Week o' excuses

I know this is supposed to be a blog dedicated to my training, but, since it's supposed to be a "warts and all" representation of my life, I must now admit that I am a bad person, but I think my excuses are justified. First off, the new puppy. What a handful - but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I wanted to have bonding time with her again (my poor husband tried to juggle her and work for the whole day, so I took him off her hands so he could go to the gym. I hate putting her in the crate if I don't have to.) So we played with the "Heave-A-Beaver" (best dog toy name EVER!) for a while last night, in an attempt to tire her out so she'd go to sleep (unfortunately, this mission was not a success!) Just warming up for my excuses for not going to the gym tonight, in case I don't make it...I think I got about 3 hours of sleep last night - after the dog took a break from crying, barking and generally making Paul and I feel horrible for locking her up! To top it off, I'm a little "under the weather", as females are prone to be - if you catch my drift. Add to this the fact that we are going to most likely have company tonight - some very special refugees from New Orleans - my sister and her boyfriend (and their 2 dogs!) - hope they aren't coming to sleep! Actually, just like everyone else in N'awlins, they are currently homeless and are on the way to Naples to stay with the folks for a while and wanted to stop by. I rarely get to see my youngest sis, and haven't met the boyfriend (although he's gotten rave reviews from the rest of the family), so I would be a horrid sis if I didn't welcome her to the "house of squalor" for a visit!

So anyway...save an extended walk with Boo (I'd walk to California right now to get her to sleep through the night!), may not make it tonight. Due to bad weather, our weekend trek to Savannah has been cancelled, so at least I can make up for lost time and get back on track! Dave (big bro) gave me his book he used to train for Disney last year, so I can read that too and get inspired even more!

Whew...long post, huh? Next time I'll get back to the nitty gritty and write about how I'm kicking butt again!

My new running partner

I have been remiss in updating my exploits, but we were travelling again (Atlanta...did get to work out Saturday, did a 25 minute run...4 minutes running and one minute walking - but, hey, I am working out!) Yesterday we got our puppy, Boo, so last night was devoted to bonding. Tonight, after we get everything that could be construed as a chew toy out of puppy reach level, I am definitely off to the gym!

How Fitz got her groove back

Recap:
Wednesday - tried to run...hit the wall...at least I did a little weight training. I was so depressed, but too fatigued to really deal with it. Truly sad. That's all I have to say about that.

Thursday - much better! Ran/walked 3 miles, pretty good pace (under 13 minute mile). This was my first group training session and it was so beneficial to me. I got to see that I wasn't as pokey and sluggish as I thought I was. I even came in first out of my group for one run! Learned not to bounce up and down so much as I run (bad habit - my knees are already happier I stopped that!) I even met some very nice people. Came home sweaty and pooped, but felt so good. No i-pod tunes today, only thing running through my head was thoughts of not embarassing myself and pushing myself without overdoing it. Yay!

Eye of the Tree Sloth

Workout: 25 minute easy run (21 min. run - 4 minutes walking) with 5 min. warm-up and 10 minute cool down - PLUS a yoga session with Geri Halliwell (on DVD)
Time: 4.5 mph/13.3 minute mile
Knees: Delightful
Ego: Destroyed

This is hard! I guess I (Miss Type A) was hoping to be running like a champ after 2 weeks. The fact that I ran almost 10 minutes before taking a walk break should be a feather in my cap, but I still feel like a complete wussbag. But, at the pace I am currently going, I will still be able to finish the race in less than the 3.5 hours we're allotted (I will kill myself if I don't finish and have to endure the humiliation of being picked up and driven to the finish line!) I just have to keep going. And I will - I'm stubborn when I need to be, and if there was ever a time I needed to be, it's now! At least I've knocked off a few lbs. that I gained on vacation and got in a good yoga workout (need to do that more often.) I loved the actual Geri workout DVD, but - as much as I love her - the artist formerly known as Ginger Spice needs to shut up during the workout. How annoying! I used to take a spin class where the instructor insisted on not only yammering on for the whole hour but had the nerve to ask us questions while we worked out (all of my energy is concentrated on not passing out or falling off the bike, so I have no time or interest in chit-chat!) But, I digress. Tonight is 30 minutes of running - yikes! As always, I'll keep you posted, dear readers.

Let the (Mind) Games Begin...

Scheduled workout: 20 min easy run, 10 minute fast pace
Actual workout: 21 minute easy run (with 4 minutes of walking breaks)
2.86 miles
13 minute mile (avg. speed 4.5 mph)

I'm a wimp!
It's awful to find that out. A week away from running has killed me! I am a cardio machine on the elliptical trainer (45 minutes up and down hills without a break) and a 25 minute run kills me! My knees feel ok, but my mind is the body part that is going to give me the most problems! I had to keep pushing and pushing myself, and I know I can do 25 minutes running - I just got out of breath a few times. I will overcome. I think I started running too fast, after a week of inactivity and ungodly amount of food consumption (damn you funnel cake!) Going to make up and do the 20/10 run tonight, but I expect I may have to take a little break somewhere in there. Again, thanks, i-Pod! last nights selections included "Wildside" by Crue, "Le Freak" by Chic, "Bag it Up" by Geri Halliwell and "Going Underground" by The Jam. I will comply the ultimate running mix by the end of my training - that's for sure!

UGH!

