New Year's Eve 2011

It's hard to believe that 2011 is only hours away from being over and a new year is on the horizon.  There have been some wonderful things happen in my life in 2011 and with the good there have been some bad.  One of the biggest is my commitment to healthy living.  My family has eaten more fruits and veggies this year than EVER! ! !  I have logged 176 miles on daily mile and am continuing on my journey to live to 100.

Instead of reminiscing about  2011 I'd rather focus on what 2012 will bring, so here are a few of my goals...

eat more fresh veggies
run
be more grateful
run
stress less
run
drink more wine
run
read more (5 books about running, 5 books about teaching and 5 books just for fun)

are you seeing a pattern?

I'd like to set a goal of 600 miles for 2012.  That would be 50 miles per month.  Part of me thinks this is very ambitious for me since I only logged 176 for 2011 but with the right focus and encouragement I will meet this goal by August.

Happy New Year's to each and every one of you.  I hope your 2012 brings you good wishes and healthy living.

Ellen

My legs are wrecked

I finished C25K W1D3 today!... But I think I've wrecked my legs.

Let me remind you that my last day of running any length at all was Aug 29 so I've started over with the C25K plan.  While training over the summer I built up quite a running base.  I was running 4 miles a few times a week, so my heart and lungs were strong and in good shape.

While my heart rate and breathing were not a problem during the last week my legs were hurting.  It's hard to believe that I could get in this bad of shape in 3 1/2 months but I'm glad that my problems are just in my legs.

I've done the warm-up walking routine and I've stretched afterwards so the only thing I know to do now is to add stretches before my workout.  I might even look into some compression socks but I don't know much about compression so if you're reading this and can help me out please comment. :-)

Starting Over

Cool Runnings.... I think I love you!
Actually I love who ever created the Couch to 5K running plan  for beginners.

I haven't run since August 29.  There really isn't a good logical reason for my lapse in exercise like an injury or illness.  Nope, it was just pure laziness, lack of motivation, maybe even a little of me thinking that I just didn't have time to run.  Yeah, I know those are all only excuses and pretty lame ones at that even.

I'm not sure what spurred my need for "sucking air" but something sparked me last week to take a walk at lunch and it felt good.  So good in fact that I did it again the next day.  After that those Kentucky rains set in and with the winter solstice coming, the sun has been set before I got home in time to run. (more excuses)

I started running during the spring of 2010, right before my birthday.  Everything went great all the way through week 7 then I quit when the weather got warm.  I started over for the first time last spring bound and determined that I wasn't going to quit when the weather got warm.  I bought dri-fit shirts and shorts, lots of powerade and even one of the coolest things I've ever seen, a frog tog towel.  I even ran my first 5k after completing the C25K plan.  But...I ended up quitting once school started.  (refer back to my list of excuses)

Well, this morning I went back to the C25K plan and started over once again with week 1 day 1 and felt absolutely great at the end.  I've had so much energy all day. There really isn't a good enough excuse to not exercise, so my plan is to follow the plan one more time and see how far it takes me.  Who knows maybe I'll graduate to Gateway to 8K or even the Freeway to 10K plans.

I LOVE my Nike Shirt! ! **Review**

I'm loving running in my bright yellow shirt so much I'm showing some love to Nike and thanking them for designing such a wonderful piece of clothing.

I bought my shirt at the local sporting goods store "Hibbett's" for $20.  It was on sale, down from $25.  I never pay full price for ANYTHING! ! !

I picked yellow since it was the brightest color they stocked. Since I'm running outside and on the side of my road, I'm trying to be very visible to drivers.  School buses are yellow for a reason ya know :-)

Since I'm running for a couple of different one of which is to lose a few or 10 pounds I bought a size XL.  As soon as I pulled the tags off and wore it for the first time I realized that I could have got a L and been ok with it but it's just habit to get the XL.  It's cut to be a little loose and it's a bit stretchy so it has some give in it. It is in no way one of those compression type shirts.   I don't usually like tight clothes.  It's a bit longer than I expected it to be.  I like this since it covers my hind end a little more than some other shirts I've bought.  If you wear those low rise pants this shirt would be perfect for you.

This shirt is so light and thin it's like wearing nothing at all.  You can see my bra through the fabric but it's not inappropriate.  The dri-fit material dries almost before I get home from my run.  It is always dry before my shorts are.  In fact, when I do the laundry, I just hang it up in the utility room and it's completely dry in less than 5 minutes.

