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!