On Exercising

As I drive to work each morning, I typically pass no less than 5 people out jogging, walking, running, biking, skateboarding etc.. some look fit, while others look like they are taking control of their lives one step at a time. 

The woman I passed this morning, made me want to give her a smile and thumbs up, she looked hot, sweaty but determined to get her work out in. I didn't though. I should have. 

There is nothing quite like sitting in an office for eight hours that is more motivation for exercise. For me at least. I've been here three weeks already and I'm conspiring ways to get up and move more. That and my love affair with caffeine is at an all time high and i'm not loving the effects of that. 

Not to mention, the hours make it more convenient to think about these types of things. 

So the question is "what" do I want to take up? 

I've been really attracted to Yoga lately. Not sure why exactly, perhaps it has to the do with the lack of sweat that most Yogaites seem to demonstrate, and I would really like to become more fle.xible...(DON'T let your mind run) But I'd have to find a class, and pay for it and etc.. so maybe not. 

Zumba sounds like fun, but I'm afraid I'll be the only person under 40. (stereotyping I know. I'm sorry!) 

Spinning .... there's that... 

And of course there is always running. Long time readers know that I trained for a 5k back in 2012, and subsequently ran four 5ks since then. Running bores me however, maybe it was just running a track, or maybe it was my running partner moved away, maybe it was the change of jobs we both experienced, and the subsequent schedule change. 

Whatever the ultimate reason, I haven't really wanted to pick it back up until now. 

Now I have a whole campus just waiting to be ran, and a canine companion that needs the exercise. 

But do I really want to get back into that hot, sweaty, side stitching, leg cramping, knee killing, breath stealing exercise? 

That, my friend, is the question. 

Death would have been simpler

I didn't.
Unfortunately.
I thought I was going to pass out there close to the end, but I survived. Barely.
Right now, I'm finishing up my dinner before I go run myself ANOTHER hot bath. I have a few tips for all of you who are visiting because you searched "for couch to 5K" ... do NOT wait six months and then have the first run you do be a full 3 miles. [insert exceptions to rule here]
Its not smart, and the end results = very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very,very, very sore legs. Did I mention your legs would be sore?

After running Color Me Rad (not to be confused with The Color Run, which is only half as cool) in October, we had such a blast when we heard they'd be back in April my girls and I all signed up to run and volunteer. (read:cheaper registration)

However, I'd started a new job just six days before our run of color in October and didn't realize what my schedule was going to look like over the next little bit and how little time (or energy) I would have to spend running.

Not to mention... I don't really "LIKE" running that much. Still.
"So why did you...?" 
I know what you're thinking. Shut up.

Fast forward six month, and suddenly I realize this 5K I've committed to run in, is in five days and I haven't run a single step. It was a disconcerting moment. Its only three miles, I told myself, how much could I have lost in six months? Its new a route, full of color and fun; mind over matter. I got this. 

And to be honest, all things considering, I did fairly well. Keeping up an 11:09 minute mile, and even the parts I walked, I st

ill finished in about 35-40 minutes. There was a moment near the finish line when I thought I might pass out, I was hoping my darling family (who abandoned me five minutes into the race .. *COUGH*KRISTEN*COUGH*) would stand near the finish line closest to where we turned into. They didn't. They stood all.the.way.by.the.stupid.ballon forcing me to hold myself to my promise to run all the way to the end.

Huge props to my sister Autumn for completing her SECOND 5K at 10! 

I made it, and immediately had to grab something to support myself, as my legs gave out on me. #firsthint
After chugging warmed water, and fruit snacks we gathered by the stage for the infamous color bombing/RAD after party. The MC was cracking me up, as he'd apparently did his research on Knoxville, and played Rocky Top as well as brought up our football rivals in Alabama & Florida.

Then came time for the Bombing. It looks much cooler on the outside, than it really was on the inside. On the count of 5, everyone throws their color packets in the air,  and the sun disappears in a cloud of choking colored corn starch. Seriously puts a damper on things like breathing, and seeing. But once it cleared and we were all covered in color again, it was fun again. :)

After that, my sisters and I lined up for our "pro" photo op and signed in for our volunteer shift. Fast forward 4 hours, I've been on my feet since 8:30AM and am dying to go home and chillllllll. When we finally had everything cleaned up, packed up, inventory counted, pizza eaten, etc..etc.. I drove home, looking forward to enjoying the amazing weather with my animals.

