Training

I've been reading a lot of articles lately about how to train for a race. A few weeks back a friend was talking about and article she read about interval training and how marathoners who include walking in their runs tend to finish with better times. This sounded interesting to me, but I wasn't completely sold. This was, until I found another article, in a magazine about a 10 weeks to 10k plan.

The plan basically suggested that you run ten minutes and walk one mintue for a certain distance, gradually working up to 10kms. This really clicked with me. Why can't I try this for my training? I've been so concerend about being able to run the full 5k... that I've been mentally blocking myself each time I run. Maybe I should start thinking about trying the 10:1 ratio in my training sessions to help me go the distance. When I first started running, my training plan was based on intervals, so I'm used to the breaks. It worked well for me then, why not now? I think I'm going to give it a shot!

3 Weeks to 5K

In three weeks I'll be running my first 5k race. I have to admit, I'm actually pretty nervous about it. I'm sure I'll do fine, maybe even amazing... but I haven't been getting in as much training as I'd like.

Since switching back to outdoor running from the treadmill, I haven't run as much as I'd like to. The weather has been so up and down, it's been really cold and rainy. Honestly, now that I'm back outside, I don't want to get back on that treadmill until next winter.

I don't mind running in the rain, I actually prefer it. I love that feeling when you are all hot and sweaty and the raindrops cool you down. It's been too cold to enjoy it though, so I keep putting off my runs, which isn't helping my training. With three weeks to go, I need to get out there often and put in the time and distance until I'm confident I can make it through.

I've heard that you should be able to run about 80% of your race before you get there and adrenaline will carry you the rest of the way. I'm really hoping this is true because at this point I feel like I'm not even going to make it to the finish line. The past couple of weeks I haven't run my greatest. I think mostly it's a mental thing, in my head I'm thinking 'I can't do this... I'm getting tired...When can I take a break'? I really need to work on pushing through all the negativity in my head because once I can get past that, I'm able to really enjoy my run.

My goal for this race? I'd like to finish, and it will be nice if they don't have to ask me to move aside because they are re-opening the road!! I'll keep you posted on my training, and how the race turns out!

2010 - A Year in Review

It's amazing how much can happen in a year.

One year ago I couldn't wait for 2009 to be over and for 2010 to begin. I was out of work, sitting on the couch everyday watching TV and sulking every time I sent out a resume with no response. I needed to make some positive changes in my life. I told myself that I was going to grab 2010 by the balls and make it a fantastic year. I did exactly that.

January 2010 - My EI was running out and I was beginning to worry about money. It was a tough time for me because I knew that I was going to have to start applying for jobs that weren't in my field. I wasn't ready to give up my Interior Design career because I had worked so hard to get there. I had a job offer to become an Admin Assistant at a daycare. I wasn't overly thrilled but it was work. I tried to keep my head up and tell myself I could still look for 'real' work and that this wasn't the end of the world.

By March I had landed my 'dream job'. Regis Canada had offered me a position as a Store Designer. This job couldn't have been more perfect for me. While I was out of work I did some free-lancing for a local Interior Designer who specialized in Hair Salons... this came in handy being that Regis is the largest acquirer, owner, and franchiser of hair salons, beauty schools and beauty stores. I also spent a lot of time studying to become a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional. In the past Regis had worked on LEED projects that didn't go as smoothly as planned so they were impressed by my certification. On top of being a perfect fit, the office is about 5 minutes from home, there are fantastic company perks and the people I work with are wonderful! I started this position in May as my boss was on Mat Leave and they wanted me to start back at the same time as her.

August 2010 - On a whim I decided that I wanted to start running. I hated running, hated it! But, for some reason I was intrigued. I found a program online called 'Couch to 5k' and decided to give it a go. Turns out I LOVED running! I couldn't get enough of it... I was addicted. For 2011 I am planning to run in the Underwear Affair 10k run -- that is my resolution, or goal for this year. My mother in law moved and gave me her treadmill so I could keep up with the running over winter. Well I hate the treadmill, I still get on it 2-3 times a week but I'd rather be outside. I think I will have to start slow with my training, but I'll be back into it before I know it.

October 2010 - my boyfriend and I opened a reptile store together (www.squamata.ca). This was a scary yet exciting project to take on. It all started with one lonely chameleon, which snowballed into 6 chameleons, 6 leopard geckos, and 6 snakes. The original plan was just to breed the animals, and sell them out of our house but the house kept feeling smaller and smaller so we decided to open up a shop. Business is decent for only being open 3 months - I hope that with some advertising and as our name starts to spread through the reptile community our business will continue to grow in 2011.

I am ready to take on 2011 and find out what we have in store over the next year. As I previously mentioned, I intend on running the 10k Underwear Affair run in August so I will be focused on training for that in the beginning of the year. I can't wait to get back outside and doing some real running. I also want to work on changing our eating habits and start making healthier meals for us. I have fallen victim to Sam's anti-vegetable campaign and it's sad because I love vegetables. Just the other day I tried edamame and I am now OBSESSED with it. So I am slowly going to cut out fat, and ramp up the amount of fruits and vegetables that we are eating to make some positive changes in our diet.