Ok. Bet my loyal audience (all 2 of you) were wondering where I've gone off to. Well, I was on my summer vacation. Beach, theme parks and more food than any human should ever consume in the course of a week (I am now addicted to Wawa soft pretzels!) So now, I feel like Kirstie Alley (before Jenny Craig)! This also means I have to amp up my training - big time! I got my official TNT training schedule while I was away. It has me flat-out running, no intervals. I am going to try (after a stop at Sports Authority for some new knee braces) and make it through a half-hour of running after work tonight. I'll let you know how that goes!

Surprises

Well, got a surprise donation from a very unexpected source this morning...my sister's ex-hubby. Thanks, Mike! You rock like a hurricane! Also got a donation from Aunt Terry and Uncle Rich - kudos to you as well!

Now for the rest of you...

My evening training went well. I'm just a hair over a 12 minute mile, but I had to run in front of my husband tonight which was stressful enough! (He's never seen me run - athletically - he has seen me run for that last inari sushi at Crazy Buffet though! Crazy Buffet...mmmm....where am I going here?) Oh yes, 3.25 miles tonight, and I could have kept on going, so that's encouraging. I am discovering the theraputic benefits of running/walking - had a stressful day today (no reason in particular) and stress just melted away on the treadmill. Must give major props to Apple - don't know if I could get through these early days sans i-Pod! I'm sure I am amusing my fellow workout-ers at Gold's as they watch me lip-synch such hits as "The Bitch is Back" (Elton) and "You Want This" (Janet Jackson). I also got to enjoy such varied delights as "Let Me Clear My Throat" (DJ Kool) and "Banana Phone"(?) tonight!

Thursday is (realistically) my last workout for a week. We're going to New Jersey to spend time with family, and I am majorly guilty of going into "I'm on vacation" mode (I am going to have my first authentic Philly cheese steak, for goodness sake. I'm sure the grease coma will last a few days for that alone!) So until Thursday...

First week down!

Well, I was supposed to run on Saturday, but I had a little too much "fun" on Friday. So I did make good on my promise to run 3 times this past week, and ran on Sunday. Same time - 12.5 minute mile (I'd just like to get to the 9 minute mile I was able to run in high school) 40 minutes and good warm up/cool down and stretching. Knees feel pretty good (thank God) but right ankle feeling a little puny. Hamstrings are better and no foot cramps at night!

Fundraising is going really slowly - I hate to be a nudge, so I am going to have to find some other outlets for obtaining the dough to get to the race. It would really stink if I went through all this training for nothing! (Thanks Colleen!) Well, not for nothing...maybe I can drop a few lbs if nothing else - and prove to myself that I can overcome a little discomfort and run my tush off!

Training Day 2 - Haven't Quit Yet!

Time: 40 minutes
12.5 minute mile (!)

Legs are sore again, but it hurts so good! I feel good - it feels like I could keep going beyind the 40 minutes, but I don't want too push too hard yet - don't want to get injured this early on.

Let's talk about music for a moment. I don't think I could do this (training) without my i-Pod. In fact, I don't know how I've been able to manage all these years without one! Using the shuffle mode has actually resulted in a pretty good soundtrack for my endeavors last night. Here are some of the songs from last night that I may have to add to my permanent running playlist:

- "Who Do You Want to Be Today" - Oingo Boingo. I can't drive when this song is on, because it makes me want to drive really fast! It works great for running though!
- "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" - The Ramones. Anything by the Ramones is great to run to.
- "Keep on Runnin'" - Journey. With all the emphasis on Billy Squier's "She's A Runner", I forgot all about this one! Helps me keep tempo.
- "Apollo 9" - Adam Ant. Counting in songs is always helpful when running.
- "Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head" & "The Lady is a Tramp"- They Might Be Giants and "Enid" - Barenaked Ladies. Quirky is always good.

Tomorrow is my third and last running workout for my first week. I am increasingly proud of myself!

No pain? No worries!

Aww yeah...that's what I'm talkin' 'bout...
Woke up yesterday AM, after my first running workout, and had no sore muscles. I thought that odd...maybe I didn't work out hard enough? I was a little "under the weather" yesterday, so I left work early and spent the day with some old friends - Judges Milian, Mathis and Judy (we all hung out quite a bit when I was unemployed...but - I digress...). As I vegetated on the couch, I found it increasingly hard to get comfortable. Hmmm...legs are getting a little sore. Had trouble getting comfy when I decided to move my act to the bed. This morning I woke up in full stiff/sore mode. This is gong to sound sick, but I was really happy! One of the big reasons was because my knees didn't hurt - just hamstrings and calves. Yay! Tonight I am going back for training day 2, and I hope to be sore again tomorrow!

Day One - Still Here!

Time: 40 minutes (including warm up and cool down)
Distance: 2.75 miles (approx.)
14 minute mile

Well, I strapped on my new sneakers and hit the treadmill. My knees perfomed beautifully. Sweat like a maniac, but that's good - kind of like a baptism! I ran alongside my new running buddy Ty (another unfortunate soul who found herself in Hooterville!) I am definitley not competitive when it comes to running - my only opponent is myself - and it's going to be tough to keep up with myself. Just have to be slow and steady so I can make it to January with 2 functional knees. I feel good!

Got sneakers?

Ok, my list of excuses for not starting my training has just gotten shorter. I plunked down $90 on Saturday for some cool, turbo sneakers. I am (honestly) going to the gym tonight for my first treadmill workout. I am going to look like "queen of the dorks" with 2 knee braces and an ankle brace, but it's better to be cautious than back in the quickie surgery center for the third time! Going to set up a run mix on the old i-Pod. Hard rock, with my theme song "She's A Runner" by Billy Squier. 40 minutes tonight. I'll let you know how it goes!