I spent another half and hour on my feet while the dogs played outside, before grabbing my laptop and chilling on my bed. Thirty minutes later, I stood up to let my needy "child" outside for the second time, and nearly fell on the floor.

MA LEGS?! WHAT HAPPENED TO MA LEGS!? 

They no longer moved as fluidly as they normally did, each step sent a wave of discomfort shooting through my thighs. I spent the rest of the day hobbling around like a person twice ...er... triple... lets quadruple that to be safe.. my age.

Did I think to soak? OF COURSE I DID. But that would have meant getting up again and starting bath water. My laziness is too my own detriment at times.

I'd hoped this morning would be better. But it weren't, weren't weren't weren't (wasn't). [props if you can identify which Veggie Tales song that is!]

I'm the main pianist at our church, so you can imagine how much fun it was to hobble back and forth during the worship part of service.

Child: Why did you just say ow? Me: "What? Doesn't everyone say "Ow" when they walk down stairs?" - What I should've said 

I took a short bath this afternoon, and while I thought I was good when I got out, it was but a few minutes before I was back to my crab legged walking.

My misery is boundless.

Lessoned Learned.
Stretch before and after run. Work your way GRADUALLY back into running, if you've taken a break. 

That being said I'm going to go soak now.

Ta- Ta!

P.S. (They'll be back in K-Town in August... should I.. shouldn't I... hmmm)


ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. Owie. MOOOOM. Oh wait. I'm on my own. [insert sob here]

Top 10 Songs for 2012

You know that moment.
The moment when you've listen to a song so many times you're utterly sick of it. You skip it when it comes on the radio, you make playlists that specifically exclude it; so you don't have to go through the trouble of skipping it?
That moment.

We did a lot of running last year. Running requires music. (or a book on tape if you are me, though its much harder to tune out) The following would be the top 10 songs we listened to on re-pea-pea-pea-pea-peat.

1. Stronger - Kelly Clarkson (Listen to it so much in fact I skip it now) 
2. Mr. Know It All - Kelly Clarkson 
3. Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepson ( I know, I know) 
4. Bohemian Rhapsody - Glee Cast  (Inspired by this guy. It was stuck in my head, so I had to download it. You know the drill) 
5. Rolling in the Deep - Adele 
6. Keep Your Head Up - Andy Grammer
7. Start Something - Tobymac 
8. Me Without You - Tobymac 
9. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift 
10. I Knew You Were Trouble - Taylor Swift 

C25K - Week 6

Excuse me while I take a moment to proud of myself, for running 25 minutes straight.

[basks in self praise] 

Ok I'm done.

But fur real guys, six weeks ago I was having a hard time running in 1:00 minute increments and now I ran 2.5 miles? Five more minutes and I would have officially completed my 5K distance!

What? 

When I got up this morning, my goal was to run 12 minutes straight before walking again. However when we got to the track, and I realized we'd run a mile already, I knew my goal was going to run 1.5 miles, then 2 miles. Then 2.5 miles.. and next thing I know "Good job! Now cool down".

Today's stats were: 3.06 miles @ 11:22 per mile, Warming up for 5 minutes, and jogging 25 mins.

Other Stats:  

Week 6 Day 1  

5 minute warm-up, Jog for 5 minutes, Walk for 3 minutes, Jog for 8 minutes, Walk for 3 minutes, Jog for 5 minutes
2.65 miles @ 12:59 per mile 

Week 6 Day 2  

5 minute warm-up, Jog for 10 minutes, Walk for 3 minutes, Jog for 10 minutes
2.62 miles @ 12:37 per mile 

What are our 5-K plans at this point? We're hoping to run the Butterfly run in *gulp* two weeks, and the color run in October. 

You CAN pretty much do anything you set your mind too! Who knew! 

Have you done something that you thought you never thought you could do?

Mission Accomplished.

Couch to 5k week 5 is officially on the books, and ladies I must say I am LOVING working out in the morning! While my spurts of energy after workouts aren't lasting as long as I would like (perhaps because I am not eating right, or perhaps because I go and sit for five hours straight) but its so nice to have my evenings free, and to be ABLE to go to bed at a reasonable time. Not that that has happened, but the potential is there you know?

