A Slight Set-back, Bifocal Contacts and ... A Running Group!

In my last post I told you I had set up a running schedule beginning that day (Sunday). I did run that day and on Monday I decided I needed to get more exercise, not just by running so I did level 1 of the 30 Day Shred (Jillian Michaels). On Tuesday I could tell I was headed for another bout of bronchitis so I was put on another round of antibiotics and had to put my training schedule on hold. Luckily, I caught it early and am feeling much better. However, I just couldn’t get myself motivated to start up again.

But, last Thursday I received an email from a female member of the local running group. I had joined the group last January and decided to watch a 5k race a few weeks later. Since I was so new to running, I didn’t participate in any events or even watch any more races.

There are several groups of members that get together on various days of the week to just run. One of the groups is strictly for women. They meet on the first Wednesday of the month at a member’s house for a 30 minute run and pot luck dinner. They alternate hosting the pot luck each month between the members. I never attended because I knew I couldn’t run for a full 30 minutes yet or even run as fast as they can. They also meet at a particular trail all the other Wednesdays to just run. Another new female member, also a newbie runner, was looking for other newbies to run with on the Wednesday trail run. I had totally forgotten about that women’s group until I received that email. I got so excited and replied back that I would love to join the group at the trail and run with her. Several other women, also new to running, responded as well. I couldn’t wait for my working day to end today. I left work at 5:00 instead of working late as I usually do.

There were four of us new runners and ten or twelve other women that run at various paces. Some ran five miles (2.5 out and 2.5 back); some ran 2.5 miles (out and back for a total of 2.5). We newbies ran 3 miles (1.5 out, 1.5 back). Of course, we did the walk/run intervals.

The woman that sent out the email also brought her 29 year daughter who is a runner. She was great! She wanted to run with her mom so she timed our walk/runs. After a five minute warm up walk, we ran for three minutes/walked one minute. Then we ran one/walked one. The rest of the intervals were run 2/walk 1. I had a few tough moments where I felt like stopping and just walking, but I thought about all of you, how you push yourselves to not quite by using self-talk. So, I just told myself I could do it, if I keep going this time, the next time will be just a bit easier. Afterward I felt great! The weather was really nice. There was a nice coolish breeze that felt so good during our cool down.

I had an awesome time. It was great having someone to run with and can’t wait for next Wednesday’s group run. I feel more motivated to continue my running schedule in between Wednesdays. I’m sure I’ll notice some improvement, however small, by next week.

Oh yeah, I ditched my bifocal glasses for bifocal contacts. I couldn’t understand how contacts could be bifocal and was a bit apprehensive, but I’m so glad I did it. I hate wearing glasses and the contacts work great.

Happy running everyone!

Happy Mother's Day and Goal Setting

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms out in the running blogsphere. I hope you all had a nice day. I had a nice Mother's Day weekend. Yesterday my two daughters and I got a spa pedicure while drinking a white chocolate something-or-other with soy from Scooters Coffeehouse. It was a bit decadent and very good. Today D2 and her family took me to brunch. We went to Le Peep Restaurant. It was packed! They told us we would have a 20 minute wait. After waiting for 40 minutes, I inquired whether they still had our name on their list. They said it would be another 10 minutes. We were seated after waiting (and mostly standing) for 75 minutes! We knew it would actually be longer than 20 minutes, but not 75! And they were still packed with people waiting to be seated when we left.

Well, I have finally set up a running schedule to complete the C25K training program that I started a few months ago. For one reason or another (or no reason at all) I never went further than completing week two before just stopping. Yesterday, I hooked up my Garmin to my computer and scheduled each run on the Training Center software that came with it. I was surprised at how easy it was to set up the training program and download it to my Garmin.

I set up the Training Center to begin with Week 3 Day 1 beginning today and continuing every other day. I know it seems a bit ambitious (for me) but I have a goal to run a 5k sometime around late July or early August. I want to have completed the C25K program and have about a month to build up my endurance and distance. The program trains you to run for time (30 minutes) not distance and I’m not sure that I’ll be running a 5k distance when I complete it.

Today I ran Week 3 Day 1 om the treadmill and feel I did pretty well. The only problem was the Garmin kept beeping at me to go faster, even during the warm up. I kept increasing the speed hoping the beeping would stop (it was quite annoying) until I felt a straining feeling in my right leg. I decided to back off the speed and just tolerate the beeping. I need to figure out if the target speed for each pace zone can be adjusted.

