Beginning

Sometimes I wonder why I'm doing this. Why I'm even attempting running, and then the even more absurd: WHY am I sharing this with cyberspace?!

I'm a beginner.

I'm learning that beginner and "being really pathetic" seem to have the same meaning. If you are optimistic, "beginner" may also mean you simply have a lot to learn. Either way, the picture isn't the prettiest.

But you are welcome to come along and try it out with me or just follow my journey if it amuses you. If any of you ANYWHERE have tips, tricks, or hints, they would be happily welcomed.

My workouts and the inspiration for this whole crazy mess came from the book Running for Mortals by John "The Penguin" Bingham. He makes it sound like you don't have to have 1% body fat to be a runner. He made it sound like even I could do it.

So I decided to try.

And I think one of the motivating factors that keeps me going is to see how far I've come from my first workout. I don't want to EVER start back at square one, because it was SO humiliating. So it's best to keep on going if I don't ever want to start back there. And I NEVER want to be back there.

Of course, where I am now isn't exactly at the top, but I'm getting somewhere. I'll keep going along. I really do recommend Mr.Bingham's book if you want to start out. I loved it. I'm currently following the Run-Walk workout guide to train for a 5k. Mr. Bingham himself "The Penguin" because when he started running, he claims he didn't run, he waddled. If he is a penguin, then I figure I am a tortoise. Slow and steady will win the race. I might not be the first to cross the finish line, but I WILL cross it.

One. Step. At. A. Time.

5/2/11

Yeah, I took a week off so I could spring clean my house and do some other jobs that have suffered because I've been in school. Not such a great idea, but I did it anyways.

So today, I started my "official" training. This means I run EVERY Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. NO more ridiculously long breaks between runs. It also means that I step it up.

TODAY SUCKED.

HARD.

I tried to run all 3 minutes of the repetitions at 6.0 mph. Tried being the key word in that sentence. It was not pretty. On rep 4, I decreased it to 4.0 mph. Plus, the 2nd and 3rd repetitions I stepped to the side and held the rails for about 30-40 seconds each time. Yeah, Jillian was not pleased (See 4/7/11 post). I feel like I totally SUCK. Will I ever have a good day running? One which I feel like I'm not dying and where I might (heaven forbid!) ENJOY it?!? Oh, one other little addition I forgot to mention, I also had the incline at 1.0. But, I'll keep trying.

NO. MORE. SLACKING.

GT:
35:01 min
2.440 mi
333 kcal
123 vert feet.

Here we go!

4/25/11

Did 4/16 workout EXCEPT:

2nd rep:
1st min: 6.0 mph
2nd min: 6.0 mph
3rd min: 6.o mph
Had to hold the rails and step to the side for a min...sad, I know.

AND

5th rep:
1st min: 5.5 mph
2nd min: 5.5 mph
3rd min: 5.0 mph

I forgot to write down my grand total, oops. But it was probably sort of similar to past GT's.

4/22/11

HAPPY GRADUATION TO ME!!! I graduate from college today with my AS in NURSING. I'm dang proud and excited.

I ran back in my hometown with my sister. It was probably only about 1 mile, but I learned some important things. Running outside and running indoors on the treadmill are two different worlds. COMPLETELY.
And, it is much better to have a sister's company when you are running. :)

4/19/11

Did 4/16 workout

GT:
32:42 min
2.257 mi
290 kcal

Yeah, today, I really kind of wasn't in the mood. I wanted to go shopping for GRADUATION, and I did! Some days, I'm just happy my feet made it to the treadmill.

4/16/11

Did 4/11 workout EXCEPT:

3rd rep:
1st min: 5.0 mph
2nd min: 5.o mph
3rd min: 5.o mph
WALK all 2 min @ 3.5 mph.

GT: 35:01
2.467 mi
322 kcal

4/11/11

FINALS WEEK. ( . . )
O
Did 4/7 workout- I only held the rails for 30 seconds though! A definite improvement. Hooray- and I also had a visit from Aunt Flo- so, I CAN run while she's visiting.

