Resting - But why?

I am still on a slight hiatus as my calf recovers from whatever it is I did while running in my flip flops. It was sore on Monday and seemed better yesterday afternoon... but then towards the evening and now this morning I have a burning sensation right where it "cramped" before. It's not a comforting feeling but I'll ice it down and continue to "massage" it with a soup can :) That's what the experts say helps so I'm souping it up!

I also have already had a close call in slipping on ice... I forgot how much it sucks to walk outside with a bum knee. It's like all that confidence, control and steady support you used to have flies right out the door as the snow falls. It's such a weird sensation to feel your joint wiggle and warn you that another twist like that could spell out imminent danger! Danger Will Robinson, Danger!

I just wanted to wish everyone safe travels through out this holiday season! I might play tons of catch up on the workout over break on my parents treadmill... thats if the ancient thing still works ;)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Day 2 of Week 4 doing Week 5's workout :)

Get it? ;) First thing to remember is that I'm doing week 5's workout in place of my Week 4 one due to technical issues. Second, this post is in reference to Saturday's workout.

The lady switched the routine up on me AGAIN and this workout was even more of a change, AH! I went from five minutes runs on Wednesday of last week, to eight minute runs this weekend... big jump. Add that to the fact that the weight room is super de dooper hot, I got dizzy/faint the second eight minute run and had to slow down to a walk... not a good thing in my opinion. I'm going to ask for the temperature to be lowered tonight so I can actually complete my routine with out feeling like a failure.

On a funny side note, I managed to get a KILLER cramp in my calf when running to the mall due to rain... I was wearing flip flops if that helps ;) After limping around the mall looking like a total DB, I managed to exude even more gracefulness last night. I feel down the stairs, bashed my nose on a ladder and skinned up my knee.

BUT girlfriend here installed a whole ten foot closet organizer all by myself :) AND it was still attached to the wall and was holding all my clothes this morning when I woke up. WIN!



10 days until Christmas vacation begins!

Week 5's workout in place of Week 4 = Crampy feet, sweat and headaches

Monday didn't happen... obviously. I had previous plans and a slight headache. Usually slight headaches turn into barfing migraines when I workout, and I don't like to run and spew, sooo skipping seemed like the only option.

Wednesday rolled around and I was basically obligated to work harder to make up for my Monday miss. As the title of this post so confusingly puts it... Week 4? Week 5? Did you run both? Why would you do that? Lucy, you have some splaining to do!

I started listening to my Week 4 podcast and low and behold the creator forgot to insert the little tidbits that tell you when to run and when to walk. Since I'm ADD to begin with I knew this wouldn't work for me. I had come to a fork in the road. To the left was Week 3 jumping up and down yelling "Pick me, pick me! I'm easy and you only have to run for 3 minutes at the most! Ohhh pick me!" On the right was Week 5 staring at me through not so happy eyes mumbling "Dude, if you pick me you're gonna have to run for 5 minutes three times in a row. Do you really want to go there?"

Staring longly in Week 3's direction, I found my fingers playing Week 5's workout instead... go me! NOT! There are reasons other than 5 minute runs that this work out sucked. I was using some new shoes that were given to me by my cousin. I don't know why, but my feet cramped up like woah bad in them. I might give them another try, but all I did was concentrate on how they hurt and it seemed to make the work out take that much longer.

The work out was as follows: 5 minute warm up, 5 minutes running, 3 minutes walking for 3 cycles followed by a 5 minute cool down. Not too bad for all you in shape running folk. I did the first run without too much difficulty but the last two were challenging with crampy feet. I finished and was super sweaty, hot and red. Then I got a headache... which I still have right now. Woot woot.

Overall skipping Week 4 and going straight to Week 5 wasn't too hard. :) I guess I'll see ya Friday after I go for a second dose of it!

TGIF Week 3 Day 3!

Today was another first people. Stop what you are doing and sit down... this is big news.

I ran on a treadmill voluntarily.

There, I said it, or did it depending on how you see it. :) I caved and stayed in the warmth of indoors. My condo complex has a small workout room with a few treadmills and other machines. Surprisingly no one was in there and I had the place to myself, which I prefer. I have to say it was a much easier and pleasant experience not freezing my ass off while enjoying mother nature's frozen precipitation.

