Love/Hate Running

I still don't like it. I can't quite call it hate but even though I've been doing it as long as I have, I don't think I'd have any problems dropping it. All the talk about it takes 21 days to make a habit, etc.....yeah, I'd drop it and not even miss it. In a heartbeat. And I've been doing it a lot longer than 21 days. In fact, if I hadn't set a goal for myself to be in shape enough to run the Susan G. Komen breast cancer 5k in September (I think that's when it is) I probably would have quit a long time ago. I think the key for me is going to be to have goals and races that I am training for otherwise I'll never keep it up.
That said, I ran through the pain of my blister today. I had another 14.5 minute mile. I ran a total of 2.1 miles in 30 minutes. I'm proud of myself because it was hard and there were many times during the run that I wanted to stop. But I pushed through and did the entire thing and am very proud of myself!

Running on blister = ouch

I cut my run short today because it HURT to run on my blister. I ran 1 mile in under 14.5 minutes. It would have been a great run total but I figured I should probably rest my foot a little. I'll try again tomorrow or the next day so that I get 3 full runs in this week.

Ouch a blister!

My foot has been bothering me for a day or so but I didn't really think anything of it. I figured it was maybe from wearing my flip flops or something. Well just now I crossed my legs and noticed something on my foot. Yup...it's a large blister on the ball of my right foot. I don't know what it's from. I don't 'think' it's my new tennis shoes since I've had those for several months now. I haven't worn any new shoes though so it's not from that. The only thing I can think of is that it's the friction from the running. Boo....it hurts!

Even better today!

Today I ran 2.07 miles in 30 minutes. I did a 14.5 minute mile for the first one and hit my 2 miles in 29 minutes. I am POOPED! My heart really started to ache after the first mile but I kept pushing. After 20 minutes I really wanted to stop. The last 10 minutes could not go fast enough. But I did it and I feel great and I am so proud of myself!

Best run yet!

I am so proud of myself! When the time hit 30 minutes I had run 1.94 miles so I decided to continue until I hit 2 miles. It only took me another minute. So in 31 minutes I ran 2 miles!! I am so proud and hope this trend continues. My heart started to hurt a little around 28 minutes but I pushed through and by the time I was done I felt great. I'm tired, hot and sweaty but feeling amazing!

Goal Number 10

3 workouts
30 minutes each
1.75 miles or more

And last week squats? Oops. Didn't do a single one.

Cruel Intentions/Wild Things

Those are the movies I watched while I walked .82 miles in 30 minutes. Definitely kept me entertained.

A new way to walk

I walked super slow today with very large strides at full incline which put extra strain on my muscles. I went .78 miles in 30 minutes.

What squats?

I walked 1.13 miles at full incline in 30 minutes.
Have I done any squats? Not so much...

Walking & Talking

I walked my 30 minutes at full incline today while talking on the phone with my sister. I was a little short of breath so it wasn't like I was slacking. I walked a distance of 1 mile.

Goal Number 9

Walk for 30 minutes at full incline
Walk 3 times this week
Do squat exercises (haven't figured out the details on this)

Same old Same old

1.75 miles in 30.5 minutes.
Can you tell I'm bored? I really thought I had a good groove going and that I was going faster than I was. Sigh...maybe after a week of strength I'll do better the next week.

Another day...another run

I ran 1.77 miles in 30 minutes. I have no patience so I feel like I should be doing better by now. But when I push too hard I have bad reactions. I guess I've just been feeling down lately and I know I should be feeling good about what I've accomplished and how far I've come but I want more progress!

Much better

Today's run went much better. I ran 1.75 miles in 31.5 minutes. I thought I had the gauge at the same place as before but it must have been a little lower since it took a little extra time to get the mileage in. Overall I am still pretty happy with the results.

On another note, I still don't love running. I was hoping after all this time I'd have started to enjoy it. I still feel like it's a chore and when I have days off don't miss it. What is the saying that it takes 21 days to form a habit? Well it's been more than 21 days and it still doesn't feel like a habit to me!

