I AM STRONG; I AM BEAUTIFUL!

Yes, this was my mantra that I was thinking about today as I ran. I know that I am beautiful in my own way. I don't think many others can get past the curves to see it, but it's in there. Hopefully I will drop the pounds and people will be able to see the me that I see.

I also know that I am strong and will continue to grow stronger with each workout.

I am still sick and have adjusted my workouts a little. I also think that realistically I'm not going to be able to keep pace with the C25K program the way it is set up. Luckily I read the "how to use the c25k program" and it gave some really good tips on pushing yourself and if it is too hard going back to the previous week until you build up more endurance. So, I have a plan (until I need to make an alternate plan). I am going to try to make the program twice as long by doing each week for two weeks. If I am able to accomplish this, I should be running 30 minutes straight the first week of June. That will give me 3 months until the Disney 5K to work on speed.

I am beautiful and I am strong and I am taking one day at a time, one minute at a time and one foot in front of the other.

It's Official

It's official, I have entered my very first race. It is the Disneyland Family Fun-run 5K. I can't believe I entered it. I even got the pin.(squeal) I am so excited and a little scared.

Happy "V" Day to Me

Happy Valentines Day to you and Happy Valentines Day to me too!

That's what I kept thinking as I was out walk/running today. I find it funny that I actually was looking forward to going out and running today. I really do want to start thinking of myself more and taking care of myself more as well. I'm worth it, I deserve it and I'm just sad that it took 42 years for me to get with the program.

Speaking of programs, I started the second leg of the training today and am amazed that I was able to run most of the 1 1/2 minute runs. I hit the wall as usual right at the middle two runs and stopped early. But the last two were great.

It is sprinkling out today so I left the hound at home (much to her doggy chagrin) because I am always afraid that it will be slippery and I will fall. I like having her with me, but I think that I like running better without her. I can focus on myself a little more and not worry about her wanting to stop and smell the roses all the damn time.

I had a dream last night that my stomach was totally flat! HA! That would (think positive...will) be awesome!!!

Now to stretch. I'm feeling kinda tight today so I better do a little stretching.

To Run or Not to Run...That is the Question

Yesterday I woke up feeling like crap. Well not like crap but not good either. I just don't feel well. I feel like I can't breath. I have a dry cough. I'm fighting something. Should I run, or is it better to take the day off? The problem is that I didn't run the day before and I AM NOT REPEATING MY RESET!

So I decided to run but not push myself too hard. I ran and "speed walked". I have to admit that I am uber proud of myself for going even though I didn't feel well. And as Debbie predicted, I did feel much better when I was done. (for a while) I was also very suprised that the speed walking was much more difficult than I thought it would be. In fact, I think that the speed walking was actually more difficult than the running. hmmmm, I think that will be an alternate day activity that I can add to my bike riding.

I'm so happy that I decided to go. Now I am ready to start on the next leg of training. I feel like I'm strong enough and ready mixed with a healthy dose of scared. I need to remember one day at a time, one foot in front of the other. I can do this.

Apps Are Everything!

I've gotta say that technology is wonderful. I'm using my iPhone and several apps to get this party started. When I'm ready to begin I open iTunes and decide which play list I want to listen to for the day. Then I open iMapMyWALK app. It is a GPS program that keeps track of where I go, how far I go, how long it takes me and the calories I burned. It is really cool. I love looking at the map after I'm done to see exactly where I was since I feel like my brain is on hold while I'm working out. Finally I open my Get Running app. This is the c25k app that leads me literally minute by minute through my workout for the day. The "British Bitch" as I lovingly call her counts down how many seconds until I start running and stop running and how many runs I have left. I think she laughed at me today. It is also a very cool app that I don't think I could live without. Honestly, I could live without it, but I couldn't run without it.

The final app you might notice is a new app that I got for myself. It is the Countdown app. It is counting down the days until my 5k that I am planning on signing up for. It is the 5k at Disneyland on September 1st. I'm very excited to do it. I needed to have something to strive for and I am a Disneylover. I love all things Disney! Last year when we were at Disneyland I noticed some kind of race happening. I had no idea that they host 1/2 marathons, 5k's and other family fun run type things. So, when I was trying to come up with something that I wanted to do to prove I could run a 5k and to reward myself at the same time, this seemed like a perfect match. My friend Julann is going to run it with me. I love her! She is a great role model and has already been running for a while. I hope I don't let her down and can do this.

This is the website: http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/disneyland-half-marathon

Yay!!

Reset Day 1

Damn! damn damn damndamn it. I had to reset my running program because I didn't have a chance to run at all this past weekend because it was too busy and over-scheduled. I didn't think I would be able to run the additional 30 seconds, so I decided to start over. So I started over and it sucked. I ran at 2:30 in the afternoon, which I believe is not the best time of day for my internal clock. It was hot, the sun was in my eyes .... I know I know whah whahh. This whole experience is a learning experience, right? So maybe it was a good thing that I started over. I learned that I don't want to skip a run and I learned that I should not run in the middle of the afternoon.

Day 2 - Is This Hell?

Ok. I have to admit, I didn’t go into todays walk/run as excited as the first day. Lesson learned…Mental note – Get yourself geared up, psyched up, excited or whatever before you begin your walk/run. Honestly, I did great the first four one minute runs. I ran the whole time without even stopping early which I though was fucking amazing!! But then it happened. I hit the wall. It was pretty much a brick wall. I don’t know if it had to do with my fear of falling and not wanting to run on the wet cement that the sprinklers sprayed causing me to loose what little focus I had today or if I just used up all my mojo on the first four runs. I did rebound and ran my entire 8th run. My 6th, and 7th runs felt like Hell. And of course, as I’m doing the running portion, I think posative thoughts like “I’m going to hell if I don’t start acting right and treating my kids and husband better”….”this is probably exactly what hell is like, running, hauling around my big fat ass with the sun in my eyes”. Now I know why runners wear those running hats with visors and sun glasses…So the damn sun isn’t always in your eyes sucking out valuable energy that you need to focus on running. The walking part is fine. I know how to walk and catch my breath at the same time.

I declare that I am proud of myself. I did the second day and I’m still alive. Can’t decide if I like Dayzee running with me or not. She’s fine most of the time, but if she sees a bird she wants to catch it and 99% of the time that’s not where I’m going. The best part of this is finishing and being able to put down how many calories I used in my app on my phone. Today I used 190 Cal. Wheeee

I am strong. I can do this. I can become an unlikely runner. One foot in front of the other.

Day 1 - C25K

Ok. Today is the day. The first day of a new journey I have been thinking about for a while. I’m not promising myself anything other than “I will try”. I have always been amazed and perplexed by people that run. 5k, 10k, half marathon, full marathon and triathlons.

I have also been thinking that if I want to enjoy a long life, I need to loose some weight. Let’s not kid ourselves…I need to loose a lot of weight. It’s a lifestyle change kind of thing, not an eat less exercise more kind of thing. Although I’m sure the later will be part of the plan.

So, I’m gonna think more about me. Set more boundaries for myself and others. Say “no” when I’m not 100% confident that the answer should be yes and put one foot in front of the other and run. God, the running part sounds horrible and I will need to retrain my brain to think this is a good idea. I have decided that the c25k program (couch to five kilometers) program is worthy. At this point I can barely imagine running the one minute comfortably much less a 5k or more, but I’m gonna take it one day at a time.

January 31,2012