If you'd like to get one for yourself go to
 http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/?l=shop,pdp,ctr-inline/cid-1/pid-380508/pgid-222149 

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

100% Humidity doesn't always equal rain

This morning, like always, I checked the weather before heading out for my run.  The Weather Channel "Local on the 8's" said 79 degrees and 100% humidity.  Holy Moly! ! !  Was it raining with the sun shining?  Nope!  Just overwhelmingly HOT! ! !

I grabbed my blackberry and headed out anyway.  My planned 4 miler 4:1 walk - run ratio turned into a walk - walk ratio.  I hadn't even finished with my warm up section when I was realizing that I should have brought some water with me.

Some tips to help when running in the heat:

• Wear light weight light colored clothing.
• Be sure to take your sweaty clothes off when you get home. (Funky Fungi like to grow in warm wet embarrassing places)
• Wear a cap or visor to help keep the sweat out of your eyes
• Last but not least.... take some water!

What are your best tips for running in this heatwave that is sweeping the country?

If you are exercising outside in this weather.... please be careful! !

Air Pegasus+ 28 Review

After several missed runs I finally have a pair of running shoes.

As some of you may remember I have been having trouble with shoes.  I have bought 3 pairs and now have sent one pair of Vomeros back to Nike in hopes they would replace them as defective.  I mailed them to the Memphis Plant on June 14 and got a product voucher on Saturday June 25.  That's pretty fast service if you ask me.  I was leaving Sunday for a teacher conference so I spent some time in the malls trying on some shoes and deciding which Nike shoe I would order once I returned home.

I picked the Nike Air Pegasus + 28.  It felt like a glove when I put it on.  The flywire system allows for a snug fit but also enough room that your feet don't feel smothered in running shoes.  They are very breathable which is a good thing on all these hot summer runs.  These shoes have the same sole system as the vomeros and a segmented crash pad that allows for some totally awesome cushioning.

It might be that I picked the volt red version but I think they are fast and feel great on my feet.  I ordered them on Tuesday 5pm and got them Thursday 2:30PM.  Just in time for a quickie test run and a full test run on Friday.  I don't think I've ever had this kind of service with ordering anything online before.  And to beat the quick shipping, Nike offers a 30 day run test guarantee.  So if you order a pair of shoes from them online and get them and they aren't exactly what you expected you can send them back for an exchange up to 30 days past the order date.

My legs were a bit tired but that could have come from all those missed runs.  They felt like the pillows that I had in the vomeros.  I'm very pleased with these shoes and have learned that I need to buy a back up pair so I'm in the market for something else,  got any suggestions??  :-)

I want to go Strapless! ! !

Now get your minds out of the gutter! ! !

I started my fitness/workout/running journey in late February 2011.  I bought some shoes, then bought some better shoes, got some warm clothes to run in and the hubs talked me into a HRM.  I ended up with a Polar FT40.  I thought it was wonderful the couple of times I wore it.  Then the new wore off and I began to hate it.  I couldn't stand the strap.  All I could focus on was that strap around my chest.  I put it up under my bra strap thinking that would make it seem more natural.  I've worn a bra since I was 12 so wearing a bra is pretty natural to me.  I guess I probably only wore it 4 or 5 times, 6 tops.  I wear the watch a lot but not as a HRM.  So, needless to say I have a lot of money tied up in a "watch".

Well, the other day, I was reading through my google reader and saw that a blog I follow is giving away a HRM from sportline. Part of the entry requirements was to go to the website and tell what you learned.  All I can say is I was floating.  They have really pretty pink ones, cool white ones and some that actually look like a real watch.  And the best part, the coolest ones (at least in my opinion) are the ones without the chest strap.

So needless to say, I have listed my Polar FT40 with the flowlink on ebay and as soon as it's sold I'm buying one of those strapless HRM's.  I can't wait. :-)

100 miles!

Woo Hoo! ! !  I'm so excited.  I've finally hit the 100 mile mark on dailymile.  I joined and logged my first run on March 25th and have had the 100 mile mark as a goal ever since.

I keep reading other blogs and always take a look at their dailymile gadget.  Some of them are absolutely incredible.  Some of you out there actually run 100 miles in a week, OMG!

Well, since I've completed this goal I've decided the next one will be running a 100 miles in a month. That should take me a while but I'm one of those people who needs a goal to always push towards.