I found a race that I would like to run but it’s being held on July 10th and I’m not sure I’ll be ready by then. I have until Jun 30th to register so I should know by then how I feel I’m progressing. I also asked my daughters to run a 5k with me. They were a bit surprised I’m interested in racing but were very supportive and happy to join me on my first race. I feel more excited and motivated to run now!

Congratulations to everyone that raced today. Especially Anne (Asthma and The Gift of Running)! She ran her first race today – a 10k! She’s such an inspiration!

A Very Good Weekend and Renewed Outlook

This has been a pretty good weekend for me. I didn't work (shh, don't tell anyone) or wallow alone at home in a funk. I got myself outside in the sunshine and fresh air. I even got some exercise.

About mid-morning Saturday I decided it was time to dig up the five bushes that line my walkway. If you want to experience some hard physical work or get out some pent up aggression, just try chopping at the roots of some thorny bushes! I managed to get at least one yanked from its stronghold under my sidewalk and at least got the dirt dug out around the rest before having to leave for a few hours. Thankfully, daughter #2 (D2) and son-in-law decided to surprise me and pulled the rest out with their old jeep while I was gone.

Midway through the bushwhacking, daughter #1 (D1) needed a big favor. She had an unexpected photo shoot and needed someone to watch her two youngest daughters and take one of them to her softball game. So, I put away the shovel and spade, got semi cleaned up and took them to lunch and then to the softball game. It was fun watching 7 & 8 year old girls play softball. It was also fun racing the younger one to the car and back to the ball field.

After getting back home and seeing that the rest of the bushes had been yanked out, I decided to head out to the state park where D1 and her family had been camping since Thursday. Now, in case you're confused about D1, she has this really bad habit of trying to do too many things at once. She knew her daughters had games on Saturday but took them camping anyway since the campground is only 30 miles away from where we live. But, she got a call on Saturday about a last minute photo shoot from a current client and felt she couldn't/shouldn't pass it up. In the meantime, her husband and oldest daughter stayed with the camper.

Anyway, D2 and her family went out to the camp ground for a cook out and I decided, after a much needed shower, to venture out there myself. I grabbed my running shoes and Garmin, made a quick stop at the store and surprised everyone. Before dinner, I got the granddaughters to run with me. We just did 1 minute intervals, walk 1/run 1. The girls loved running with me as much as I loved running with them. We only did about six of these, but it felt great. I felt so refreshed! I just couldn't believe it. I contemplated doing another round of intervals, but it got too dark and late and I needed to head home.

Today I still felt great. A bit sore, but great. After reading some of the blogs that I follow, I ran some errands, did some shopping and met a friend for a movie late this afternoon. She had been wanting to get together for a movie for a few months, but for one reason or another, I kept backing out. But today I decided to heck with everything else (work, laundry, cleaning) and had a really nice time.

About a week ago, I came across a quote on another blog that really hit home with me so I wrote it down. I believe this woman had heard it from someone else. I can't remember the name of the blog off hand, but when I do, I'll definitely give her the credit for the quote. The quote is - "You have to let go of the life you have to make room for the life you want". The life I want is more calm in my life, good health, closer relationships with family and friends and more positive life experiences. But, if I'm to achieve the life I want, I have to let go of the stresses of work, open myself up more to others and let them get to know me, do what it takes to get and stay healthy and set goals to help me accomplish all of this.

I have made a pact with myself that, unlike last summer, I will not let work interfere with my ability to enjoy this summer. I will get out of the house more, meet with friends more, go to more of my granddaughter's softball games, hike more, and RUN MORE.

Who knew that running for six minutes could have such an impact on a person's outlook! It's time to get back in the saddle, in this case the running shoes, again.

A Non-Update Update

I really don't have anything to update because I haven't run since my last post. I've had some issues, not much health wise, but more work wise. Work has been stressful, causing some anxiety for me. It has kind of drained me and I found myself in a bit of a funk. I know that exercise, running in particular, can help with that, but the motivation just hasn't been there. I've felt so tired that some nights I have actually crawled into bed before it even got dark. It's pretty bad when I stay home from work sick but I spent almost the entire day working! The only time I wasn't working that day was the few hours I was at the doctor's office.

