This week has been better than last. Tuesday I had an appointment so I went to it prepared to do some town running if I could. It was about 3 o'clock and about 40 degrees so I stopped and parked in one of the college lots. I started running using a 140 steps per minute Podrunner podcast to keep me moving. 140 is not very fast, but I was able to keep it up for almost 1 mile through the rolling streets of Athens. I walked some and ran some more after that and in the end finished about 3 1/2 miles.
Interesting point for me is that my heart rate did not hit the max that I have seen in the past. I did probably average in the 170 or 90% of max range while I was running, but overall I averaged 163 or 85% for the day. I need to get out there on a much more regular basis, but really don't like anything less than 40 degrees. Saturday I rode bike for an hour.
Today I was supposed to go to Bluefield and run with the running club, but I hadn't heard anything from them and didn't want to drive all the way down there to find out it was postponed due to the cold. It almost hit 40, but the wind was blowing a lot, it was cold out there! Just keep moving I tell myself, but that is more than I want to deal with so I didn't go. It is not worth the gas at the moment. Next month is supposed to be in Athens, so that is no problem.
Tomorrow is back to the Total Gym and bike. Just have to do it, right? LOL keep up the good work out there. You all inspire me in ways - I would have quit by now without you!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Rebuilding Season
So this was a... shall we say "relaxing" week? LOL
Ok, I procrastinated my cardio experiences to the evenings and then only made it onto the bike one time - and that was on Friday, but for an hour and a half! I was supposed to do 7 miles outside on Saturday, but that didn't happen because of the cold.
Then I read this article, it is from the NY Times and titled "Too Cold to Exercise? Try Another Excuse". Made me feel really guilty about not going out, because I know that it is all true.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/health/nutrition/17BEST.html?ex=1358312400&en=46302a5f35a35a61&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Today isn't going to happen either so let's start again on Monday. I have been eating better. I started keeping track of what I eat over at SparkPeople. Some days are off the chart and other days are within the range. I think I have a handle on that now so maybe after this week off I can get a running start at another 25 pound lost. At least I have been maintaining and not gaining!
I need to get my motivation back instead of staying happy at this weight. Looking at the progress made by my friend Jenny ought to work! She has all but disappeared from photos - LOL You almost look like a different person!
I have races to run and I won't be able to do it if I don't lose some more weight.
The plan for every day:
1. Use the stairs as often as possible
2. Walk at least 2 miles at lunch
3. Walk/Run or Bike for an hour after work
4. Keep track of calories and portion control
Next week will be a better report. I promise!
Ok, I procrastinated my cardio experiences to the evenings and then only made it onto the bike one time - and that was on Friday, but for an hour and a half! I was supposed to do 7 miles outside on Saturday, but that didn't happen because of the cold.
Then I read this article, it is from the NY Times and titled "Too Cold to Exercise? Try Another Excuse". Made me feel really guilty about not going out, because I know that it is all true.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/health/nutrition/17BEST.html?ex=1358312400&en=46302a5f35a35a61&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Today isn't going to happen either so let's start again on Monday. I have been eating better. I started keeping track of what I eat over at SparkPeople. Some days are off the chart and other days are within the range. I think I have a handle on that now so maybe after this week off I can get a running start at another 25 pound lost. At least I have been maintaining and not gaining!
I need to get my motivation back instead of staying happy at this weight. Looking at the progress made by my friend Jenny ought to work! She has all but disappeared from photos - LOL You almost look like a different person!
I have races to run and I won't be able to do it if I don't lose some more weight.
The plan for every day:
1. Use the stairs as often as possible
2. Walk at least 2 miles at lunch
3. Walk/Run or Bike for an hour after work
4. Keep track of calories and portion control
Next week will be a better report. I promise!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Checking the Mail
I decided to go check the mail today. The 2.78 mile walk to the Post Office in Athens was an adventure. There wasn't even any mail! And then I had to walk back! Yes, MP, I even ran some of it. Ok, only the first minute from the bottom of the big hill, but a good chunk of the flatter parts and down the big hill. I finished the 5 1/2 miles in 1 hr and 35 minutes. Not fast, but my speed like usual.
I am expecting a package from Road ID, hopefully it will come in soon. I have some races coming up not to mention some other country roads that I want to explore and having a wrist ID will be good. Plus I ordered a blinker light that attaches to clothing for safety in case I get caught out after dark. Take a look at their website sometime. http://roadid.com/Common/default.aspx
There wasn't much traffic out on the road and the dogs at the cinderblock house weren't too much trouble, mostly barking and following me to the edge of "their" property. I didn't run past there though. I just tell them "QUIET" and they stop for a second.
