Running in the Rain

I was sooo looking forward to Week Five, Day Three today. I was up at 5:15 am and ready to go. Then I noticed the sound of raindrops against my bedroom windows. I contemplated running anyhow but it was coming down pretty hard. A light drizzle is one thing. I did not want to get drenched! Plus, I have this overwhelming fear that I am going to slip and fall while running in the rain.
Hopefully, the rain will hold off and it won’t be that humid later on this evening. If it does, I plan to run outside. If not, I will be hopping on the treadmill.

Personal Best: 30- Day Plank Challenge

Yay! Today I did it! I met my goal of hold a plank for two minutes:

I'm so excited! This just goes to show what happens when I stay consistent and persistent when working on a goal.

Couch to 5k: Week Five, Day Two

I had an okay workout this morning. I really wasn't feeling it but I made it through: Run 6 mins., Walk 1 min., Run 4 mins., Walk 1 min., Run 6 mins. It looked simple enough but those 1-minute break go by so fast! I actually could have done another interval or two so my endurance is definitely improving. What I really need to work on is my self-consciousness about running. I still think I'm too fat to run but I'm doing it anyhow:

I am not sure what is going on with my self confidence. I feel the same way about my swimming. In the meantime, I'll keep working at it.

Sandy Springs Lightning 5k - September 21

As the scriptures say, Man plans his way, God directs his steps.

Well, I will not be participating in this 5k due to a conflict. I recently signed up to volunteer at an Interfaith Power Over Prejudice Summit at my church. I thought the summit would be the same day as the statewide summit in October. Anyhow, I was going to look for another 5k in September but I decided to just keep training for the one in October.

I'll be done with the Couch to 5k in a couple weeks. I will give myself some goals to work on during September to help me stay focus. The last time I completed the Couch to 5k and the Firefly 5k I did not continue to run. I want to keep up the running this time so I will be in great shape to cross off the Peachtree Road Race from my fitness bucket list.

Personal Best

Day 27. This 30-day Plank Challenge has become more challenging as the month is coming to an end. I originally thought I was going to be able to surpassed my 2-minute goal, now I am beginning to wonder if I will accomplish it. No matter what happens, I am proud of myself for the discipline I've shown to work toward my goal each day. I've decided to extend it another 30 days.

Couch to 5K: Week Five, Day 1

I'm starting to think I do better with running every two days rather than trying to run every other day. I think I may maintain this routine until I finish this program. I tried using my Nike Plus App this morning. I am not sure if it is calibrated correctly. I really think the distance is shorter and my pace is slower:

Couch to 5k: Week Four, Day Three

I was a total sludge this weekend. Not feeling 100%. I was determined to finish my workout. I took it slow, pushed a little here and there but I made it through. I am doing my best to follow my plan and not go more than two days without running. So far, so good. One of the things I continue to struggle with is focusing on time instead of distance and pace. I will continue to visualize myself running nonstop during my 5k in September.

I bought myself a little reward. I have been wanted a one of these for a while -- a Nike sensor:

Couch to 5K: Week Four, Day Two

Workout complete! Even though I haven't been feeling well the past few days, I was determined to complete today's workout. It's over and done with. I feel awful! I was sweating profusely! I thought I was going to throw up! I am not sure if I am feeling this way because of the workout or what. Anyhow, I am going to ice my legs, take some cold medicine, and go back to bed!

Couch to5K/Plank Challenge

I didn't complete Week Four, Day Two this morning. Not feeling so great. I'll try again tomorrow morning.

I did complete my #PlankADay. Today was my longest plank ever!

It looks like I am going to make my goal of two minutes by the end of the month.

Couch to 5k: Week Four, Day One

I completed Week Four, Day One yesterday. I felt pretty good. Even though the 6-minute runs were challenging, I managed to complete them. I have very happy with my progress.

Meal Prep

I keep reading that more than exercise, my "diet" is what is going to get me to my next goal. During the first part of my fitness journey, exercise appeared to be what was helping me drop the weight. Now, that I do exercise fairly regulars and have achieved a pretty good fitness level, it is becoming more important that I need to focus on my food. This is especially true when running on a regular.