One positive thing that's happened is that I started the allergy shots. I go twice a week on my lunch break. I'll have to do this for at least ten weeks then once a week for several months. I've only had two injections, but so far so good.

Even though I haven't felt like posting or running, I've been trying to keep up with all of the bloggers that I follow. If someone mentions another blog, I go check it out too. There are a lot of friendly, knowledgeable people out here in blog land. Some of them make me laugh, others make me cry, but all are inspirational. I just wish I lived closer to some of you; it would be easier to stay motivated, or at least to get back on track. It seems there aren't many bloggers from Nebraska.

Anyway, here's hoping I get out of this funk soon and find my motivation again.

Just a few questions, if you don't mind

I've spent the last several months reading everyone’s great running blogs about your awesome races and intense training programs, looking at the fantastic pictures a lot of you have posted, and even started a running program (for new runners) myself.

Through your blogs and other running sites I learned the importance of having the right kind of running shoes for my feet and gait (which I bought last fall), found some good references and resources for great running socks, the best type of material for running clothes (even cute running skirts), and read a lot of very valuable reviews and opinions on which Garmin was the best (I just bought the 305 and love it).

 However, the more I run the more questions I have about some things related to running. A few of these things are:

• What do you use to keep things in, such as cell phone, personal identification, insurance card, tissues, and car key?
• If you carry water with you, how do you carry it?
• How do you keep your hair out of your face – you know, after pulling it back into a pony tail and putting a few bobby pins along the sides, there are always those around the face or on top that escape and get right in your eyes.
• If running alone, do you carry anything like mace for protection?
• How do you manage to take pictures of yourself when out running and how do you carry a camera.

These questions always cross my mind as I get ready to head out the door for a run so I thought I would just ask all you experts out here in blog land. I hope you don't think I'm a complete dork for asking such trivial questions.

Now for my running report ;-)

Last Sunday I had entered an interval training program for Week 2 in my Garmin and loved how easy it was to do the intervals and not have to keep track on my watch or wear my MP3 to listen to the program that gives the cues.

Tonight I was all excited to get home from work, head out the door and just hit the start button to begin the intervals. Well, I had forgotten that I was to begin W3D1 of my training tonight and the intervals are different from week 2. I quickly programmed in the correct intervals and headed up the street to the trails at the lake. I had programmed the target speed for a Slow Jog, but it kept beeping at me, displaying that I was going at the speed of a Fast Walk! So I increased my speed until I was doing an actual slow jog. This weeks intervals are suppose to be 90 second run/90 second walk, then a three minute run/three minute walk, two repetitions of each. After the first 90 second run I noticed I had forgotten to enter in the walks between the runs. Bummer! Oh well, I decided to just repeat W2D3 so I would still get the training in.

It was a perfect evening to be out running. Even though it was quite windy, I worked up a nice sweat and I felt great. The best part is my lungs felt really good, no chest tightness at all. Taking up running is proving to be the best thing I could do for myself.

It’s True, Running Makes You Feel Better

This morning I was in a bit of a funk, one that carried over from last week and I did a rambling post about it. Well, shortly after that last post, I decided I needed to get myself out of the house, do a little bit of shopping (in my running attire) for a few items that I need for running (which I didn’t find), get out into the sunshine amongst people, and finish off week two of the running program I’ve been half-heartedly doing. I also needed to test out my new toy/running mate.

I got myself a Garmin 305! I originally looked at the 405, but decided I couldn’t quite afford another two hundred dollars for it (I’m still paying doctor bills from having pneumonia in February). I’m so glad I bought it. I just programmed in the interval training for W2D3 (run 90 seconds/walk 2 minutes x 6) and off I went. Now I don’t have to listen to the training podcast on my MP3 player to cue me when to run and walk. I really don’t like wearing headphones, I like to hear what’s going on around me. I love the sounds of being outside, hearing people talking, the trees rustling with the breeze, and especially the birds chirping. Besides, I can’t hear people announce when they’re passing me on the trail and I literally jump when they suddenly appear in my peripheral view.