Funny how we say we won't be doing something like running out on the road and then one day we do it anyway. Want to know where I was run/walking? Check the map at the bottom of the page. That feature is kind of fun. I will leave this one until I find a more interesting route, probably next weekend when I do the Creek. Keep moving!
I am expecting a package from Road ID, hopefully it will come in soon. I have some races coming up not to mention some other country roads that I want to explore and having a wrist ID will be good. Plus I ordered a blinker light that attaches to clothing for safety in case I get caught out after dark. Take a look at their website sometime. http://roadid.com/Common/default.aspx
There wasn't much traffic out on the road and the dogs at the cinderblock house weren't too much trouble, mostly barking and following me to the edge of "their" property. I didn't run past there though. I just tell them "QUIET" and they stop for a second.
Funny how we say we won't be doing something like running out on the road and then one day we do it anyway. Want to know where I was run/walking? Check the map at the bottom of the page. That feature is kind of fun. I will leave this one until I find a more interesting route, probably next weekend when I do the Creek. Keep moving!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
End of Year Report
Well, 2007 ended up with me 20 pounds lighter, 7 minutes faster on my 5K, overall healthier, and much more motivated to keep this trend going than when the year started.
This is how my year went. I completed 157.2 miles in 2,823.5 minutes, which is an 18 minute average. Not very far or very fast, but plenty of room for improvement.
January through June were no help at all since they included little to no exercise and a rather bad attitude.
July through mid-August were the beginning of getting healthy. I read an article about a group that "walked" to Baghdad as a way to support the troops. I decided to use the office building steps to do the same thing. I found a map that said it was 6,432 miles from my town to Baghdad and did the math to determine that I would have to do 107.2 flights of stairs to reach my goal. I started with 17 flights and added more every week until six weeks later I had done it and was down 6 pounds to boot!
I took about a week to find another goal and finally decided to start walk/running. The first day I walked out and back on my 1/10th of a mile driveway, it took about 15 minutes. Then I marked out a 1/5 mile circle in a hayfield and started walk/running. A mile and a half of that took me 30 minutes. About a month after that I started circling the edges of three rolling hayfields. Three miles of that took me 75 minutes.
In November, due to the weather I started using the equipment in the fitness room. Unfortunately, I started pushing myself a bit too hard and hurt my knee. I also quit losing weight about then. I can run and walk further than ever, but I quit burning calories.
In December I started looking for ways to fix the problem. In the end I have decided to slow down the pace, but not the miles. I am still walking those hayfields. Yesterday I finished four and a half slow, but 70% heart rate managed miles.
I do have a schedule to follow, in January I have to do six miles, February is seven miles, March is 8 miles, and so on. I also plan to complete my first 10K (6 miles) race in March and a Half Marathon (13 miles) in September. I have a lot of miles to do before I get there though.
I am also going back to the basics. The stairs are coming back into my day and I will be doing very light work in the fitness room at lunch, then more after work, or come home to the hayfields or bike. Long and slow. Everyday.
This is how my year went. I completed 157.2 miles in 2,823.5 minutes, which is an 18 minute average. Not very far or very fast, but plenty of room for improvement.
January through June were no help at all since they included little to no exercise and a rather bad attitude.
July through mid-August were the beginning of getting healthy. I read an article about a group that "walked" to Baghdad as a way to support the troops. I decided to use the office building steps to do the same thing. I found a map that said it was 6,432 miles from my town to Baghdad and did the math to determine that I would have to do 107.2 flights of stairs to reach my goal. I started with 17 flights and added more every week until six weeks later I had done it and was down 6 pounds to boot!
I took about a week to find another goal and finally decided to start walk/running. The first day I walked out and back on my 1/10th of a mile driveway, it took about 15 minutes. Then I marked out a 1/5 mile circle in a hayfield and started walk/running. A mile and a half of that took me 30 minutes. About a month after that I started circling the edges of three rolling hayfields. Three miles of that took me 75 minutes.
In November, due to the weather I started using the equipment in the fitness room. Unfortunately, I started pushing myself a bit too hard and hurt my knee. I also quit losing weight about then. I can run and walk further than ever, but I quit burning calories.
In December I started looking for ways to fix the problem. In the end I have decided to slow down the pace, but not the miles. I am still walking those hayfields. Yesterday I finished four and a half slow, but 70% heart rate managed miles.
I do have a schedule to follow, in January I have to do six miles, February is seven miles, March is 8 miles, and so on. I also plan to complete my first 10K (6 miles) race in March and a Half Marathon (13 miles) in September. I have a lot of miles to do before I get there though.
I am also going back to the basics. The stairs are coming back into my day and I will be doing very light work in the fitness room at lunch, then more after work, or come home to the hayfields or bike. Long and slow. Everyday.
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