I recently started running again, which is really exciting and really frustrating at the same time. The exciting part is that I'm finally able to RUN again. The frustrating part is that I'm SOOOO SLOW.
After our recent wedding, my husband and I joined a gym and set the goal of running a marathon together. I've run one half marathon before, but never a full, and he's never run any kind of long distance race. We thought this would be a fun way for us to stay fit and spend a little (ok, a lot more than he realizes having never run a distance race before) of quality time together.
We've been running on the treadmill at the gym for a few weeks now and (finally!) yesterday we decided to venture outdoors for a run. For those of you who don't know, I stopped my last blogging/running experience due to a knee injury turned back injury that prevented me from running the last half marathon for which I signed up. We haven't been running outside because (1) I was trying to break my body back into the idea of running and the treadmill puts a lot less stress on my joints and (2) it's been ungodly hot out recently so running outside has just been out of the question (DH works outside so the last thing he wants to do after an 8-10 hour day in the 100+ degree weather is run outside... and I've never liked the summer sun very much anyway, being the pasty, translucent skin color that I am).
After running outside for the first time, I'm feeling pretty good! I know it's going to be a process and I'm going to have to slowly work the outside runs back into the routine. I can run 3 miles on the treadmill without any pain, but yesterday's 3 mile run outside leaves me with some lingering knee and back discomfort. I will probably only be running outside 1 day each week until I can run outside without pain. I've done it before and I'll do it again! However, this time will be different because I'll strengthen my core to prevent injury (and hopefully get some sweet abs).
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"What distinguishes those of us at the starting line from those of us on
the couch is that we learn through running to take what the days gives
us, what our body will allow us, and what our will can tolerate."
-John Bingham, running writer and speaker
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Today's Plan
- Short warm-up run (1 mile in 10 minutes)
- Strength training (arms, shoulders, abs, and back)
- Short cool-down run (1 mile in 10 minutes)
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
proud of the pup
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
-John Bingham
Pepper is now up to 2.5 miles! Go Pepper! I'm slowly working her into running so she doesn't get hurt - that's the last thing I would want. I started her on 1 mile walks and we've slowly been adding mileage and increasing speed... similar to how a person would get into running! Pepper's on her own, customized couch to 5k program! I'm very proud of her, especially considering how far she's come.
When Pepper arrived at the shelter, she was less than 30 pounds... now she's a wopping 52! She's getting so much stronger, but I keep reminding myself not to push her too hard because she's still recovering. In any case, she's just doing so great and I can't believe how far she's come!
After Pepper did her 2.5 miles, I dropped her off at the house and continued my long run for the week. I wound up running 4.5. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself! My goal was 4 to 5 miles, so I met it! I haven't been keeping time of my runs - just distance - because Pepper slows me down a little bit and I don't want to get discouraged with myself or with her. At this point in my training, run times don't really matter anyway - it's just about getting in the miles.
In other news, Pepper and I started obedience school (round 2) this weekend. To make a long story short, Pepper was enrolled in obedience school but then I got sick and missed 2 classes and we fell too far behind, so we're trying again! The wonderful people at her obedience school have allowed us to start over for free (yay!). So here we go again!
This week we're working on the "heel" command. Pepper (kind of) knows this one from last time, but we're working hard this week to solidify this basic command. Pepper is not a fan of cats, squirrels, birds... pretty much any small animal... oh yeah, and she's a bit skittish around big dogs too... which makes teaching heel in a city (have I mention yet that my fiance and I are renovating a row home in the city?) a little bit difficult. But we're making it work! I've found a little field (more like a patch of grass, let's be honest) a few blocks to my house that is pretty quiet, so we've been working there.
I'm really feeling good about this week. It's going to be the transitional week for me from "pre-training" to actual training. To me, this means that it's my last week of runs less than 3 miles long. After this, it's full-on training! I'm psyched, in a really nerdy way. :)
Upcoming Workouts
Tuesday: Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, Core Work
Wednesday: 2.5 miles
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday: 2.5 miles
Saturday: REST
Sunday: 5 miles!
-John Bingham
Pepper is now up to 2.5 miles! Go Pepper! I'm slowly working her into running so she doesn't get hurt - that's the last thing I would want. I started her on 1 mile walks and we've slowly been adding mileage and increasing speed... similar to how a person would get into running! Pepper's on her own, customized couch to 5k program! I'm very proud of her, especially considering how far she's come.
