This is it. The real training starts this week. Tomorrow I'm supposed to run 3 miles, 4 miles on Thursday, 3 miles on Friday, and 5 on Sunday. I have not developed any mental toughness yet.....five miles might as well be 26.2 at this point.
I had a pretty lame running week last week. I had to take lots of 30-second walk breaks. I did some nutritional adjustments toward the end of the week that seemed to help. I have a history of being somewhat anemic. I thought it might be a good idea to look at what I usually eat and see how much iron I was getting. Yikes. I wasn't even getting 50% of the recommended amount. I got some of the supplements my doc recommended a while back. I prefer not to take supplements as I'd rather get nourished from real food, however, while I'm still on Weight Watchers, I feel like I can't consume enough iron-laden foods without going over my point values or overdosing on raw spinach. I also learned that tea can inhibit iron absorbtion. I probably drink two large pots of tea a day!!! I'm going to have to get some herbal stuff to feed my hot beverage addiction.
That little tweak should probably get me going again. I had some good weeks in there...that's why I was so surprised that I was such a lame slug this past week.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
A Wii Bit More
Just to address a few questions...
The Wii (around $260-300 depending on where you get it) comes with the Wii Sports disc which includes bowling, golf, tennis, baseball, and boxing....and the ability to give you sore muscles where you didn't even know they existed. It came with one wireless controller and we purchased an extra one (which I would advise for family togetherness).
Wii Fit was an add-on which cost us $89 (happy Mother's Day to me). It comes with yoga, strength, balance, and aerobic exercises and we haven't purchased anything additional to go with it. It weighs you, tells you your bmi (who knows how accurate it actually is) and does a body test any time you ask it to, in order to see how your balance is, etc. It keeps track of how much you've done, how many days.....tells you when you seem like you're getting too tired to do very well, etc. It will even tell you if it thinks you're obese. Yikes. Thankfully I haven't heard that yet. A year ago, I would have.
I still haven't exhausted all the games that are in Wii Fit. It rewards you by giving you new games and exercises for every large chunk of time you spend on it. So far I've got snowboarding, slalom, ski jumping, hula hooping, boxing, aerobics, about 10 different yoga moves, about the same amount of strength exercises, jogging, and a few other oddball games.
Again, if you're an athlete's athlete....you might roll your eyes at this but I think it's pretty cool.
The Wii (around $260-300 depending on where you get it) comes with the Wii Sports disc which includes bowling, golf, tennis, baseball, and boxing....and the ability to give you sore muscles where you didn't even know they existed. It came with one wireless controller and we purchased an extra one (which I would advise for family togetherness).
Wii Fit was an add-on which cost us $89 (happy Mother's Day to me). It comes with yoga, strength, balance, and aerobic exercises and we haven't purchased anything additional to go with it. It weighs you, tells you your bmi (who knows how accurate it actually is) and does a body test any time you ask it to, in order to see how your balance is, etc. It keeps track of how much you've done, how many days.....tells you when you seem like you're getting too tired to do very well, etc. It will even tell you if it thinks you're obese. Yikes. Thankfully I haven't heard that yet. A year ago, I would have.
I still haven't exhausted all the games that are in Wii Fit. It rewards you by giving you new games and exercises for every large chunk of time you spend on it. So far I've got snowboarding, slalom, ski jumping, hula hooping, boxing, aerobics, about 10 different yoga moves, about the same amount of strength exercises, jogging, and a few other oddball games.
Again, if you're an athlete's athlete....you might roll your eyes at this but I think it's pretty cool.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Oops!
I almost forgot. I ran 30 minutes again this morning. I took two 30-second walk breaks. It actually went fairly well but it was a little hot. I'm getting nervous for the heat of summer. What do all you runners out there do to keep cool when it's in the 90's and you're running several miles? Am I just overheating because I'm just getting used to running or does everybody feel like that when they're running in the hot sun?
Friday, June 20, 2008
Wii Fit, or in my case---Wii Aren't So Fit
If you're an avid exerciser/fitness nut, Wii Fit will probably not provide anything new for you other than a little fun. However, if you're a busy mom with not a whole lot of time to do anything but your work & running, it definitely helps you get a little bit more working out into your day. My legs are getting strong from running but the rest of me needs a little help.
I am a little intimidated going to an aerobics class because I am fairly uncoordinated. I can do the Wii Fit step aerobics here in my family room without injuring anybody or embarassing myself. I can take a run through the virtual park with my daughter regardless of the weather. I can learn Yoga exercises without all the eastern religion stuff that usually goes with a class. Slaloming down a ski hill is possible even in June, and I can float down a river in the middle of December. I don't have to leave the house and get a sitter. I can do this any time of day or night.
