Week 5 Day 1

5 minute walk, 5 minute jog, 3 minute walk, 5 minute jog, 3 minute walk, 5 minute jog.

This was easy. Wow. I didn't think it would be! I jogged in the evening; I slept in this morning. I think I should have gone a little faster--next time I'll plan to do that!

Week 4 Day 3

Yesterday I did my workout in my great aunt's neighborhood. We spent a couple of days at her house after Thanksgiving. I hadn't gotten enough sleep, and it was a tough workout, but I enjoyed the chance to check out the area on foot. I think I'm really going to enjoy "vacation running." What a great way to explore whatever city I'm in--at least a small part of it!

Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving--we did!

Week 4 Day 2

Getting stronger; most of this workout was pretty easy. Until the end.... The last running segment (5 minutes) was hard! I think that's where my tiredness reared its ugly head.

Overall though...this week is not overwhelming. What a nice surprise!

Week 4 Day 1

Well, I did it! I mentioned Saturday that Week 4 was making me really nervous, as it includes a marked increase in jogging (after the 5 minute warmup walk, it's 3 minute jog, 90 second walk, 5 minute jog, 2 1/2 minute walk, 3 minute jog, 90 second walk, 5 minute jog.)

I'd been having some lightheadedness during some of my runs over the last couple of weeks. I talked to my dad (who is a runner), and he suggested I make sure I'm pushing all the air out when I exhale, so that I can breathe plenty of air in when inhaling. I really focused on that this time. I didn't get that icky lightheaded feeling (despite the extra jogging time), and I felt better at the end of my last 5 minute jogging segment than I had at the end of the first! It may have also helped that I ate half a banana and a spoonful of peanut butter before leaving this morning.

And the last thing that helped? I slowed down my pace even more so that my jogs were reeeeeeally slow. I can add speed later when my legs and lungs are more used to this.

I think I'm turning into a runner.

Week 3 Day 3

Today was fine. I was breathing hard by the end, and it was probably more difficult than Wednesday, but it was okay. There was a tiny bit of drizzle--just an occasional drop here and there. Running in that weather was actually great; these overcast, drizzly days can be so depressing, and getting my heart rate up and adrenaline flowing was fantastic.

My destination today was the donut shop just outside our neighborhood, where I picked up some "breakfast" for the family. Yes, I recognize the irony, and I'm laughing at myself. But I'm running more for cardiovascular fitness than for weight loss. I'm pretty happy with my current weight. I'm about five pounds heavier than I was when I got pregnant, but that's actually a healthier weight for me...and while my tummy isn't perfectly flat, my jeans look so much better when I actually fill them out!

I'll be honest--I'm really nervous about next week. The last two weeks (well, three weeks for me, since I repeated Week 2), each day's running segments have added up to nine minutes. Very doable. Next week really cranks it up--16 total minutes of running each day, including two five-minute segments. (See Week 4, here.) I really don't know if I'm ready for this. But I won't know until I try. We'll see how Monday goes.

I'm a sloooooow runner. I will never win any races. (Unless I race my kids.... Ooh, that's a good idea!) Good thing I don't have to get anywhere quickly. As long as my heart and my lungs are getting stronger, it's okay if it looks like I'm running in slow motion.

Wish me luck for next week....

Week 3 Day 2

Three minutes was shorter today than it was on Monday.

Week 3 Day 1

Week 3 is here! I was nervous because this week some of the running segments get longer (three minutes.) But it went pretty well. The last three-minute segment was tough, and running in a stiff breeze didn't make it easier, but I did it and felt good afterwards. Woo hoo!

Our weather has cooled off again, and I love it for running. I kept looking at my stopwatch, wanting the five-minute warmup walk to be over, so that I could start running and get truly warmed up!

Week 2 Day 3 (Take 2)

Woo hoo! This was the easiest workout so far, and I think I'm ready for Week 3 on Monday!

I hit a milestone today. During one of my 90 second running segments, I looked at the stopwatch and had gone 96 seconds already. I think that's the first time I've looked at the stopwatch too LATE on a running segment.

It feels good that this is getting easier! Of course it'll be harder on Monday again, but I know I'm progressing.

Monday will be 5 minute warmup walk (as usual), then:
90 second run, 90 second walk, 3 minute run, 3 minute walk, then repeat

Week 2 Day 2 (Take 2)

The workout went well today! I'm glad I'm redoing this week and think that by Monday I'll be ready for Week 3.

But...note to Self: If running at 3 p.m., put on sunscreen. Remember, Self, you have fair skin and even 25 minutes in the sun in the middle of the afternoon is not a good idea.

(The Engineer was out of town this morning but back home this afternoon, so this was the best time to run. I didn't enjoy the sunny, 73 degree weather, and I'm thinking that since I really don't like working out in the "heat"...I may need to buy a treadmill before next summer. Geez, you would never know I'd grown up in Arizona!)

Week 2 Day 1 (Take 2)

I re-started Week 2 today. I'm very glad I didn't start Week 3; I'm a little "off" today (slight headache, etc.) so this was definitely enough of a challenge. I didn't feel as good as usual afterward since my body isn't quite up to par, but I did feel like the workout gave me the energy I needed to get through--and even enjoy--my morning.

Now it's naptime for the kids, and probably for me too.

Week 2 Day 3

Today's workout was hard (even though I knew I was ending it at Starbucks! Mmm.... Peppermint mocha. Definitely a benefit of the holidays.)

Oh, sorry, got sidetracked there. Where was I?

Yeah, that hard workout. I decided I'm going to repeat Week 2. I'd prefer to feel ready to progress than to get discouraged by moving forward too quickly. I'm getting great exercise, and that's what's most important here. I think by the end of next week I'll feel ready to start Week 3's workouts.

I've blogged more about this decision, and that'll be posted Sunday morning at C. Beth Blog.

Week 2 Day 2

I think I'm starting to enjoy this more, even though it's still not easy.

My lungs feel like they're getting bigger, which is nice!

Week 2 Day 1

For Week 2, I'm instructed to walk for 5 minutes, then to spend 20 minutes in this cycle: 90 seconds running/2 minutes walking/repeat.

It went really well this evening! I had just a little "catch" in my side near the end, but it wasn't bad. Afterward I felt like I'd gotten a good workout without being miserable.

That's what I'm liking about this plan. It's great exercise, but I don't feel like I'm going to die at the end of the workout, so I'm actually looking forward to the next time. Much better than, say, trying to run a mile straight through when I've never been a runner. I've done that before, and it's really not fun.

Week 1 Day 3

Even with a dog tied to my waist (no kids though!) today was so much easier. I actually feel like I'm ready to move on to Week 2....