I'm trying my best to do a better job with preparing and measuring my meals. I hate it! There, I said it. I hate measuring my food! Yet, the more reading and researching I do I see that so many people do it. I am very impressing with the guys that are so into bodybuilding. I'm learning a lot from watching YouTube videos. These guys know so much about what their bodies need. Anyhow, this weekend I spent some time cooking, measuring, researching serving sizes. I hated it but I feel so accomplished now that it's done:

Grilled chicken
Chickpea Curry
Sautéed spinach
Sautéed kale with ginger
Quinoa
Egg White breakfast casserole
Cherries
Red grapes
Pistachios
Almonds

Couch to 5k: Week Three, Day Three

Today I thought about all the races I want to complete, especially the Peachtree Road Race and a half marathon in 2014.

I can do this! I will do this! One step at a time!

Snooze, I Lose!

I was supposed to complete Week Three, Day Three this morning. Instead, I hit snooze button. All day today I have been regretting my decision. I hate having regrets!

I know it's not the end of the world. I wish I could/would follow my training plan perfectly but that would not be realistic. I know I have choices. I could have tried again this evening. I decided to do some light exercise and stretch.

I reached out to my friend, who I call my 5k sponsor, and she was very encouraging. She shared that she did something similar last Saturday. She also said I must learn how to listen and honor my body. Even though I went to bed early last night, I guess I was really started. I just don't want to start making excuses. I will continue work on getting in tune with my body. I have been so separate from it for such a long time. I am still learning how to tell when I am physically hungry. I suppose the same goes for when I am physically tired or it is just the mind/ego telling me so.

Tomorrow is another day....

Couch to 5k -- Week Three, Day Two

I had a great workout this morning. I really pushed myself to run a little faster. I feel pretty good. No aches. I still iced my knees as a precaution. While I am taking it one workout at a time, I am thinking long term. I really want to do the Peachtree Road Race and a half marathon next year. My planking is coming along nicely too!

July Plank Challenge -- Day Nine

Wow! I am doing so much better than I thought. By the end of the month I was hoping to be able to do a two-minute plank. At the rate I'm going, it looks like I may be closer to a three-minute plank. Although I cannot see it on the outside, my strength training is definitely strengthening my core:

Week Three -- Couch to 5k

I woke up at 5:30 this morning. It was kind of rainy. I let my fear of running in the rain get the best of me and I went back to sleep. After work I debated whether or not I wanted to run outside in the hot Georgia sun. After it had been raining most of the weekend and day, it was pretty humid out. Humidity or the treadmill. I chose the treadmill.

July Plank Challenge

One of the ways I decided to work on my core is to challenge myself to plank every day this month. So far, so good. I believe I reached a personal record today. My goal is to be able to do a 2-minute plank by the end of the month.

Week Two, Day Three

It's been raining almost nonstop this week. I didn't feel too confident about running on the wet pavement today so I went to the gym. I wasn't too thrilled about running on the treadmill but I had to complete my workout. It went fine but, as usual, my knee was bothering me. I iced it a few times today and now it's fine. Week Three here I come!

Happy Fourth of July!

Running is a Gift

Completed Week 2, Day 2 today. My legs and knees feel much better. I have also been icing them periodically throughout the day. This morning I took it pretty easy. I just wanted to finish and not feel as spent as I did on Sunday. It started raining a bit about five minutes after I started. This made me a little uneasy because I have this fear of running in the rain. I'm afraid I'm going to slip and fall. Thankfully, it was a light rain and I was able to finish.

While I was running, I started thinking about a friend I haven't heard from in over 20 years. We're both 50 yet he has had a multitude of health issues. We both have type 2 diabetes. He's in a wheelchair due to a leg amputation and he also goes to kidney dialysis a couple times a week. As I ran this morning, I was very grateful that I have been taking positive steps to improve my health. As much as I struggle with becoming a runner, I am humbled by the gift to be able to do so.