Week 1 ... OFFICIALLY check.

Just in case you're an excuse-maker-upper (like me), check this out:



so ... I feel about 2 inches big. I am like an excuse machine.

Getting out today was harder. But I did it. The aforementioned video helped.

It's soooo cold here. Single-digit highs this weekend. I had to work today, but only 9-12, so I figured ... I'll just run after. Problem #1 - It's cold: I didn't want to go back out after knowing what the outdoors had to offer. Problem #2 - I was hungry.

Anyway, I got out. Got to the fitness center and it's busier then usual (read: there were more people there than just me and possibly my roommate). And all the treadmills were full. So I did 5ish minutes on the bike and a treadmill freed up. I was embarassed to do my walk/run thing in front of other (more fit) people, but I sucked it up and did it anway. (go me.)

1.8mi
r1 w1.5
pace: 11:00/18:00

Yes, I did the couch-to-5K today. and I loved it. Especially the podcast - it was everything I hoped for. I wasn't a slave to the clock today and it made the run so much more enjoyable. And the music is really upbeat as well.

One problem: I didn't realize you couldn't listen to podcasts as your music during Nike+ workouts ... oh well - Nike+ will have to wait for 9 weeks. He'll probably log better when I'm not changing my pace constantly anyhow.

p.s. Not that you couldn't notice on your own, but I changed the layout. I really liked runner girl, but that white on black was killing my eyes.

Day 2

At least of running. I guess Day 4ish of my new daily fitness regime. News: Pilates HURTS. I have some muscles aching today I forgot I had. Most notably: neck & obliques. This made the running a little uncomfortable today but still totally doable. I'm still not sure what I want to do about the speed. Today was the same as before - 11:00 pace for the running intervals and about 18:30 pace for the walking.

The treadmill's not forever of course, just until the sun is out either before or after work - right now it's complete darkness. Also I would prefer not to spend a lot of time running out side when it's below freezing. I didn't particulary like the quarter mile walk to the treadmill in the snow this morning. But it is winter and I might have to get over it. We'll see.

I've invested in the Nike+Ipod system. I've heard good things about it. And I figure even if I don't want to run with music on any given day, I can still wear the Nano and get some feedback about my runs.

I think I've decided to stick with my original plan for training up to 30 minutes. Hopefully I can sustain the 11:00 pace easily so that it's only a matter of shaving off 1 minute from each mile (probably not as easy as it sounds, but definitely easier than shaving off, say, 3 minutes per mile).

I'm considering the Komen Race for the Cure 5K for my first race and also as my qualifying race for Half-Fast's Shave Your 5K Challenge which I recommend all of you take part in. (The way I see it, I have to get faster between my "I hope I can run the whole thing without stopping 5K" and a 5K in Nov. or Dec. -- right?)