I feel like I still run incorrectly, the front of my legs get really tired extremely fast. I know it's probably from running on my toes or something strange like that... sucks to know that for three years in band I ran on my toes because "that's how we run", it's more graceful, blah blah blah. I hope one day I'll walk and run like a normal person, til that happens, easily tired legs here I come.

This weekend brings two long days at the OG in hopes that all of Columbus comes ready to tip over 10%. I just read an article on CNN Money about how the standard tipping rate in a restaurant is 15% for adequate service. Please reference the article here and shout it from the rooftops. Servers have to pay their bills too. We make $2.50 an hour and have to tip 10% out to the bussers and 5% to the bartenders. If you leave $2.00 on your bill of $60.00. Doing the math results in my taking home $1.70. Would you want your son or daughter to have that happen to them? No, didn't think so. If you can't afford to tip 15%, eat at a cheaper restaurant. 10% is unacceptable and I have four words for you. Karma is a bitch.

Safe travels and fun times to all this winter weekend!

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Hey y'all! This here is a picture of my awesome cousin Jayme. See the snow? She does that all the time. Me? Not so much, and I am so not looking forward to tonight's run!

Update to come!


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After the run...

Better late than never! Day 1 of Week 3.

Sooooo I know everyone, aka, no one ;) was wondering what happened last week. Well, not much. At least running wise, not much. I took a week off after Saturday's painful excursion. My knee was really bothering me all week and still felt a bit off this evening. Let's start by saying that I debated with repeating week 2 since I had a week break, I wasn't sure if I could handle an upgrade after skipping one whole workout BUT I went with it. I said, "Self? Do you want to be challenged??" Self replied with "HELL NO!" I then proceeded to beat that biotch into submission and dove right into week 3.

BAD IDEA!



My podcast lady pulled a fast one on me and went from week two's work out of 90 seconds of running and two minutes of walking to 90 seconds of running, 90 seconds of walking... wait for it, wait for it... THEN she went and changed it up on me! We moved to a three minute run and then a three minute walk! WTF!!!

It wasn't horrible, but it was a kick in the crotch. I'm thinking I'll be ready for Wednesdays run, it'll just be a matter of pushing through this cold weather... I hate treadmills and ellipticals, but I keep coughing for hours after being out in the frigid air!

Week 2 Day 3 - Rinse and Repeat!

Runnin scared... Week 2, Day 2

I was so bold as to venture out in a public park around 5:45pm last night to "enjoy" my week 2, day 2 run. It was basically a bad idea for three reasons 1. I was the only one out there, 2. Lots of trees, darkness and creepiness, and 3. I don't usually carry my cell phone as I'm afraid it will jump out of my pocket and run away.



The last one I consider the most dangerous because if I get hurt, which is usually a good bet, I don't have a way to call for help. If I get attacked how do I call for help? Orrrr if I get bored with my run and want to take a breather, how do I play fun games like paper toss or scrabble????

Needless to say, I know my mother would have coniptions if I continued to run after dark by myself on a not so awesome street. Especially after I told her about my run in with two random men on the trail last night. They didn't see me and I think I scared them... but I could feel their eyes on me the rest of the night and I was so thankful that my run was almost complete.

I really dislike the idea of running inside in a well lit gym as all my "wobbly bits" (think Bridget Jones' Diary) make themselves known to all the gym rats in the general vacinity. I really, really, really hate the eleptical as it is a device of torture.



Don't ask me why, I just hate it. I'm just gonna have to suck it up and run on the treadmill... I'll tie that bowl of puppy chow I've been craving in front and just go to town ;)

Can you believe its WEEK 2??

Woot woot, I've officially been running/jogging consistently for a full week! That is major progress from "I only run if someone is chasing me with a knife..." Mind you this is not sprinting, nor is it for extended periods of time, but soon it will be!

I got a cramp yesterday from the fourth portion of running, that was a little discouraging but it was colder than ever last night. I think I might have to join the gym to run indoors soon, I'm sick of almost chocking on my throat gunk that happens when it's cold out. Either the big gym, or my little condo clubhouse treadmill... I'm not sure yet :/

So last night was day one of week two in thie C25K program. It consists of 6 sets of 90 seconds of running and two minutes of walking. It is still easy enough that I'm not wanting to quit right away, so yay! I didn't take Colbie this time because my neighborhood is sloped and all I need is for her to pull me one way and my knee or ankle to go the other!