Cheers!

Third Times a Charm.

After two weeks of not being able to make it through the dreaded 3 mintues of running interval I decided to repeat week 3, yet again, for the third week in a row.

I just have not been ready to take on 3 mintues + 5 minutes. If I can't get through 3 minutes of running straight, I can't expect myself to get through 5. I have been bummed that it has been so hard for me to get through. But tonight I did the impossible. I ran for 3 minutes straight! I felt fantastic! I'm going to stick with the week three run for my next two runs and then finally graduate myself to Week 4 of the Couch to 5K program.

On another note, it has been one month since I started running so I thought now would be a good time to do a weigh in and take my measurements. While I only lost a couple of pounds, I lost a couple of inches as well! Well, everywhere except my boobs, they didn't go down much haha. It makes it easier to keep going when I can see the progress that I'm making.

A Rough Week.

Week 3. I knew this week was going to be a hard week, and I knew it would either make me or break me.

The good news is that I pushed through the week and haven't given up on running.

The bad news? Well, I didn't run well this week. In the couch to 5k program you are supposed to take days off in between and as I was trying to keep up with my schedule I ran too many days in a row and my shin/calf muscles were really hurting, badly.

Sunday night I finished up week two, then ran again on Monday. This is when my lower legs really started hurting. Tuesday I went for a power walk with some ladies at work, and after 5 minutes of walking my lower legs were throbbing. My boss (who's a runner) was showing me some new stretches to help. She suggested that perhaps it is a good pain and I am just building the muscle. Either way by the time Wednesday came around I decided that I needed to take a night off. A night off turned into 3 nights off. I ran again on Saturday but it wasn't my best, I barely made it through the 3 mins run. Because of all of this I have decided to repeat week three. Week 4 has a five minute running interval and if I'm still having trouble getting through the three mintues there is no way I can do five.

Tonight I ran again, I didn't make it through the three minutes, but it was a much better run than I had all last week so I'm feeling hopefull for the outcome of this week.

Diary of a Wannabe Runner.

Tonight marked Day 3 of week two. The running segments this week were 90 seconds running and 2 minutes of walking. In total it was only an extra minute of running, but it had me running for longer intervals. It was tough.

I really can't say that I felt like I made much improvement this week. I really thought I was going to die. The only thing that kept me going was starting to plan in my head some rewards I would give myself for finishing different milestones. Turns out that a nice new pair of shoes is a very powerful motivator haha.

I think next week is going to be the make it or break it week for me. I had to run tonight (Sunday) instead of the scheduled Friday because I was camping all weekend and just didn't have the time Friday or Saturday. If I want to stay on schedule for next week I'll be running back to back nights. On top of that, I promised my boss that I would go for a power walk with her on Tuesday. So I really won't have a rest day until Thursday.

Sunday - Week 2, Day 3
Monday - Week 3, Day 1
Tuesday - Power Walk
Wednesday - Week 3, Day 2
Friday - Week 3, Day 3

On top of all of that... I have to run for three minutes straight next week, this I am really nervous about. I'm contemplating re-doing week 2, but I need to keep challenging myself and pushing forward. We will see how Monday goes.

Cheers.

Couch to 5K

I decided on a whim to start running. I was intrigued. A lot of people in my life right now are running, running for fun, running for marathons, and running to get into shape. This all peaked my interest, the thought of a running group sounded like fun. Don't get me wrong, I loathe running, but for some reason I wanted to try it out.

I know that the key to running is to start slow and do it in bursts. I still wasn't sure exactly where to start. A friend of a friend recommended I look up the 'Couch to 5K' training program, and so I did. The program has you run 3 times a week and starts you off with small bursts of running alternating with walking and slowly bumps up your running time and decreases the walking.

This was week one for me. In week one the program has you do a 5 minute warm up walk followed by alternating running for 60 seconds and walking for 90 seconds segments, then a 5 minute cool down. In total, you end up running for 8 minutes which seems achieveable.

I convinced a friend to run with me so I could have a little motivation. I found some podcasts online to help keep track of the time. While I'm not a huge fan of the music choice, they really keep with keeping me motivated.

Our first run went pretty good. Running for 60 seconds seemed so easy... too easy. But by the end of the run I was exhausted. We ended up skipping the last two and a half running intervals because we were both DONE! We ran along a trail so it was hard to map how far we actually went.

The second run I did on my own. I ran around my neighbourhood so that I could see (for fun) how far I actually ran. This time I finished all of the running intervals (yay!). The distance ended up being just under 2.5kms!! I was impressed.

Run #3 was Friday. I was tired, after the 2nd segment I thought there was no way I would ever make it through all 8. Somehow I managed to do it, and I did it in a faster time than I did on my second run.

They are small improvements, but improvements none the less. I'm going to keep up with this, I'd like to see what I can do.