When Pepper arrived at the shelter, she was less than 30 pounds... now she's a wopping 52! She's getting so much stronger, but I keep reminding myself not to push her too hard because she's still recovering. In any case, she's just doing so great and I can't believe how far she's come!
After Pepper did her 2.5 miles, I dropped her off at the house and continued my long run for the week. I wound up running 4.5. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself! My goal was 4 to 5 miles, so I met it! I haven't been keeping time of my runs - just distance - because Pepper slows me down a little bit and I don't want to get discouraged with myself or with her. At this point in my training, run times don't really matter anyway - it's just about getting in the miles.
In other news, Pepper and I started obedience school (round 2) this weekend. To make a long story short, Pepper was enrolled in obedience school but then I got sick and missed 2 classes and we fell too far behind, so we're trying again! The wonderful people at her obedience school have allowed us to start over for free (yay!). So here we go again!
This week we're working on the "heel" command. Pepper (kind of) knows this one from last time, but we're working hard this week to solidify this basic command. Pepper is not a fan of cats, squirrels, birds... pretty much any small animal... oh yeah, and she's a bit skittish around big dogs too... which makes teaching heel in a city (have I mention yet that my fiance and I are renovating a row home in the city?) a little bit difficult. But we're making it work! I've found a little field (more like a patch of grass, let's be honest) a few blocks to my house that is pretty quiet, so we've been working there.
I'm really feeling good about this week. It's going to be the transitional week for me from "pre-training" to actual training. To me, this means that it's my last week of runs less than 3 miles long. After this, it's full-on training! I'm psyched, in a really nerdy way. :)
Upcoming Workouts
Tuesday: Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, Core Work
Wednesday: 2.5 miles
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday: 2.5 miles
Saturday: REST
Sunday: 5 miles!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
well, hello there!
For many reasons, I've recently decided to set some goals for myself.
1. Adopt & Train a Dog
I have had dogs all my life, but I've never adopted one. This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, so I decided to take the plunge recently and do it! I adopted a (roughly) 2 year old Pitt Bull Terrier/Boston Terrier mix (I think - there's no way to be sure unless I buy one of those doggy DNA tests, which is not quite in the budget right now) from my local animal shelter.
2. Run My 2nd Half Marathon
Last January, I ran the Walt Disney World Half Marathon, which was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Between the training and the accomplishment of finishing the race, I felt great about myself! Unfortunately, life happened and running fell to the wayside. In come big life events - I recently got engaged to the love of my life (who fully supported me adopting a rescue pitt bull from a city shelter... what a catch!) - between the engagement and the new, high-energy pup, I decided it was time for Half Marathon #2.
3. Start a Blog
I wanted to set a non-work, non-school, non-fitness goal for myself - in comes blogging! This blog will serve as my third big goal for this year. Through this blog, I will chronicle my adventures training my dog and training myself. Between her training and mine, Pepper and I will be working together a lot this year!
1. Adopt & Train a Dog
I have had dogs all my life, but I've never adopted one. This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, so I decided to take the plunge recently and do it! I adopted a (roughly) 2 year old Pitt Bull Terrier/Boston Terrier mix (I think - there's no way to be sure unless I buy one of those doggy DNA tests, which is not quite in the budget right now) from my local animal shelter.
 |
| what a ham! |
2. Run My 2nd Half Marathon
Last January, I ran the Walt Disney World Half Marathon, which was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Between the training and the accomplishment of finishing the race, I felt great about myself! Unfortunately, life happened and running fell to the wayside. In come big life events - I recently got engaged to the love of my life (who fully supported me adopting a rescue pitt bull from a city shelter... what a catch!) - between the engagement and the new, high-energy pup, I decided it was time for Half Marathon #2.
 |
| super nerdy & slightly embarrassing finisher picture :) |
3. Start a Blog
I wanted to set a non-work, non-school, non-fitness goal for myself - in comes blogging! This blog will serve as my third big goal for this year. Through this blog, I will chronicle my adventures training my dog and training myself. Between her training and mine, Pepper and I will be working together a lot this year!
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