Pushed too hard

My husband and I have been working on a playroom for our twins. Yesterday we started hanging drywall which is really heavy when you have to carry it up the stairs.
I was a little sore today but I figured it was no big deal. I got on the treadmill and pushed up the speed a little further than the fastest I had gone before. (hard to tell with my stupid console)
Apparently I pushed it too far. After 6.5 minutes I had gone .5 miles and started to have an asthma attack. So, I got off the treadmill and will try again tomorrow (or later) at a slower pace. Oops.

Goal Number 8

Workout 3 times this week
Run for 30 minutes
Achieve a distance of 1.75 miles during each 30 minute run

Walking Walking Walking

I'm not sure if I have mentioned before that I have chronic headaches. I have had them for over 10 years. I had a procedure yesterday (nerve block) to try to alleviate them. I'm still in a lot of pain today but I wanted to get another walk in. I walked .68 miles in 30 minutes. A lot slower but I still did it. I also tried to keep my thighs engaged the entire time so that I was working them better.

Taking it too easy?

I've been walking since it is strength training week but maybe I went a little too slow today. I made it .72 miles in 30 minutes. I can feel my muscles working but I also feel like I could have pushed a little harder.

Sore Walking

Even though my ankle is still a bit sore I wanted to get a workout in today. I'm glad it was a 'walk' day rather than a run day. At full incline I walked .78 miles in 30 minutes. Not bad for a sore ankle.

Taking it easy...kind of

I fell down the stairs yesterday while holding one of my children. He was fine. I however, bruised my ankle pretty badly. I decided not to get an official workout in today. I just got back from taking them for a walk. I got an amazing upper body workout. It was so windy out that my shoulders are sore from trying to push the stroller against the wind!

Complicated Treadmill

I never thought treadmills were complicated until I actually tried to really use mine. Apparently I did not have mine on full incline like I thought. But I definitely did today. I walked .91 miles at full incline and it was hard! Hopefully I'll build up some strength from doing workouts this week!

Goal Number 7

This is a strength training week. Goals for this week:
workout at full incline
workout at least 3 times
workout for 30 minutes each time

1.76 miles

When I started my workout my legs (shins) and feet were really hurting. I've been bad and have not been stretching before and after my runs. They hurt badly enough that I was contemplating stopping after about 10 minutes. But, eventually the pain subsided and I ran my full 30 minutes and went a distance of 1.76 miles. The good news is today it didn't bother my asthma at all!

He knows!

Last night my husband was pulling down the sheets for bed (we make our bed every day) and I don't know what exactly happened since I was in the other room but he pulled my tennis shoes out from under the bed and said 'what are these?' Um, my tennis shoes? He said 'where did they come from?' I said, the store. He said, 'you went to the store today?' I said, no, I've had them for months. He said, 'why are they up here?' I said, I use them when I work out. He said, 'you workout?' See how this conversation progressed? Since he started asking questions I told him everything. He was surprised because he didn't think running was 'my thing' and he was surprised that I would want to do something like this. (even though I told him months ago I wanted to). I think he was a little hurt that I had kept it from him. He didn't say he was proud or anything. When I asked him about it he said he would have supported me all along if he had known. We'll see moving forward if he comments on it at all. The one nice thing was that this morning I didn't have to put on my 'mommy uniform' and then change into my workout clothes...I just put on my workout clothes.

The console

I've been meaning for awhile now to post a picture of the console and since I received a request I finally made time to do it. Here it is:

And here is a close up of the speed control:

And as long as we are talking treadmill, here is the spot where the batteries go to make the console work. Pretty easy right? In my defense I always work out with the lights off so it just looked like a big black spot!

I am pooped!

I pushed today and ran 1.75 miles in 30 minutes! Woo hoo! Near the end I could feel my asthma kicking in which is good and bad. It's good that I'm pushing through it and bad b/c I hope it won't hold me back from getting better. I'm really proud of myself and hope I'll be able to continue to improve!