GT:
35:01 min
2.444 mi
318 kcal

4/7/11

Did 3/5 workout, EXCEPT:

1st rep:
1st min: 6.0 mph
2nd min 6.0 mph
3rd min 6.0 mph
WALK 2 min at 3.5 mph

This was similar to my very first run because I had to step to the side and use the rails. Whenever this happens, I always hear Jillian Michaels from NBC's The Biggest Loser, screaming at me to let go of the !#@$ rails and start running. Lucky me to have such a lovely voice resound in my head as I die on a treadmill. SUCKY. But it was hard to breathe at some points and my legs felt like Jell-O. I feel so pathetic! I feel like I should be able to do more, otherwise how in the world am I going to be able to complete a 10K in the fall?! FAIL.

GT:
38:01 min
2.516 mi
322 kcal

4/5/11

Walked 5 miles today while listening to a History lecture. It took me approximately 2 hours and I burned 500 kcal.

3/31/11

Did 3/29 workout, but at the end I DIDN'T walk 2 min @ 4.0 and 1 min @ 4.5, I just cooled down instead.

Grand Total:
36:01 min
2.374 mi
300 kcal

Feeling rather pathetic today, it was hard doing this, and I still feel the pressure to up my workout!

3/29/11

I think I may have a few running days between this date and the former....I was doing my capstone/preceptorship at the hospital at this time and there really wasn't a lot of time to run. :(

Did 3/5/11 workout- walk ALL 2min walk times @ 3.5 mph.

Grand Total:
35:35 min
2.438 mi
318 kcal

3/8/11

I did 3/5/11 workout, but it was SO hard today. I think reversing the rest days was a bad idea. The minutes I spent running seemed forever long and the walking time wasn't long enough. I also watched TV as I ran today, and didn't have my music going. I think music is the best for me.

BLEH!!!!!!!

3/5/11

1st rep: Same as 1st workout
2nd rep: Same as 1st workout

3rd Rep:
1st min: 4.5 mph
2nd min: 4.5 mph
3rd min: 4.5 mph
WALK 2 min at 3.5 mph

4th rep: Same as 2nd workout -WALK 2min at 3.0 mph
5th rep: same as 2nd workout- WALK 2 min at 3.5 mph
Then walk 2 min @ 4.0 mph, one min @ 4.5 mph for 300 kcal. Cool down for 5 min.

Grand Total (after cool down)
38:03 min
2.491 mi
324 kcal

I was SO tired at the beginning of this workout. *!@# Iron deficient anemia!! BUT not only did i DO it, I 'upped" one repetition. Conclusion: Being tired isn't an excuse NOT to run.

3/2/11

1st rep: Same as first workout
2nd rep: Same as 1st workout
3rd rep: Same as 1st workout

4th Rep:
1st min: 5.0 mph
2nd min: 5.0 mph
3rd min: 5.0 mph
WALK 2 min at 3.5 mph

5th Rep:
1st min: 5.5 mph
2nd min: 5.0 mph
3rd min: 4.5 mph
WALK 2 min at 3.0 mph
At this point, time was 33:30 min and calories burned was 270. I walked the rest to burn 300 kcal @ 3.7 mph and 4.0 mph.

Grand Total:
35:05 min
2.296 distance
307 kcal

First Run

2/28/11

Five minute warm-up walking at 3.5 mph.
1st min: 6.0 mph
2nd min: 5.5 mph
3rd min: 5.0 mph
WALK 2 min at 4.0 mph
1st min: 5.0 mph
2nd min: 5.0 mph
3rd min: 5.0 mph
WALK 2 min at 3.0 mph

The third, fourth and fifth repetitions went as follows:
1st min: 4.0 mph
2nd min: 4.0 mph
3rd min 4.0 mph
WALK 2 min at 3.0 mph
Cool down: I wanted at least 300 kcal burned evenly, I walked until then.

Grand Total:
37:12 min
2.278 miles
300 kcal

One day I'll look back and be awed at my humble beginning compared to where I am now. But, it was just that-a beginning.