Post-Thanksgiving

Last Wednesday I tried to run with Kristen as a sort of preemptive strike against turkey and stuffing. I was feeling tired and run-down, and I could tell as I ran. I didn't even make it through half of the 30 minute run. Ugh.

Today I got back out there, and it went well. I managed 25 minutes straight, which felt pretty good. And I felt great too when I stepped on the scale and saw that the gallons of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and homemade gravy didn't do too much damage: 133.6. I was expecting a much higher number, to be honest. Whew.

Jeff leaves tomorrow for Honduras (gulp), so I have to arrange babysitters to swing by so I can get a few runs in. I hope I can make that happen.

I did it!

Today was my "final" run of the couch-to-5k training. I ran for 30 minutes without a break. I actually ran for 30 1/2 minutes to complete a lap.

This may actually have only come in to just short of a 5k. One or two more laps may have done it. I'll work up to counting the actual laps next week.

How do I feel about accomplishing this goal? Strangely, both really good and slightly anticlimactic. No streamers unfurled or balloons dropped from the ceiling of Ping when I finished that last lap. I just walked a few more to cool down, and then stretched like always. But I reached a goal that I set for myself way back in August, a milestone I honestly didn't think I'd reach.

Now I need to set some new goals.

Today's weight: 134 even.

Today's run of 26 minutes went well, aided by: my new running shorts and shirt (birthday gift from Kristen), my new running shoes (paid for by the proceeds of birthday gifts from Grandma and the Tigs), and my new iPod (birthday gift from my parents). As I was stretching out before the run I realized how true the adage "the clothes make the man" really is. I felt like a real runner.

I'll run Wednesday and Friday this week, and on Friday I should do my first actual 5k length-run. Wow!

Well, not only did I make it for my entire run time Thursday, but that rascal Kristen tricked me and got me to run another two minutes. So I ran for 26 minutes! That's only four minutes short of 5k. Wow!

And I am now the proud owner of an ipod shuffle, thanks to my parents, which will be a big running incentive, too.

Nine weeks

Today is my 30th birthday. When I started this exercise/diet plan nine weeks ago, my goal was to be running a 5k by my birthday. I also wanted to have dropped some of that extra baby weight.

I'm almost there. I can run more than two miles without stopping. I'm adding a little bit of time every running day, so that I hope to be comfortably running a 5k by Thanksgiving. And although I didn't make my original goal, I still feel really good about what I have accomplished.

And my weight is down. I'm below 135. My measurements are within an inch of where I was pre-pregnancy. I can wear a lot of my old clothes, although some pants are still a bit snug. I would like to drop a few more pounds, but I would be happy just to maintain.

I'm going to try to run for 24 minutes this afternoon. I might not have time to post afterward, as the CRAZY BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES will ensue. But I'll try to pop in.

I skipped my weekend run. I know, I know. But I'm so busy! And it was cold!

Anyway. I did get back to the gym today, and broke a bit of a personal barrier...I ran with someone. I have a thing about not wanting to run with anyone. I find running embarrassing. I get red-faced but not around my eyes, giving me an attractive raccoon mask. I really have to focus on my breathing and pace to not trip spectacularly over my own feet.

But I've been running for nearly ten weeks now, and am feeling more comfortable with myself as a runner. So when I realized I left my MP3 player at home, it didn't take much for me to accept my friend Kristen's suggestion that we run together.

And it rocked! I paid less attention to how much I hate running and how tired I was getting and am I done yet? Instead we chatted (I conversed less as the run went on and I grew more winded). Kristen has a running watch (something I need) so she kept track of the time. I didn't ask until we had reached 13 minutes.

By the last two laps, I was really feeling it. But I stuck it out and ran for 22 minutes. I felt a little dizzy afterward, probably due to my light lunch. I am still struggling to strike a balance between too much food (barf) and too little (faint) before a run.

Today's weight: 133.6. I was surprised to see this number on the scale, as I haven't been too diligent with the eating lately, and I had been plateaued at 135-136 for a while. Maybe it won't last, but it felt good to see it.

Good run today. I ran for twenty minutes (!) followed by a five-minute walk, then another five minutes of running. And it felt really good! My legs were pretty tired, but my heart felt strong. That feels like a weird thing to say, but it's true.

I've decided to try to add another two minutes to that first long run every running day until I'm running three miles/thirty minutes total, then start to chip away at the need to walk at all. I may not make my goal of a 5k by my birthday (a week from today!) but I'll be close at least.

Weight today was 136.2.