Its so nice to get to work feeling refreshed though! :)

Weekly Stats: 

Day 1  
5 minute warm-up, Jog for 5 mins, Walk for 3 mins, Jog for 5 mins, Walk for 3 mins, Jog for 5 minutes
2.46 miles @ 12:31 per mile  


Day 2 
5 minute warm-up, Jog for 8 mins, Walk for 5 mins, Jog for 8 mins
2.43 miles @ 12:34 per mile  


Day 3 
5 minute warm-up, Jog for 20 mins
2.59 miles @ 11:33 per mile 


At this point, I want to publicly apologize to all those joggers I made fun of over the years, for going so slowly, for not really working out, etc.. I was wrong. Way wrong. I was naive, I had no idea how hard it really is. Please except my humble apologies and I bow to your greatness.

We have a couple more days of interval training then they are sending us out to pound pavement for the full time. I didn't even run the whole 20 minutes this morning, throwing in two minutes of walking before jogging the remaining time. For the first time in.. ever.. I actually felt I was going to throw up right before it told us to walk again. Guess that will teach me not to eat/drink anything (little) before I dash out of the house!

This week I really want to focus on eating a more balanced diet. I believe I've blogged about my sporadic eating habits before, now adding a calorie burning, exercise and my bad habits are catching up with me. More veggies (gag), more fruit less processed. No soda.

Wish me luck?

I'll need it!

The Goal: Morning Runs

Week Six of our Couch to 5K training. According to our app we're just starting week five, which is due to us repeating week four twice. With all of our traveling and what not, I worked out once during the first week of July, and then last week we scrambled and got three days in, doing two days back to back. 

This week we're changing things up a bit, despite the fact that neither Rebekah and I are morning persons people tomorrow we're going to try excersising before work. I'm actually happy about this, as I have begun to dread our night time runs.

Those of you who have been exercising a while, know that exercise gives you more energy, which is the LAST thing you want right before bed! Needless to say my late nights have been catching up with me, and I was super happy when my dear friend finally got my hints about "how nice it was to exercise in the middle of the day and have your evening free" etc.. etc..

We'll let her think it was her idea ok? :)
Cause she doesn't read my blog at all, and will "never" know! 
The world needs more friends like me. I know. 

 So tomorrow morning at 6:45AM I will haul my backside out of bed, throw on my workout clothes, consider running a brush through my hair, grab some water, crate the dogs and head out to run. My mental self is happy about that prospect while my physical self is already lamenting the loss of an hours worth of sleep. 

However this will be good for me in the long run I think. I hope. My life would be much smoother should I actually be able to be productive in the mornings! 

Thinking Out Loud: Eating

Since I've started running five weeks ago, I've started taking a lot more thought as to what I'm putting into my body, and how it will help me become a better runner. All of the sudden I'm more aware of the amount of sugar I'm consuming (which is astronomical. Everything has sugar it seems!) more aware of the amount of processed foods I'm eating, the protein I'm consuming, water intake...etc.

It takes a lot of the fun out of fast food eating and limits the amount of stuff I can just "go buy" as well.
Looking down the snack aisle at Wal-Mart was a bit depressing EVERYTHING was full of sugar, and don't get me started on my beloved juices. Apparently it does not make a great deterrent for soda.. sugar wise at least.

Since leaving for our trip to AK I've been off my game food wise and boy can I feel it. For three days straight I had nothing but fast food and junk picked up from Wal-mart. My soda intake was ridiculous. I'll admit that. Since I've been home, things haven't improved. I had a huge project to complete at work, and some other schedule changes to life, not to mention I was out of groceries and so you can guess what I turned too.

The thought of it sounded so good at first, but after consuming two pieces, I felt sick.

Nooo! Not my pizza.

The amount of grease was overwhelming.

It was at that point I knew I need to get to the store and gets some fruits and veggies into my system.
I was actually craving something naturally sweet. Craving something GREEN.

What? Who am I? 

