8.11.12

I ran my first 5k! It was a cold, windy, drizzly morning in Cleveland; but I managed to drag myself out of bed at 6 AM (!!!) and get there.

I was nervous. I was tired. I had to pee, constantly. Buuuut, I did it! Sort of. I walked a TON more than I would have liked to, but more than half of the course was covered in rocks. Even people in non-barefoot shoes had lots of trouble, so I'm glad that rocky courses are not common. According to my GPS, the course was also .25 miles longer than an actual 5k. Hrmmm. I mean, it wasn't the greatest introduction to racing. The "buzz" and the "energy" that people talk about was pretty much absent, and the people running the race were crabby and not helpful.

But I will do it again! And I will train hard, so I can actually run most of the next one.

My time sucked so I don't even want to share, but I finished it. And that was my main goal.

yucky run

Today was my first run on pavement. Up until now, I've always run at the parks near here, but I figured I better get used to running on pavement for my 5k. It started out reasonably well! I was chugging along at a decent pace, ignoring the people gawking out of their car windows (I mean, do they really think all fat people sit around in fat scooters watching soap operas and eating Big Macs?) and enjoying my awesome new running mix from RockMyRun.

But then I started to get hot. And thirsty. Really, really thirsty. I've read that short runs (under 5k) absolutely do not require water, but I have a tendency to doubt that when I'm doubled over after 30 minutes, honestly about to drink out of a random stranger's garden hose. (I would not do that, though; because if there's anything worse than dying of thirst, it's looking like an idiot.) But anyways. I had to stop ~23.5 minutes into my run because vomiting seemed like a very real possibility.  I'm absolutely certain I could have kept going if I had been properly hydrated.

I have my eye on this water bottle, which looks inconspicuous enough; and you can clip it to your waistband. I already feel like a packmule while running (heart rate monitor, armband, iphone, car key in hair...), and this will just add even more of a ~special touch.

Workouts this week: 1
Miles walked/ran this month: 30.1 eep, next month it will just be "miles ran"!
How awesome I feel today: 8

l o l

I'm a Zumba-er, but I am getting more and more interested in Crossfit. I found this, and I DIED.

"No, you really don't get it. Zumba is the cult. You all just want an excuse to wear ugly clothes and dance like idiots."

it's true, though

it's happening

Whenever I undertake weight loss endeavours, it inevitably takes me quite a long time before it actually registers that I'm really losing weight. I write the first 5 - 10 pounds off as water weight, and next few as "just getting lucky". It usually takes at least 15 pounds before I actually consent to the fact that, yes, I am getting smaller; and, yes, it's because of sweat, tears, and nixing the french fries.

I'm almost 25 pounds down, as of Saturday. I looked in the mirror yesterday and it was actually comical how my XXL shirt was hanging off my shoulders and swallowing me up.

Looking in the mirror is starting to suck less, lately.

just a quickie

:-P

• I registered for the Reggae Run! Officially! It's 2 weeks from this Saturday, and I'm nervous. But I'm fairly certain I can do it.
• I joined a 10 week challenge on MFP! The women in the group seem really nice and supportive, and the tiny bit of competition might do me well. I have been extra exercisey since I joined yesterday, because I gotta rock that first weigh-in! 
• I went running tonight even though I'm tired, hungry, and it's raining. Caroline-from-3-months-ago would still be watching reruns of How I Met Your Mother and stuffing her face with pizza. I have a feeling she would be scoffing at me. But I think she's so gross, and I never want to associate with her again.
• I've been considering my gymish options. I'm really never going to be able to do Zumba in the fall (waaaaah!), so I don't think I'm going to renew my membership to the Natatorium. It's a wonderful facility, but it's super pricey and I'm intimidated by the strength training area. Which is really the only thing I'd need out of the gym, if I'm getting my cardio through running. 
• Crossfit? I'm seriously contemplating giving it a shot. The intro class is free, so I think I'm going to sign up and see what they could do for me. It seems painful and hardcore, but I want to be awesome and it does seem to make people awesome. 
• I said "goodbye" to the 250s today. First 270, then 260, and now 250? Life is good. Total weight loss to date: 21.4 pounds! I don't think I've had this sort of success with anything before. 
• Our exchange student arrives in exactly 3 months hahahaHAHA did I say "months"?  WEEKS. THREE. WEEKS. Dear god. 

Workouts this week: 3

Miles walked/run this month: 24.5

How awesome I feel today: a solid 7. could be better, could be much worse...

week 5, day 3

also known as The Day I Ran for Twenty Minutes/1.94 Miles and Didn't Hate It.

I DID IT. If this blog ever shows up on search results for C25K W5D3 (I totally googled that last night, ngl), just know that you CAN do it. Trust the program - it would not make you do something you can't do. I had to push myself, but it was doable.

Anyway. So, so proud.

Workouts this week: 4
Miles walked/ran/awesomed this month: 19.7

aaaand AWESOME!

First week back to work, and I survived. I actually managed to stay more on plan than I usually do on weekends, what with the very rare opportunities to put food in my face. No, I spent my weekend putting food in babies' faces. "Fun" isn't quite the word for working 10 hour days with three small children, but I survived.

Yesterday was the first day in almost a month I didn't do a scheduled exercise; and, yes, I felt shitty about it. I would make an excuse, but excuses suck. However, I did do my running this morning, way early so as to not actually roast in the obscenely hot temperatures that are apparently a thing this week. I ran in the 90s last week and I felt queasy for hours afterwards. Never. Again.

I'm on week 5. Oh dear god. I was anticipatory as all hell, but I ROCKED it. I went from nearly dying during the 3 minute and 5 minute runs last week to being perfectly dandy with just 5 minute runs. Curious. This week is going to be awesome, I can feel it. Challenging, but awesome. Looking at the program, this week seems to be the real turning point - if I can get past it, it'll be smooth sailing from here on out. :) I'm 99.9999% sure that I'm going to do the Reggae Run in Cleveland on August 11, but I'm going to make sure I can do the full 20 minute run at the end of the week before I sign up.

I ordered a heart rate monitor (the Polar FT4, to be exact), and it should be here this afternoon! I can't wait to try it out.

Workouts this week: 1
Miles walked/run this month: 15.54