Week Three

Ugh.  This week has been a tough one.  I am just so tired.  Not sure what's going on with that.  I was hoping for energy boosts.  I started my personal torture, I mean training, sessions this week.  I am no longer in denial about my lack of fitness.  It's a fact I will no longer dispute: I am grossly out of shape.  But, that's why I'm here, right?  (Yes, that is a desperate cry for reassurance.  Please insert motivating wisdom in the comment session).

Jason the Trainer is a running coach for the speed school at the gym so I feel like he is the right man for the job.  During my workout with him on Thursday he expressed concerns about me trying to do this thing.  He feels I should put it off until I lose some weight and stick to lower impact cardio and continuing our personal training sessions until I can drop at least 50 pounds.  He is worried about my knees, afraid I am going to trash my joints.  I know it's not going to be great on my joints until I lose some weight, but this thing is a little over 12 weeks away.  Can I really do that much damage in three months?  So far I am not having any pain or swelling so I am leaning towards ignoring this advice. What do you guys think?  That was kinda of a punch in the gut.  A big part of why  I want to work towards this goal is to lose weight, but also accomplish something I have largely considered an impossibility.  I think he might be overestimating what I consider a "run".  I am not under the illusion that I will have Kenyan like speed.  I am just trying to finish the course in less than 3 hours and 40 minutes.  If I can hold a pace of 4.5 mph I will finish in the allotted time.  Stop laughing.  I mean it.   No more laughing.

Another weird thing this week is my running dream.  I keep having this dream about me running the race.  Let me tell you, dream runner Hilaree is in great shape!  It's so funny because it looks like me, only really fit and a little bit taller.  I think the word svelte is the best way to describe dream runner me.  Not only do I look awesome, but I am running (like a real run) in a remarkably smooth fashion.  I wonder if this is a psychic dream?  

I consider myself to be a "chunky runner".  I am finding that this leads to many of it's own problems.  Mainly, finding apparel that stays in place while you move and keeps jiggling to a minimum.  I know I don't look hot in spandex right now, but I can assure you looking at my bare belly is even less hot.  Also, jogging on a treadmill and constantly pulling at your top or pants is not great for coordination.  Any suggestions on good brands would be great.  So far Athleta seems to have the best tops/sports bras I have found.  Pants are still a problem.

Lessons learned this week:

1.  Stretching is very important.  Skipping stretching is very bad.
2.  Eating something heavy (like fettuccine alfredo) for the first time in two weeks is also very bad.  Even if it is on your "off" day and don't plan on doing anything.  
3.  Chaffing sucks.
4.  My upper body is very weak.
5.  I have decent lower body strength, but plenty of room for improvement.
6.  I want to look like Dream Runner Hilaree.
7.  Still diet coke free after three weeks.  I am waiting for coca-cola to call me and beg me to come back.  That's how much diet coke I was drinking daily.  

Some of you have asked what race I am running.  Here is the link.  You can even check out the registration and see my name.  Thanks for checking in!

Week Two

Still going strong and becoming a regular at the gym.  I purchased 16 personal training sessions and will start those next week.  According to Jason the Trainer, the focus will be on making sure my glutes “fire correctly” and strengthening my legs and core.  I have a feeling this means squats and box jumps.  That is what he was hinting at. I am beginning to think he may be a sadist. 

I decided to scratch Zumba from my list of alternate cardio activities.  I am keeping the Barre class in the mix.  I really like that one.  I am also going to try to work in some swimming.  The only problem with swimming is that it looks a lot like I am drowning when I do it.  I need to take some lessons again.  I took a few when I was living in Texas.  The very first day the remarks from the swim coach were, “you are not a good swimmer”.  Duh, I wouldn’t be paying you if I were Michael Phelps.    Maybe since Michael Phelps is from Baltimore, I could hunt him down and see If he wants to coach me?   Nah, I could end up with a restraining order or something. 

   General feelings and observations from week two:

1.       Blisters aren’t fun. 

2.       My fun with plantar fasciitis continues, but I seem to be able to manage it better.  The increased activity and stretching seem to help.