I haven't gotten to any seriously high-intensity cardio exercise yet, but new activities open up the more you use the program. I have broken a sweat, however, and the yoga really works your muscles. (just ask my thighs). It's a lot of fun and combined with the Wii Sports it's fantastic for families. My 6-year-old daughter can play against my 20-something sons and still have a shot at beating them. Everyone has a great time.
I guess what I'm saying is, if your idea of a good time is 6 hours on the eliptical machine followed by 400 push-ups....don't expect the Wii Fit to intensify your workout. If you just want to supplement your current exercise schedule, give it a try. If you're a complete couch potato or are a fitness newbie, definitely use this as something to get yourself into gear. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.
I am a little intimidated going to an aerobics class because I am fairly uncoordinated. I can do the Wii Fit step aerobics here in my family room without injuring anybody or embarassing myself. I can take a run through the virtual park with my daughter regardless of the weather. I can learn Yoga exercises without all the eastern religion stuff that usually goes with a class. Slaloming down a ski hill is possible even in June, and I can float down a river in the middle of December. I don't have to leave the house and get a sitter. I can do this any time of day or night.
I haven't gotten to any seriously high-intensity cardio exercise yet, but new activities open up the more you use the program. I have broken a sweat, however, and the yoga really works your muscles. (just ask my thighs). It's a lot of fun and combined with the Wii Sports it's fantastic for families. My 6-year-old daughter can play against my 20-something sons and still have a shot at beating them. Everyone has a great time.
I guess what I'm saying is, if your idea of a good time is 6 hours on the eliptical machine followed by 400 push-ups....don't expect the Wii Fit to intensify your workout. If you just want to supplement your current exercise schedule, give it a try. If you're a complete couch potato or are a fitness newbie, definitely use this as something to get yourself into gear. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.
Boring Post Warning!!!
Just checking in to let you know that I have nothing exciting to report, only that I am still being faithful to my training schedule.
I thought I would have trouble on my run last night because I overdid it on the Wii Fit. My thighs were SO sore. It was worth it. I'm not sure if it was the ski jumping or what but it worked some muscles in my thighs that running doesn't.
I am unhappy to report that I still have the arm strength of a gnat. Pushups are something I can only dream of. I can do a girl push-up (knees touching the ground ) but I am painfully weak. I think I better start picking up some of the free weights in the basement and do something to get rid of the 'batwings' I have in place of my triceps. I suppose it's better than the fat that used to reside there!
I thought I would have trouble on my run last night because I overdid it on the Wii Fit. My thighs were SO sore. It was worth it. I'm not sure if it was the ski jumping or what but it worked some muscles in my thighs that running doesn't.
I am unhappy to report that I still have the arm strength of a gnat. Pushups are something I can only dream of. I can do a girl push-up (knees touching the ground ) but I am painfully weak. I think I better start picking up some of the free weights in the basement and do something to get rid of the 'batwings' I have in place of my triceps. I suppose it's better than the fat that used to reside there!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Two Weeks and Counting
This has been a crazy week. Jim had to head to Florida to help out his parents after his mom had a heart attack last Sunday. She is home and doing better. Jim got home Friday evening. We both ran two days on our own last week. We usually do Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Because of babysitting issues, I had to do Friday morning instead of Thursday, which means I did Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I'm a little sore today, but yesterday's run was great! We actually pushed it to 30 minutes (no walk breaks) just because we were feeling so good! What a difference the cooler temps make. We ran right around 10:00 right after a storm as the moon was emerging from the clouds. It was incredible outside.
These last two weeks of pre-training are supposed to be four days of 30 minutes each. Then we start the real training and measure it in miles rather than minutes. I am still going at such a snail's pace that if I got any slower I think I'd tip over. That's okay. I'm still way ahead of what I ever thought possible.
These last two weeks of pre-training are supposed to be four days of 30 minutes each. Then we start the real training and measure it in miles rather than minutes. I am still going at such a snail's pace that if I got any slower I think I'd tip over. That's okay. I'm still way ahead of what I ever thought possible.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Am I A Runner Yet?
At 49 years of age, I have completed my first 5K. Okay, I might not have had the grace of a gazelle, nor been faster than a speeding bullet (or turtle for that matter), but I did finish!
I am so glad I did it. It was a very relaxed, fun time. Not a huge crowd. A few families running. It was good. And even though I took a couple short walk breaks, I still bought myself a few plants afterward at the farmer's market!
