A Whole Bunch of 5Ks!

Well, YIPPIE, Trish has rejoined the game! We met up 4 days last week, and I worked out 6 days in a row! I pushed myself hard, doing 5K 3 days last week. Turns out I sort of over did it, because Friday's workout was really really hard, and Saturday I was so deeply fatigued, it took most of Sunday to recover too!

Today I am back at it, and I even ran another 5K today. I guess I can do the WL run now. blah

Break is Over

I went to the gym last night, a bit late due to summer happenings around the house, but I went. And I ran.

I did over 2.5 miles, but I did it in quarter-mile increments. I suck on the treadmill. I kept saying to myself, "I'm not doing the WL 5K," cause I hate running! We'll see. I need another motivation boost. Its been 6 months of diet and exercise. Blah!

Need Trish to re-join the game. Well, we'll see how life eases up for her after the triplet's graduation party Saturday. Are ya ready Trish? Kim ... how's your effort going? And I wont even ask Rachelle!! hahahaha

Apparently I've Taken a Break!

Haven't worked out since Thursday. This summer break is going to throw a wrench in my plans, I can see it already!

200 Squats

So, a FB friend posted a link about 200 Squats. I was intrigued, so I investigated. (I'm beginning to think I have a "fitness" problem/obsession! har!) Anyway, it is a method to get you into shape. I noticed an "initial test" to see how fit you are prior to beginning the program, and decided to take it myself.

The test was simple: do as many good squats as possible. So I make sure I am doing a correct "good squat" according to their instructions, and begin squating and counting. 1, 2, 3, 4, .... 22, 23, 24, .... 45, 46, 47, .... 63, 64, (I am feeling it a bit, but really not too bad), 72, 73, ... "Mom, can you help ....." So I stop at 73. Now I was tired and a bit "winded" but really by half-mile running I am feeling much worse!

So, feeling a bit bummed that I was interrupted, I decided to check my score on the chart anyway. I found my age (over 40 - always fun!) and the highest number was "over 31." Apparently if you can do more than 31 squats at my age you are in, get this, EXCELLENT shape! Me?!? Well, I am over 40 now :)

So I look at the youngest category, Under 30. Of course I am not going to rate so awesome with the young set. Ummm, well wait. Over 41 squats is listed as excellent for the under 30 crowd.

Really? Huh. Go figure. Old lady legs are doing pretty good, apparently.

Should I Start Up Again?

I'm meeting Trish, in like 30 minutes, at the gym tonight. I'm wondering if I should start up the 5K program again. Yes, I know I have already done a 5K, but I still have room for improvement ... like running the whole entire thing! (yea, right, as if!) So if I pick up where I left off I can either do 3/1.5, 5/2.5, 3 OR 5/3, 5/3, 5. But you know, I do more than that outside, so hmmmmmm .... must think about this a bit.

In the meantime, I need to work on finishing the next 5K in under 40! 39 ish is my goal. Run run run ....

Have I mentioned that I really do not like running??

I Wish I Had Longer Leggs

I have these short stubby legs, and my running stride is just short and thus slow. If I stride out longer it is just a lot more work, and not efficient. My 11:30 min mile pace is my natural pace, and I think that is all I'll ever do.

Oh yea, and longer legs sure would look nicer too! And pants would not be constantly too long on me. I'm not asking for much, just another 2 inches or so. 32" legs would nice!! If I stretch, I just barely make 30". And I'm 68' tall folks! That's short!

Oh yea, my 4' 8 year-old has legs almost as long as mine. Seriously!

I wish I had longer legs. Just saying .... that's all.

New Run

So, I just got back from my "new running route." (Still hot and sweaty!) I am now running my usual 2 mile route, but then continuing on back to the path and a bit more. My goal was to add another half mile to my daily run, and turns out I added .64 miles to it - good estimating Kay!

That last 100yrds of my new run was hard today!! I ran a mile and quarter non-stop. I suppose I could have run more; I was breathing hard, but quickly recovered, and very soon my legs felt like they could run and should be running. So I continued on after maybe a minute of walking. Since I was trying for more than 2 miles today, I did not want to tire myself out prematurely. During the 5K on Monday, I really felt tired around 2.25-2.5 miles. I guess that is the hump I have to get over now. I've been completing 2 miles for a long time now. Time to up that distance!

Todays Workout

I am beginning the training to run my 5K in under 40 mins. So today I did the elliptical. I can go farther and faster on the elliptical than I can running. The weird thing, however, is that today was the second time I set the machine for 45 mins, but it only gave me 30 mins. Go figure.

Anyway, today I managed to do 3.13 miles in 35 minutes. Not too bad! I really pushed myself the last 5 minutes of the workout, but I survived OK. The really amazing thing is that I recover so quickly now. My heart rate finally reached 140 (my goal) during the last 30 seconds, and within a minute of my ending the workout and doing the 5 minute cool-down my heart rate was 118 again. Cool, I'm officially getting into shape!

Tomorrow I am going to run. Not sure what (Oh no!! Rocky is playing on TV and I hear the theme song coming up!! eeeeekk!) what I am going to do, but I need to push myself a bit harder! I want to have a better time come July, and I also want to get some more of this weight off me! Like ... maybe another 5-7 pounds. It is just over 4 weeks away, and weight is not coming off easily now, so I'll be gentle with myself! :)

Bigger & Better Goals

So, I have goals to run another 5K. July 4th in Whitmore Lake to be precise! So ... I'd better start training myself to run a full 5K; I have 5 weeks! I think I can shave 3 mins off my time.

So, I am making it official - I want to run my next 5K in 39ish mins. OK, here goes some training now folks.....