Maddie's First Run

Here's Maddie before our first outdoor run this morning. I decides that as soon as she woke up we would be up and running. I had planned to go yesterday but it rained all day so instead I stayed in and did circuit training from the Insanity total body conditioning program.

I was a little nervous about going mostly because I didn't know how Maddie would like the run. You never know unless you try, right? It was a huge success. The weather was perfect. Maddie made not one peep the entire time. I ended up doing 2.5 miles but did some walking along the way. This was only my second run outside plus my first run pushing the jogging stroller so I will most certainly be happy with 2.5 miles with a few breaks of walking here and there.

I definitely enjoyed this run more so than my first run outside on Tuesday. It was nice having company with me and the weather was so much cooler. Now if Hailey can learn to ride a two wheeler, she can come along with me too. I am getting excited about my upcoming 5K run. I hope the weather is like today. Great running weather.

It is easy to now go about the rest of my day feeling like I accomplished another goal. I am looking forward to many more runs with Maddie and hopefully Hailey.

Outside Run=Success

Yesterday I did my first outdoor one on pavement, up and down hills, gravel roadsides and road kill! I had decided the night before that I was going to do a 4.2 mile loop on the roads surrounding my house. I didn't feel much up to it but I did it anyway because I had committed myself to it. No excuses, right? I was tired when I started my run which didn't start until 2 in the afternoon. It was also 85 degrees and humid. Not ideal running weather (conditions or time of day) for my first outdoor run but I was up and running.

At first I was very distracted. I realized that when I run on my treadmill, I have no concept of time. I run in the same place, looking at the same thing. When I was running outside, I was well away of how far I had run and how much longer I had to keep running to get back home. The end of one block just meant I had another whole long block to run. The run seemed to last forever. Plus the last mile leading to my home was pretty much all uphill. I had to break up some of this run with a minute of walking followed by a minute of running. When it was over, I felt great and VERY thirsty. Chris met me outside with a huge glass of ice water. After several glasses, I realized that I had just accomplished what I set out to do and it felt great. I can only get better from here. Only about 18 more days until my first 5K race (I ran one 15 years ago but I don't count that since it was so long ago). I hope I am up for it. I am going to keep running outside every other day, if possible. Tomorrow I plan on trying to go just 2 miles but pushing Maddie in a jogging stroller. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I will be up and running.

Cardio Power & Resistance

Today was an very early morning workout for me. I had a very busy day today so I had to make sure I was up and all worked out before Hailey was off to school. I did Insanity's Cardio Power & Resistance in preparation for an outdoor 4.2 mile run tomorrow (fingers crossed). I enjoyed this workout because it was intervals of cardio and toning. A nice balance between getting your heart rate up and then recovering while still working your muscles.

My goal for tomorrow is to run outdoors on the roads (hills included) a 4.2 mile loop around my neighborhood. I won't be able to run until later in the afternoon or early evening which worries me a little bit. I don't enjoy running/working out during these hours. I much prefer to do the morning but it isn't an option for tomorrow. I have a feeling it will be another instance of thinking this is going to be easy and then wondering why I ever thought that 5 minutes into running.

Let's see what happens...I will be sure to fill you in.

Outdoor Running

Today I ran 3.5 miles at the local track. It definitely is different running outside. It was windy and cold so it was harder to breathe especially since I have a cold. But it was easier to stay motivated because I could focus on different points to run to. When I run on the treadmill, I usually just focus on a plastic Rubbermaid storage container sitting on the basement shelf. My family came with me so it was nice to have company. Chris pushed Maddie in the jogging stroller. Yes, he walks as fast as I run. Hailey played on the bleachers and the track equipment and occasionally joined us for a lap around the track. It was great to have the motivation and the company.

I tried to do interval running. Two slow laps followed by a faster lap and then another lap faster than the last. Then start the cycle all over again. It sounded great but was hard to do. I averaged 14:30 minute miles which I was okay with since it was my first outdoor run. At least I know I can run the distance of a 5K. I also know that I am running less than 16 minute miles which is what I would need to run in the Disney Princess Half Marathon. That is still a long way away so I am sure by then I will reduce my time.

For my next outdoor run, I plan on running on the local roads which includes hills and a total of a 4.2 mile loop. Tomorrow I am just going to walk with a friend on the "rail trail" not far from my home. My legs are hurting tonight but in a good way. Here's a pic of me during my run today:

Cardio Recovery

Today was my cardio recovery day which mean a I basically did a workout that was still tough but was a much slower pace. Lots of squats and yoga poses. I can honestly say I am not such a big fan of the slow going tempo. Made a 40 minute workout feel like 2 hours. It was a nice change of pace though.

Tomorrow I am planning on doing my first run outside. I am going to the local track and will run 3.5 miles in preparation for my 5K race on May 15. The plan is to run 2 laps at a normal pace and then 1 lap faster than the first two and the next lap faster than the previous 3 laps. Then start the intervals all over again. I will time my laps to see how well I do. Fingers crossed I keep a good pace and do well.

Stay tuned...

Plyometric Cardio Circuit

The name of my post doesn't begin to tell you how hard Insanity's circuit training workout is. I am on Day 3 of this new total body conditioning program that will hopefully build my endurance for running. My legs are sore and I curse every minute of the workout but I continue to keep digging deeper. Yesterday and today's workout consisted of "suicide drills" and a warm up that felt more like a workout.

I still have to get outside to run in preparation for my 5K race on May 15. Maybe tomorrow I will do a quick run on the treadmill and then do the next workout with my new program. Until tomorrow...

Insanity...Dig Deeper

Today I tried something new. I am starting a new body conditioning program called Insanity by Shaun-T. This program is an series of high intensity interval training segments that is suppose help condition your body and build your core, endurance and cardiovascular health. So I might as well give it a try. Insanity's motto is "dig deeper." I truly feel that this is what I have done in the past three weeks every time I got on my treadmill to run. If I set out to run 1 mile, I dug deeper and ran 2. If I tried to do a mile at a higher speed, I dug deeper and kept running longer and faster. Once I achieved a goal, I never went backwards. I never settled for less than what I could do. I will couple this with running as well since I have really enjoyed running. Today I did the Fit Test. Boy was it a challenge. I was thankful for the minute rest in between each interval. I did switch kicks, power knees, power jumps, suicide jumps, push up jacks and low plank obliques. My hope is that I will become more conditioned so I can run faster and longer. In two weeks, I will take the fit test again and see if I have improved.

I am looking forward to May 15 when I run my first 5K. Today I wore new running socks and a new running shirt both of which felt great to wear. Apparently, "cotton is rotten" when it comes to socks when running so no more cotton socks for me. I really need to start cleaning out my old workout clothes---out with the old, in with the new.