3.       Better diet is helping with my acid reflux issues.

4.       Walking with an incline is totally different that jogging with an incline.

5.       I can’t do push-ups. 

6.       I can do planks.

7.       I really like Injinji socks.  They help with the blisters on my toes.

8.       I still need better music.

9.    Two weeks Diet Coke Free!

Week One

I survived week 1!  I probably shouldn’t get too excited considering it consisted of only three 20-30 minute run/walk work outs.  Regardless, I am excited.  I didn’t quit (yet)!  So the schedule is set up to do the run/walks on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  The schedule lists the other days as “off” days.  Just so you know, I went ahead and DIDN’T take those days off.  Yeah, I know. I’m kind of a go-getter J. 

I decided to channel my inner dance skills.  The Zumba infomercials won.  I took a Zumba class.  Good cardio workout, but al little humiliating.  One would think that after 18 years of taking dance classes I could pull this off.  NEGATIVE!  I really wish there weren’t mirrors everywhere in these studios.  I looked like an idiot.  There were several points where I just kept doing push turns and skipping.  It turns out Latin Fusion is not my style.

Dance-ish class #2 was a Barre class.  I loved ballet so I thought this would be fun.  Newsflash!!  I am not as flexible as I was at 18.  The class was good.  I rediscovered muscles that I forgot I had and consequently could barely walk the next day. 

I also met with a trainer and discussed what I am trying to accomplish.  He hurt my feelings.  I chose a different trainer.  His name is Jason and he is a runner and also a “speed coach”.  He is working on a plan of attack to get me in gear. 

General feelings and observations from week one:

1.       I will not be able to RUN this race.  I will be able to JOG this race. 

2.       I do not run in a straight line.  Not even on a treadmill.  It’s like I am a little drunk.

3.       I am now on a strict bedtime of 9:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.  This seems to be helping.

4.       Hydration is an art that will take some work perfecting. 

5.       Asics are my favorite. 

6.       I am off Diet Coke.  This is harder than any other part of the diet.

7.       So far my favorite running tunes are the Foo Fighters, Wu-Tang Clan, Outkast,  Florence + the Machine, Grateful Dead, and Adele.  I could use a few more suggestions.

Thanks for the comments on my previous post!  I am going through my workout log now and catching up with the last couple weeks with the blog entries.  Please do keep stopping by. 

Mike McGinn: any comment LESS than 1 page will be unacceptable!  Thanks!

It started with a resolution

I have been planning on getting myself in back in shape for quite some time now.  Pretty much since I graduated from college which is coming up on 10 years now.  It's hard.  To be perfectly honest, I hate working out.  I don't consider myself a lazy person overall.  I just do not find exercise to be fun.  Sure, I always feel better afterwards.  I sleep better. It helps with my anxiety.  All that cute stuff.  But I hate every single second of exercise.  There I admit it.

My resolution for the new year was not to start running.  Instead, I resolved to be more grateful for the things in my life.  One of the things I am extremely grateful for is my health, however there are a lot of things that I do (and don't do) that are less than healthy.  I found a link on someone's Facebook page that showed the progress a man made trying to improve his fitness.  Long story short, he was told that he would never be able to run again.  He was having trouble just walking.  It starts out with him barely able to stand and over the course of about a year he continues with Yoga and strength training.  By the end he was sprinting.  What the hell is my excuse?  Lightbulb!!!  It appears that I am in fact lazy.  That realization hurt.

My big brother, Jared, is very into fitness and wellness.  He's pretty much a perfectionist.  Sorry Jared, but it's true.  You are one perfection seeking mo-fo.  I love you for it.  So anyway, I was talking to him about my desire to drop weight, improve my fitness, etc. and he mentioned that one of the ways he challenges himself is by signing up for a race or triathlon.  I feel like he knows me pretty well so if he thinks I can do it, I should pursue it.  So I looked into some local races and found a 1/2 marathon that is at the end of April.  Go big or go home, right?  Why would I sign up for a 5k or something when I can just sign up for a 1/2 marathon?  Apparently I was feeling very confident the night when I signed up.  Yikes.  He checked out the training plan provided.  Verdict:  it will be a challenge, but is doable as long as I get my butt in gear.  And so it begins.

I have decided to keep a little blog/diary of my progress.  Hopefully I will look back and be pleased with my progress.  I am also hoping that my friends that are runners will take some time to read along each week and offer support and advice (Pretty Please?).

Here are my goals:

1.  Complete the training schedule.
2.  Finish the race without being kicked off the course for exceeding the time limit.

Yep, that's it.  Just two.  They might seem ridiculous to all you runners out there, but trust me, they are going to be two challenges for me!  So please, check in with me once a week and leave a comment or a suggestion.  I can use all the advice you can throw at me.