The Garmin was actually delivered last week on a day that I was feeling really tired and I did something stupid that night. I turned it on to check it out but I was just too tired to focus on it. I put it on the coffee table and went to bed. The next morning, as I was getting ready for work, I heard a funny beeping noise. I realized the source of the beeping was the Garmin. I forgot to turn it off and the battery was low. It has a battery life of 10 hours and had been on for nine! I’m much more careful with it now and keep it on the charger all the time.

Anyway, the run was great! It was around 70 degrees, very sunny with a slight breeze. Today I went to Lake Zorinsky since I was out that way shopping. The run was challenging because of the small inclines, but not too much. I just kept concentrating on my breathing and, on the last run interval, challenged myself just a little to run a little faster. Afterwards, I felt tired and was breathing hard, but didn’t feel the need to stop and catch my breath.

Windsurfers on the lake

After completing my run, I continued walking for a while and did some people watching. I saw a young couple walking what looked like a small grizzly bear (that’s exactly what the guy said when I asked what kind of dog it was). The young woman holding its leash said it was a Newfoundland. I found an old tree log along the lake shore where I sat and watched some guys windsurfing on the lake and other people running and biking on the trails. It was a very busy place. I felt great and was in a much better mood.

Yep, running can improve your mood and is a great stress reliever. I need to keep that in mind the next time I feel the blahs coming on.

Sunday Morning Ramblings

This morning I've just been sitting here at my computer reading email and blogs, just feeling kind of blah. This past week, for some reason, I haven't felt very motivated to do much. I've actually felt pretty exhausted and I'm not sure why. It could be from a medication (not for asthma) that I'm on. I have to monitor it because too much makes me extremely tired, but too little and I get a bit agitated and toss and turn all night. It can also be due to work. Things have been a bit stressful at work for several reasons. One being the economy affects the industry I work in, another is that we're in the middle of implementing a new information system and this is a crucial time of year for us. We're currently working in two systems, the old and new. I'm a programmer, which means I'm programming in both systems and we're flying by the seat of our pants learning the new one. Plus, the demands from the top administrators for statistic reports from both systems have been relentless this past week. There were a few nights that I either stayed up late working and getting up early and days where I could barely stay awake at work, even had difficulty driving home because I was so tired, and crawled into bed by 8:00. Hopefully, this week will be better.

Last Saturday, the day before Easter, I ran W2D1 of my running program at the lake again. I think it was my third time running outside and it was a bit easier this time. I kept focused on the music and on my breathing. Because I have asthma (exercised and allergy induced), I've been reading about breathing techniques. A good book I found is Reversing Asthma by Richard N. Firshein, D.O. After reading that book and several articles online, I discovered that I don't breathe from the abdomen, I breathe from the chest, which is not an effective way of breathing. Anyway, to make a long story short, I've learned some breathing techniques that have helped me breathe and feel better. I've been using some of the techniques while running and they have helped. I make sure I breathe deep from the abdomen and fully exhale. And, since I'm concentrating on breathing, the runs are easier and go faster.

I didn't run again until Thursday. I did W2D2 on the treadmill. It was drizzly outside and I was feeling blah and tired. I didn't feel motivated to run, but somehow, I managed to talk myself into putting my shoes on and just do it. I did feel much better afterward, so I started up my work laptop and worked until 11:30. So far this weekend I haven't done any kind of exercising, unless you count going to my granddaughters fifth birthday party yesterday at the bowling alley and helping six four and five year olds bowl. Today my legs sure feel like I've done a lot of squats.

I think one reason I have a difficult time staying motivated is because I'm doing this all by myself. I know that it's really up to us to push ourselves to do things, but it sure helps if you have supportive people in your life. As I read other blogs, I notice that everyone has at least one person to talk to and share their goals with. I don't really have that. Sure, I have two grown daughters that you would think I could share with and get support from, but they're both so wrapped up in their own lives (husband, kids) and working hard on establishing their careers (one is a photographer and co-owner of a car repair shop and the other is a personal trainer at the YMCA and has her own personal training business) that they don't have time to fit in anything else. In fact, I help them out if they need it. As far as friends go, I don't have any close friendships and presently no significant other. I guess all I do is work. Hmmm, I really need to get a social life. But, at this age, it's more difficult than you think.

Anyway, those are my thoughts so far today. I think I’ll make myself a Sunday To Do list and put W2D3 at the top.