprise myself and every day I do it! This is amazing to me!

Today was too hot to be running. I should have waited an hour. Or more. But I wanted to go.  I did it – but it sure made that last run hard!

The first 3 min was a breeze! Can you imagine that – last week I struggled through the 3m intervals! And the first 5min was fine. Around about here I mucked up my podcast so timed from my watch and listened to my own music instead – and I tell ya – it was a great move!

I’m finding the walking intervals are longer than I need. This is a good thing. I’m recovering quickly and easily.

The last 5min -well they were tough. It was hot. I couldn’t find shade. The sun was straight at me. And when I did find shade I had to run uphill to get it. But you know – I might have been running at snail’s pace but I did it.

It amazes me how far I have come already in this journey. As I said to a friend on facebook tonight – I am so glad I serve a God who can change lives. Cause you know – he really is changing mine. Continuously.  He gives me the strength to go on when I need and the confidence that through Him I CAN . I love it. (and Bec – definately praying as you train!)

 

But my fave part of my run today? My little girl stretching with me after. I am coming to learn that she is learning more about the fun of exercise watching me fight this battle than she ever does off her fit daddy. Why? Not sure ? Maybe because she is noticing this more since it is new (or that he exercises when she sleeps!) It gives me one more reason to do this. The most important reason of all. And that is why I keep this blog. So she can SEE that mama fought for this – and that health is worth fighting for.

Run Strong !!

Todays stats

Distance 2.95km

Duration 21:58

Pace 7:26/km

Calories 267

Max HR 171

Avg HR 154

Week 4 day 1 January 13, 2009

I was so excited about today … and I dreaded today … Emotions were all over the place!

 

After a VERY busy day at work I went to the river to run. I really wanted to do this run at the river – I wanted the familiar territory and (relatively) flat terrain. Though I missed my downhill runs near home!

 

Week 4 day 1 is

Run 3 min

walk 90sec

Run 5min

walk 2.5 min

Repeat.

 

Much bigger runs. Much smaller recoveries.

The big thing to note is (well -of course that I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but ….) that I recovered much easier! I didn’t need the full breaks. I was breathing easier quicker and could try to walk a little brisker.

The first 3min was easy. The 5min was better than I thought (well – I made it – really that was more than I could hope for!)

The second 3 min was a breeze! I loved it! Why??? Because I thought the run ended there! It was a rude shock when my podcast said “you have 5 min run remaining”

The last 5min was more of a struggle – but I did it and was able to lift my pace (a little!) You have no idea how proud I am of making it through today.

I’m struggling a little in the recovery. After dinner I started cramping in the calves badly – so I have just returned from a 20 min walk to try to relax those muscles a little. I see a lot of stretching and dencorub in the next 24 hours.

Todays stats (run/walk intervals only)

Distance 2.88km

Time 21:35

Pace 7.29min/km

Calories 261

Max HR 180 (I know!)
Avg HR 154

 

Run strong friends!