Do you have a running goal you would like to share?

ugh! lessons learned :-(

Have you ever had one of those moments??

Lesson #1
There's no telling how many opportunities I've missed due to my inexperience.  I'm a newbie to the blog world.  I started my first blog and started reading other blogs in Jan 2011.  I've been entering giveaways for several months now.  Most bloggers require a follow as part of the giveaway.  So I click the follow button and sit back and wait for my name to be published as the winner.  I check my google reader feed a couple of times a day since it's on my igoogle site.  Nothing,.... I've won nothing (well, keep reading on to lesson #2) All this time I thought when I followed someone their blog updates would show up in my google reader.  Wrong! ! !  Lesson #1 was learned today when I was clicking through the blogger site.  I have to actually add the blogs to my subscription or go to blogger and read the updates.  Oh well, I know now, right?

Lesson #2
Not all giveaways are really giveaways.  I was contacted through my gmail address that I was the winner of a Merrell  Paceglove giveaway on the Running and Rambling  blog.  I was sooooo excited.  I'm also a new runner and have heard so much about the minimalistic running trend and have been wondering how to transition from traditional shoes without spending a fortune on gear.  I sent my contact info like requested and that's the last I heard from him or her.  Three weeks later, I still haven't heard anything from the Merrell rep or from the owner of the blog.  Now I don't really blame Merrell but I'm a little disappointed with  Running and Rambling.  Oh well, lessons learned. :-(

Memorial Day 2011 Run Report

Things I learned this morning on my run...

1.  We don't say thank you enough.
Not just to our troops but to all those people that affect our daily lives.

2.  Summer arrived on time this year!
It is forecasted to be 95 today so I wanted to run early to beat the heat.  When I left it was 77 and when I returned home it was 84 at 9:30

3.  Fried Chicken and Mac-n-Cheese is not good fuel for running.
Now, don't get to thinking that I ate fried chicken and mac-n-cheese for breakfast! :-)  But, that's the last thing I'd eaten before my run.

2 more pounds! !! :-)

P90X is working! ! !  I've lost 2 pounds in 10 days! ! !

I've been running since February and until now only lost 2 pounds but after starting P90X a couple of weeks ago I believe I've broken through the plateau.  So, officially I've lost 4 pounds since Feb. 25th when I started my "get fit not lose weight but it'd be great to lose some weight" journey.

I hope the trend continues, stay tuned for more updates

:-)

P90X

Well, since I've been at this running thing for 4 months now and lost 2 whopping pounds, I've decided to supplement my running program with P90X.  I'm not sure why people look at my like I've lost my mind.  I wonder if anyone out there in bloggerland has any experience with P90X plyometrics?

Squeaky shoes

Did you know that squeaky shoes is a sign that you have a pair of DEFECTIVE shoes?

I was out running errands with the hubs this morning and was bored to tears.  He stopped to pick up a few things so he dropped me off at the local sporting goods store, (since he knows how much I love to go in there).  While in the store the manager came over and asked how I like my Nike Vomero's, otherwise known as the pillows I strap to my feet to run down the road.  I told him that I absolutely love my shoes.  They are actually the best feeling running shoes I've ever put on my feet.  I happened to mention that the right shoe squeaks. He asked me to take it off and he quickly discovered that I have a defective air pocket in the sole of the shoe about where the ball of my foot fits.  Hum, I said.  I thought squeaky shoes were just that.... squeaky shoes.  Well, to make a long story short, .... he is checking the other stores to see if he can find another pair so we can switch out the bad pair for a brand new pair.  In the meantime.  I'm squeaking and loving knowing that I'm about to get a brand new pair of running shoes without having to fork out another $100.

:-)

not gonna make my goal :-(

I set a goal of running 40 miles for the month of May.  So far I've got 10.  Pretty pathetic isn't it?!

I never ran in the rain til my 5k a month ago.  Since then I've realized that I really won't melt in the rain, I just have to make a few modifications.  I keep a plastic bag for my blackberry and a visor to keep the rain out of my face.  I can't however make any modifications for mother nature.  When she wants to throw down severe thunderstorms, I just can't find the guts to go out.

I got 2 miles in yesterday and since I'm really trying to stay injury free I'm only running every other day, so tomorrow will be my next workout.  I'm hoping for at least 4 but there are more storms predicted so who knows what will happen.

