Goals

Tonight I ran the last workout before the 5K. I decided that since it was a short workout, I would push a little harder. I pushed a little too hard in my first interval. It wasn't bad I just knew I would not be able to keep that pace throughout the second 15 minute interval. I did my first mile in 14:10. That is a complete PR for me. I know I will not be able to run the 5K at that pace but at least knowing I can do a mile faster than my norm feels good. I slowed down for my second interval and still finished with a 15:30 average pace and that included some walking. I'm feeling good I just still pray it doesn't rain since forecasts have changed again and now we are expecting thunderstorms Thur-Sun again. This is one of my first goals and I really want to be able to complete it on my birthday.

Speaking of goals, I figured I would let you know what some of mine are and I will revisit the list and check them off as I go. I have the little graphics I created on the side, and though they represent the over all goals, I figured I'd give you a list that is a little more specific. I have both a list of running goals and weight loss goals.

Running

1. 1st 5k, May 21, 2011
   
2. 10K, September 5, 2011
3. Complete 1st Half at Run to Remember, Nov 5, 2011(no time limit or pace requirement)
   
4. Tinkerbell Half in Disneyland, Jan 29, 2012(3 1/2 hour time limit)
   
5. Princess Half in Disney World, Feb 26, 2012 in under 3 hours
   

Weight

1. 5%
2. 10%
3. 15%
4. 20%
5. 25%
6. 30%
7. 35%
8. 40%

After I lose 40% I will decide how much further I want to go. I could go to a full 50% and still be healthy but I don't know that it is necessary. I will see how I look and feel once I hit the last goal and decide from there. I also need to figure out if I am going to calculate it from what I started at with WW or if I am going to think back to my heaviest. There is a difference of about 10lbs. Going by WW would be easier since they tell me every time I hit a milestone but I don't know. The first one is close enough(.5 difference) that they are basically the same. After that it gets a little more noticeable. We'll see.

Shifting Forecasts

I'm really going to be pissed if the race gets rained out on Saturday.

Every time I check the forecast it is different. Now the rain is supposed to start tomorrow and last until Sunday.

Here's hoping things look better Saturday morning.

Run & 1/2 and One Week to Go

Since blogger was down all day yesterday, I am combining the post I wanted to have last night, Run & 1/2 , with tonight's post. Sorry it is a little long, but like I said it is 2 posts.

Run & 1/2
A run and a half, that is what I did on Thursday. That was not originally my intention but that is what I ended up with. We had some strong storms come through Wednesday night and Thursday morning. They were supposed to last through Thursday night so I decided I would change locations and time for my regular Thursday run. Since I didn't want to dodge hail I decided to go to the indoor track at one of the post gyms earlier in the day so I could get my run over with before my WW meeting at 1730. I decided to go around 1500 so I could get done and get a shower before the meeting. The storms ended up passing over quicker than expected and were out of the area by lunch. I decided to go anyway because I was hoping to shed a few more ounces before my weigh in and not have to worry about running after Maggie and I had pizza after the meeting. (Don't worry, we planned ahead and saved up our points.)

I got to the gym and headed up to the track. I knew it was short but was not prepared for how short. It is 1/16 of a mile. That's really small. It ends up feeling like you are always turning because the straight-a-ways are so short. I hate turning. You lose all or most of your momentum and it just sucks. My intervals were supposed to be 18 and 1. I made it 8 minutes, walked 1 lap and ran the last 8 or so to finish my mile. I walked the 1 minute interval and then jogged a little more finally quitting because I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere and the turning was wearing me out. I got home just in time to grab a shower and head out the door for the meeting. I was not happy with the run so I decided I would try again later that night. If I was tired after one interval, I would stop, if not I would try to actually do the entire workout.

The meeting went well. I lost again and now have lost a little over 10 lbs total in 5 weeks. I think I'm doing pretty good, I'm just hoping I can keep it up for a while. The meeting was about support systems and I bragged on Mac. The leader gave him a "Bravo" sticker because she was impressed by how amazing he has been while I've been trying to find my way. I have missed him terribly this week. I'm so glad he is supposed to be back in time for the 5K next week but I hate that he can't do it with me as we originally planned.(stupid stress fracture) I know this is just a preview of how next year is going to be but hopefully we will have one half marathon under our belts before he leaves this fall.

Anyway, after dinner settled and I caught up an a little TV, I headed out for attempt #2. I knew it was going to be harder since the intervals were 3 minutes longer so I consciously slowed myself down. I found a good pace and stayed there for 18 minutes. I took the 1 minute walk break and was shocked that it was all I needed(if I even needed it). I had no pain and wasn't even close to being out of breath. I started the second interval and my phone rang. It was Mac. I wanted to talk so I did as I ran. It slowed me down a little but not much. It was good to talk to him and I finished my run while we were on the phone. I did it. Thirty-six minutes of running with only a 60 second walking break. I felt great. Was I slow? Hell yes, but I finished it. That is my goal for the 5K. Just finish it with as much running as possible. I don't care that my pace is more than likely going to be slower than some people's walking, all I care about is finishing.