I know this is still small potatoes but it's huge for ME. I never thought I'd be able to do this. Somewhere I guess I must have had some hope buried deep in my head because I kept trying.
Jim and I did our run together on Sunday with no problems. It was fairly wet out so I kept hitting the trees overhead so they'd soak me and keep me cool. Jim had to make an unexpected trip to FL to be with his parents while his mom is in the hospital (she's going to be okay) so I ran today on my own. I ran it in the rain and I'm so glad I did. It got hot when the sun came out.
As you can see, I really have come to like running in the rain more than sunshine.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Wait Until Sundown!
We made a huge mistake yesterday. Jim got home from work early and we decided to head out for a run around 3:00 on what was probably one of the hottest days we've had this year. We nearly cooked. I had started out the run with a little bit of a headache, too, so by the time I got to about 20 minutes I was ready to croak. So I didn't run the whole 25.....we did it a little more Galloway style...which I need to stop feeling guilty about. I think I need to get some really lightweight dri-fit shorts. Even my running skirt wasn't cool enough. On the other hand, maybe I just need to get acclimated to the new warmer temps.
I registered for the 5K. Every time I hear someone refer to it as a 'race' I roll my eyes and laugh. There is nothing about what I will be doing tomorrow morning that could possibly be construed as 'racing'. Surviving, yes. Having fun, yes. Pushing myself, yes. Looking silly, possibly. Racing, not a chance! I am running it with a new friend from runnerslounge.com. Her stated goal(and a good one) is to have fun & cross the finish line with a pulse.
I registered for the 5K. Every time I hear someone refer to it as a 'race' I roll my eyes and laugh. There is nothing about what I will be doing tomorrow morning that could possibly be construed as 'racing'. Surviving, yes. Having fun, yes. Pushing myself, yes. Looking silly, possibly. Racing, not a chance! I am running it with a new friend from runnerslounge.com. Her stated goal(and a good one) is to have fun & cross the finish line with a pulse.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Ta Da!
Drumroll, please!
I (pathetic, non-athlete that I am)
ran
for
over
two
miles
without
stopping!!!!!
We jumped straight to the 25 minutes of running. I can't wait to do it again....and yes, I'm going to do the fun run on Saturday!
I (pathetic, non-athlete that I am)
ran
for
over
two
miles
without
stopping!!!!!
We jumped straight to the 25 minutes of running. I can't wait to do it again....and yes, I'm going to do the fun run on Saturday!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Will Run for Thermopsis Chinensis
What a great day! It was beautiful out. I got some gardening done and then Jim suggested we get ourselves in gear and go for our run. We both completed two 15-minute run segments and didn't have any problems. We even ran some hills -- on purpose!
This next week is supposed to be 4 days of 20run/5walk/20run/5walk....and the next week is 25run/5walk. We're toying with going straight to the 25/5 and doing it two weeks in a row. The reasoning? It seems harder to start up after a 5-minute walk break than just continuing to run. I feel like we could have gone farther today on that first 15 minute run.....but getting moving again was a bit of a struggle.
I think I might do a 5K fun run next weekend in Brighton. A friend from Runnerslounge.com mentioned the Shamrock Festival Fun Run and I think it might be a good thing to try. I've never done any type of race before and going to an event like this might help me feel more like a REAL runner. Okay, who am I kidding?.....maybe I just want to go to the Brighton farmer's market afterwards and indulge myself buying perennials. Hey, now THERE'S an idea. If I run the whole time, I can treat myself to some exotic plant! If I don't, I'll just have to turn around and go home. Sounds fair.
This next week is supposed to be 4 days of 20run/5walk/20run/5walk....and the next week is 25run/5walk. We're toying with going straight to the 25/5 and doing it two weeks in a row. The reasoning? It seems harder to start up after a 5-minute walk break than just continuing to run. I feel like we could have gone farther today on that first 15 minute run.....but getting moving again was a bit of a struggle.
I think I might do a 5K fun run next weekend in Brighton. A friend from Runnerslounge.com mentioned the Shamrock Festival Fun Run and I think it might be a good thing to try. I've never done any type of race before and going to an event like this might help me feel more like a REAL runner. Okay, who am I kidding?.....maybe I just want to go to the Brighton farmer's market afterwards and indulge myself buying perennials. Hey, now THERE'S an idea. If I run the whole time, I can treat myself to some exotic plant! If I don't, I'll just have to turn around and go home. Sounds fair.
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