My next run will be tomorrow night and I'm looking forward to it. My roomie has been bugging me to eat afterword even when I'm not hungry. I ate a bit, some pickles which she wanted to hit me for, but I really didn't want anything else. Plus you would think not eating dinner and running would help in my weight loss goals... anyone agree??

Day 3 and it's only two days late ;)

In an attempt to switch up my already boring routine jaunt around my neighborhood, I decided to put off my Friday run til Saturday morning so I could visit a different area. I used to live over near the Westerville Rec Center off of Cleveland Ave. and enjoyed the openness of the trails they have there, so that was my spot of choice. It's getting colder and I always seem to have gunk in my throat, making it hard to breathe well while jogging... it might be time to join the gym until spring comes along. I think the experience was ruined because I also took my dog. BAD IDEA. Colbie is a sweet heart but I think she's also upset at my slowness along with my parents. She was constantly pulling me every which way on the trails and that didn't help one bit. I will be visiting the trails again next weekend but without the dog, she can have a separate walk after I get done concentrating on myself ;)



This weekend was great, I was able to hang out with a group of friends that I love... AND I went bridesmaid dress shopping with one of my best friends! She is getting married in less than a year and its so awesome to know that everything is coming together. We found dresses that everyone loves but apparently my girls are too big to be appropriate ;) I'm hoping that dedication to this program and to portion control really help me achieve my fitness and weight loss goals.

Did I really just... Day 2!

Goooooooood morning! I was a horrid person last night and chose to sit on my couch with my roomie instead of running. Yes, yes, it's all about dedication, blah blah. BUT I promised myself I would go out this morning, and I did! I am the type of person to snuggle in my bed til the last possible moment. I love my bed, pillows and extremely soft sheets waaaaay too much.

I did it, I really did it. I GOT UP AT 6 AM, to go RUNNING. It was quite cold and hurt a little bit to breathe but it got easier. I completed my week 1, day 2 workout but my knee felt weird throughout the first half, like it needed to pop. Also, my ipod keeps attempting to escape my jacket pocket and jump to the ground... I know they have arm bands, but unless they make plus size arm bands I'm pretty sure it won't fit me.

I'm debating whether to get back on schedule by running tomorrow night or to wait til Saturday morning and maybe head out to a park... hmmmmm decisions, decisions!

Random thought, I know I find this running shitza hard and it puts into perspective my level of activeness and overall health. Since today is Veteran's Day, it got me to thinking about how hard our service men and women work. Not only do they run harder and longer than me, they do it in full gear; in deserts, harsh climates and in dangerous situations. I am so thankful to live in a free country and I THANK ALL Veterans and current Service Men and Women for your hardwork, your dedication and mostly, for my life. My cousin is/was a marine and I respect him so much, he might not know it, but he's my hero. You rock Keith!

Day 1 - I can do it!

Today is my first day of learning to love running, or at least what it can do for me. I come from a family where most of my cousins are runners. Apparently it's contagious because my sister and a non running cousin were gobbled up and spit back out in those horrid short shorts and numbered racing shirts. While I admire their strength and speed, that is not what I am shooting for with this program. I am instead opting to live a more healthy lifestyle and of course, to lose some weight!

I have never enjoyed running, jogging or walking extremely fast... I am not a fast person. My parents used to joke about tying me to a car and hoping that would help with my base running speed... instead I still resemble the roadrunner with moving legs yet not going anywhere. I don't think I will be a sprinter by the end of this program either, just more fit and able to jog without dying after three miles.

I will be using the couch to 5k program everyone raves about and I already have my podcasts downloaded and ready to roll. It helps that it will be dark out by the time I get home from work, enabling me to hide my inept running from those watching in the nearby condos.

The hardest part is actually getting myself to start. I'm sure once I see how bad it really isn't I'll be fine, but until that time you're going to enjoy the rough ride right along side with me.

Wish me luck, cause here I go!