One Week to Go
I can't believe I am just a week away from the 5K.(Dear God, please don't let it get rained out.) Tonight I finished Week 8's workouts with a shorter run. (All weeks end with a lighter workout.) The intervals were 15 and 1 so I knew it wasn't going to be a problem. I picked my pace back up because I knew I could. I ended up with just over a 15 minute mile. I know that is slow, but read the last paragraph of the last post for my thoughts on that. It is a good pace for me. Sunday is going to be my longest run before the race. It is 40 minutes of just running broken up into two 20 minute intervals with a one minute walk break. Part of me has considered just ignoring the walk but I figure I have stuck to the program this far, I might as well see it through. The week's schedule is a little different. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are the same but instead of Wednesday being a rest day, it is a run and then Thursday and Friday are rest days before the race on Saturday. I can't believe I only have 3 workouts left before my first attempt at RUNNING a 5K. I've walked several of them, but never once ran a 5K. (Dear God, please don't let it rain. Actually, I don't care about rain, I just don't want to run through hail and tornadoes.)

I'm pretty sure I am on the right path because it seems like stupid things are starting to go wrong. I feel like most of the time when we are doing the right thing, we face resistance in some way. At first, it was myself. I was so scared of trying and failing that I almost quit. I doubted if it was possible and if I was even worth it. I've finally figured out that it is indeed possible and somewhere deep inside, I feel worthy of the effort. Now that I am out of my own way, stupid things are popping up. I ended up with a nasty little rug burn type of injury on my leg thanks to a tiny whole in my bike shorts that allowed the friction of my nylon running shorts to take a layer or two of skin off. It is exactly the shape and size of the hole so I look like I have a cigarette burn on my thigh. Not really comfortable while running. Then today at the commissary, a box of freaking chocolate( I hate chocolate) fell off of a shelf and landed directly on the corner on top of the 3rd toe of my left foot. I thought nothing of it at the time, except "Damn, that hurt." Tonight while running in my vibrams(remember, separate toe pockets) I felt a pain on top of the same toe. I thought it was just a fold in a seam or something and didn't stop to inspect it. When I got home, it was hurting worse and I looked down to notice blood on the toe of my shoe. Apparently, the box's corner actually cut my toe and the shoe rubbed it until it bled. So like I said, STUPID STUFF. It isn't stopping me from running it is just annoying the hell out of me.

(I just checked the forecast again and the rain is now supposed to be gone by Saturday. Please God, let it stay that way.)

Never have I ever...

I can no longer say that I have never ran a mile non stop. However, before this week, that was true. I had never in my life ran a full mile. Not even in high school PE when it was "required." We only had to complete it in a certain time and that time was long enough that I could walk most of it and still be fine.

I know celebrating a mile seems dumb when I am signed up to run 13 of them next year, but you have to start somewhere. Technically tonight, I actually ran 2 miles though not straight through. My run tonight was two 15 minute intervals with a 1 minute walk in between. I had to swing by the house for a little potty break after the first interval(downside of drinking lots of water) so I had a little break between my miles but I still ran 2 miles.

I'm still a little mystified by this whole process. I can't believe that it is working and that I am actually accomplishing these things. They all seemed so impossible just a few weeks ago. I am starting to get a little more confident with the plan I have for the next year. I know that I will still have bad days and times when I struggle but I am learning that I can push through and accomplish so much more than I ever thought possible.

Just Maybe

Maybe I can actually do this.

Runs like tonight make me think that a 5K in two weeks is possible.

We'll see.

Ok day

I just finished my run. I was slow tonight because I haven't been feeling great today and I haven't hydrated as much as I should. I knew if I pushed too hard I would have to stop and I wanted to at least complete both intervals. I am now down to only doing 2 intervals per run because the times are getting longer. Tonight was 12 and 2. That means I was only running for 24 minutes total instead of the 30 I did on Sunday and Tuesday but that's ok. I completed my intervals(yay!) but only because I slowed myself WAY down. Typically I keep an eye on my watch and my normal pace is 1:40 per side of the block. Tonight I purposely slowed and took 2 minutes per side. I think it is the only reason I was able to do the whole thing. I will run the same intervals tomorrow night but hopefully I will be able to pick up the pace back to normal. I am definitely going to try to get plenty of water tomorrow and hopefully the slightly sick feeling I have had all day will be gone.

Today was not a good day on the scale. I am thinking it has to do with me not feeling well mostly. I'm really hoping next week will be better.

Great run... sucky weather.

That pretty much describes tonight. It actually took 2 tries to get going. When we first left for the run we made it about 100 yards before we had to turn around to put more layers on. Yesterday it was 95 degrees in the afternoon, tonight it was 49 when we left the house. The wind was horrible and it was misting rain.

After adding a few layers and a failed attempt at taking my husband's picture in his goggles and face mask, we headed out again. It was tough because of the wind and cold but from a strictly running standpoint, it went really well. I ran a total of 30 minutes tonight. Absolutely the longest and farthest I have ever gone with a combined distance of 1.95 miles.(Had I known during the run, I would have gone the last .05) My pace was better than I expected but still pretty slow. I don't care as long I can complete my run intervals. The breakdown for my three intervals were .68m with a 14:40 pace, .63 with 15:54 pace and .64 with 15:38. The wind slowed me down a lot in the last 2 intervals. I don't really care though because I am under the pace requirement for the half still and I am sure I will only get faster as I continue to train.

I'm really feeling optimistic after tonight. I am glad that I am seeing the hard work start to pay off and realize that the running plan is working and they know what they are "talking" about. Every time I see the run interval times jump up, I get nervous but when I go out and try it, I can do it. It is just hard to wrap my head around it since I have never been a runner before. It's nights like this that make me think I really can do this.



And yes, I heard the good news about Osama. We received a text from a friend after my first run interval. I'm very happy but still a little worried about what the next few weeks hold as a result. Proud Army wife tonight.