C25K - Week 3-4

Week four is completed as of yesterday. This has been my hardest week yet, and I've found myself on more than one occasion dreading getting out there and running. Tuesday was hard because we upped our running time from 1/5-3 minutes to 5 minutes. Thursday I felt icky and just walked, then Sunday still felt bad but pushed through the pain and ran anyway. This coming week will be brutal since my running partner and I will have to do at least 1-2 workouts alone. Something that's going to be difficult for me to follow through, I'm not going lie. My job has a workout room which I hope to put to use this week. I'm a little self conscious about running in a skirt, in front of people but, as Kelly Clarkston says "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!" and this isn't about them, and there thoughts. SO.

[Week 3] 

1. I just finished WEEK 3 DAY 1 going 1.96 miles at 09:57 per mile.
2. I just finished WEEK 3 DAY 2 going 2.05 miles at 13:33 per mile.
3. I just finished WEEK 3 DAY 3 going 2.04 miles at 13:43 per mile.

[Week 4]

1. I just finished WEEK 4 DAY1 going 2.56 miles [app didn't record time per mile]
2. I just finished WEEK 4 DAY 2 going 1.83 miles at 16:43 per mile
3. I just finished WEEK 4 DAY 3 going 2.58 miles at 12:11 per mile.

C25K- Week 2 [COMPLETE]

via

Wooo! Week 2 is on the books people, as hard as the last run was, I'm really happy to have completed two weeks of this. This week, we had more life obstacles to navigate around, our church's VBS was all week, which meant our runs were later, we had to change days twice, and we even added another person to our group. 
This week, I was able to force myself into bed quicker, but still found myself wide awake (...♫ ♬ yeah I was in the dark, and i was falling hard, wtih an open heart....♫ ♬) around 1AM. I wish I were up to running in the morning. Maybe this week we can try a "bit" earlier in the day. Maybe running buddy?? 



Week 2 
Brisk 5 minute warm-up walk. Alternate 1 1/2 minutes of jogging and 2 minutes of walking for a total of 21 minutes.


Week 2 Day 1 - Walk/Run

Duration00:31:00Pace00:13:49  Distance 2.22 miles 

Great run. Back at my parents house, added a friend for this one, so we weren't going as fast. 

Week 2 Day 2 - Walk/ Run 

Duration00:31:00Pace00:13:49  Distance 2.22 miles 

Recently we had a veteran's cemetery built about a mile down the road, So my amazing friend(s) thought, flat paved area = great running place. I don't get spooked easily about things, but I can admit running at 10:30PM in a cemetery didn't make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Sure there were four of us in all but.. Anywho. I felt really good after this run, despite being sore from sprinting around BARE FOOT during a game of capture the flag at VBS the previous day. I can honestly say, running shoes are worth their weight in gold.  

Week 2 Day 3 - Walk/Run

Duration 00:31:00   Pace 00:13:21  Distance 2.29 miles 

Horrible horrible run. I don't know if its because we ate right before running, or what but jogging/running was incredibly difficult this night. I felt as if I'd never run anywhere before, gasping for breath, cramping 

This week we learned: 

• Never eat more than an hour before a run !! 
• Have things lined up to get in bed immediately upon returning home.
• Perhaps find some exercise to do on off days.

C25K - Week 1 [COMPLETE]

Week One in our couch to 5K training is complete.
In some ways I can't believe I actually did it.

The lazy person in my mind, is screaming at me to stop. I think even she's surprised I've gotten up off the couch (or computer chair in my case) and am actually working out. She really doesn't believe that I can keep this up, but that's the exact reason I have a running partner.

Week 1 Day 2

2.08 miles @ 14:20 per mile
Walk/Ran in my parents neighborhood. Was such a nice change from lapping our cul-de-sac. I don't know if we'll ever be able to run here at home, unless we have absolutely no time.

Week 1 Day 3

2.23miles @ 13:23 per mile
Walk/Ran at a local soccor field w/track it was ridiculously humid tonight and very hard to breathe.. not to mention the bugs that can running into us. NOT fun at all, but still felt fine afterwards.

Major Lesson Learned this week?

Never run in the daytime.
Also don't look ahead in your training regime, that 20 minute run in three weeks, might be enough to convince you to stop. You can't stop Erin. You're seeing this one 'til the end. 
Also find some sort of exercise to do on the off days.
Work on eating more "good foods".