My first 5K

Last weekend my hubby and I participated in our first ever 5k race, and the whole experience was amazing.
The morning of the race the weather was horrible!  Pouring rain! ! !  I have never run in the rain, sprinkles yes but not full blown rain.  On the way to the race check in we discussed my goal for a finishing time.  Given the weather conditions I knew better than to expect my training time of 34 min so I added ten min and wished to finish under 44.  My official finishing place was 241 out of over 600 and my time was 42:11.  Not bad with all that was going against me that day.  I'll do better on the next one.  I have a PR that I could beat walking :-)

Hiccup

Well, well, well....I've done so well on the C25K plan until now.  I haven't experienced any injuries, and other than an occasional rainy day (I just recently realized that I can run in the rain and not die), I've stayed on my schedule of running every other day since February.

My hiccup is my endurance.  I guess as we age our endurance is more difficult to build.  Not saying I'm old or anything but I am realizing that I'm not 21 any more.  I should be finishing week 8 of the C25K program but I can' seem to run the required 25 minutes in week 7 without gasping for air and feeling like I'm going to puke my guts up all over the road.  So, instead of pushing my self to this point 3 times a week, I have decided to side step the program for a week by doing the 5k101 program to help build my endurance.  Week 7 of 5K101 has me run 12 min then recover for 3 min repeating this set 3 times.  I have done this twice already and feel pretty good at the end of the run.  I WILL go back to the C25K plan and pick back up at week 7 and complete the program.  The ultimate goal is to complete the program and get that feeling of accomplishment.

My 5K is next Saturday so I'm just going to treat it like just another training run and plan another 5K later in the year to test my endurance.

C25K is an AWESOME Program

I don't know about the rest of you but I've never really been a runner.  I've always been a somewhat "active" person.  My husband and I have taken our boys tent camping, riding bike trails, and hiking in the Great Smoky Mts, but I've never been a runner.  I'm not really sure why I wanted to start running but it was one of the best decisions I've made.  I did a little research on beginning running programs.  I looked at Jeff Galloway and Couch to 5k just to name a couple.  I chose the C25K because I couldn't run very far for very long in the beginning.  Week 1 I ran for 60 secs at a time.

Well, yesterday I ran W7D1 and ran 25mins without stopping.  I am so proud of myself and so thankful for the Cool Runnings website and their wonderful Couch to 5K beginning running program.  I will be ready for my first 5K on the 16th and am hoping to finish in less than 30 minutes but any time will be a PR!  :-)

You can find the program here:  http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Love at first step

AHHHHHH! ! ! ! !  That's all I can say about my new shoes! ! ! !

The shoes actually feel like pillows strapped to my feet.  My hubby laughs at me but my time went from 9:18 to 9:03.  That's 45 secs over the 3 miles I ran.  Man, I told him that's almost a minute. :-)  We're really having a good time with the whole time thing but anyway on with my report.

The shoes are really great.  I've run in them twice now and my feet and legs feel like they've never felt before.  I could probably run my W5D3 20 minute run with no problem on Wednesday but I'm getting a bit   nervous.  I'll have to let you know how it goes.

Mama needs a new pair of shoes... :-)

I've started this journey to better health on the inside and out a few months ago.  I've done all the things a good wanna be runner should do... I've subscribed to Runner's World Magazine, I've picked my starting program (C25K) and set a goal (1st 5k is April 16).  I even bought a new pair of running shoes on Valentine's day.  Somehow along the way I've managed to get my arches cramping when I run longer than 3 minutes at a time.  So, after doing some research it seems I bought the wrong kind of shoes.

I've learned that I need a neutral shoe with lots of cushion.  So, me and the hubs are about to drive into town and get me a pair of Nike vomero 4+ and I can't wait.




I'm almost giddy about my run this afternoon W5D1.  This may be the motivation to keep on trucking through the loss of intervals in my program.

First Post

If you've happened on this page, I'm sorry.

This is a blog in progress.  I have posted part of my C25K diary from a different blog I keep as my first post.  I'm hoping to blog here about my running episodes.

Please check back in a few days, as it will be updated and be better organized. I promise.



3/6/11 - I had company for W3D2.  The Hubs decided I was having too much fun without him so he went with me.  No not really.  I think I finally wore him down with asking that he join in that he finally caved.  At the end of the 30 min I was breathing harder than he was.  boo on that.... I've been busting my tail for 3 weeks and he's in better shape than me??  (raising eyebrows) I'm just competitive enough to step up my training next week.  We'll see what next weekend brings.  :)