Me = Machine

I obviously look like this when I run.

So I know my running isn't exactly Iron Woman worthy quite yet, but I have to say that I'm very proud of myself! So I'm going to just have a little gloating session... because 4 weeks ago, I couldn't run for a minute and a half, and now, I'm running 5 minute intervals with 1.5 walking, and it's... well, not a breeze, but I can do it! And I don't hate my life after. I am really starting to understand why people get really into running. You feel good! And you feel super successful, and quite honestly, I feel even better about myself than I did before I started running! My body hasn't really changed, my legs are just getting more muscular, but I feel healthy, and that shows through, methinks.

One of the things that I really love about running, and I explained this to my sister earlier, is that it's half an hour that's just mine. No one can get me do anything, people don't hassle me, I just put in my headphones, and for half an hour, I get to just listen to my music, and have my brain to myself and just think about stuff I want to think about. It's almost meditative. Anyway, just thought I'd let you know that I'm just about halfway to my 5k!!! I also think it's making my hair grow faster. Maybe that's a giant lie... but I'd like to think that it's true.

Plus Que Run!

Wow wow! So started week 2 of my 5k training program today! Running for minute and a half, with two minute walking intervals.  Not bad, my friends, not bad! It honestly didn't feel like that much of a difference from week 1, where I was running one minute, walking a minute and a half. I do this thing where I get bogged down about 10 minutes into the session - just before the halfway mark - but once I hit halfway, I pick right back up again! I'm still super proud of myself for actually being able to do it. This morning was a bit more difficult to get out of bed, but that's just because I moved into my new loft/fort bed yesterday, and it was so toasty warm. But I dragged myself out, and was really glad that I did! I love running days, because I feel like I've accomplished something big by 6:30am. 

I'm thinking that I should probably do some cross-training/strength-training to balance out the running... I want to make sure I'm working all the muscle groupings, and not just my running muscles! I'm not sure quite how to start that, but if any of y'all have any insights into any good programs for this, my muscles will be forever appreciative! Another great thing about running has been that my dad is now joining me. He doesn't seem overly enthused about the 6am start time, but it's definitely nice to have the company. It also pushes me, because he's definitely fitter than me at this point, so I feel like I definitely can't walk when I'm supposed to be running. I will say that I haven't walked when I wasn't supposed to since the first day. That hilly route just killed me! I might find a new route soonish - probably next week - just for a change of scenery or something. I'm not sure. It seems silly to drive somewhere to run... but I honestly just can't deal with my road because it's so so steep, and once you've finished your run, you don't want to be hiking up a miserable hill. I think that's what did me in last time.

A Blustery Day, Pooh...

Ah yes. A blustery day indeed. And not such a good one when you sit outside all day. The little museum where I work isn't very big, so I spend most of my seven and a half hour day outside. Not a bad gig when it's sunny like it was yesterday, but man, when it's raining and windy and freezing there isn't a whole lot to love about it. The problem is mostly that I [like pretty much everyone] get really tense when I'm cold, and so my whole body is just aching from that. I wrapped up in a blanket and lots of sweaters, so I wasn't horribly uncomfortable for most of the day... but I do hope it's lovely and hot and sunny tomorrow. Then Monday-Tuesday are my working from home days, and Wednesday-Thursday I start my second job at one of the gift shops here! I'm sure it will be hot and sunny the days when I have to work inside. Classic life.

Tomorrow is also day two of my 5k training... I'm a little nervous for what it might bring, particularly because my legs are still doing quite poorly after day one... I've been hobbling around like someone stole all my joints. Stairs a quite a challenge currently. But my theory is that it will hurt much less to run because I'll be using the muscles the way that they're currently set to be used. I tried doing a bit of jogging around during the bits when it wasn't very busy at work, and it hurt much less than walking. So I guess we'll see! I also hope it's sunny tomorrow so my run will be a little more pleasant. Definitely going to drive to the end of my very steep, gravelly road so I can do the full 30 minutes on dry, flat pavement. According to my mum, she's going to join me, but we'll see just how into that idea she is at six tomorrow morning.

So all in all, let's just hope for a hot and sunny day tomorrow, and we'll see where that gets us! I'm really looking forward to a semi "weekend" while I work from home Monday and Tuesday, but in the mean time I think I will go to bed...

Couch to 5 [Days of Pain]

So today I started "training" for the "Couch to 5k". I did it like real healthy people do: I got up at 5:50 this morning, put on my leggings, and sweater [over my pyjamas - no biggie], and was out of the house by 6:01. When I reached the end of my road I had the decision to go left, or right. Right was sort of dark and whaaa, while left was sunny, and you can see the ocean that way, so I decided to go left.

Well, the world has a hilarious sense of humor. I forgot that the pretty, sunny, ocean view way is also like climbing Everest. So up and down, up and down I went, with my little iPod trainer, Constance, chirping away pleasantly in my ear "Let's start with a brisk walk!... Now let's bring that up to a jog!... Now I'm going to shoot you in the kneecaps, and I'd like you to run as fast as you can up this next hill before I punch you in the chest." Well thanks, Constance, I'm so glad you are so gosh darn happy at 6 in the morning. After half an hour of this torture, I it back home, and even went a little longer than my program said I had to - mostly because I had to get home. 

I didn't puke [although I did feel like I could have puked up my organs], I didn't cry [even though I thought I might when I reached the foot of the very, very, steep hill my house is on top of], and I didn't sit down in the middle of the road and refuse to keep going. My neighbour did look a little concerned as he passed me, sweaty and dragging my hot, tired body up our road [see: dirt track], but who's he to judge. I will be enormously fit and fabulous in not but nine weeks.  

Sunday is my next day of running, and I think I might have forgotten enough of the pain by then to actually drag myself out of bed and actually do it! Go me! Anyway, I'm very proud of myself for actually getting out of bed this morning, because as anyone who has been around me longer than 5 minutes knows, I say I'm going to work out, and then I nap instead. Napping burns all kinds of calories. 

I'm really going to try to keep it up this time. Apparently it stops being absolutely miserable after a while, and can be quite pleasant. Or so I've heard. One of my old teachers did this once, and now she runs marathons... so I think this sentiment might be true! A good sign! 

I sort of feel like a rockstar for actually doing physical activity [kayaking is usually about it for me]. A sore rockstar, but a rockstar nonetheless! Does anyone have any super tips on becoming a marathon winner that I should know about?