1 Week Down........

Preface: If you are some Olympic runner, Nazi marathon runner, have run every day of your life since God was a boy, or anything under that category........keep in perspective that I have never run anywhere in my entire life. Once, I actually ran from a bug....but it was chasing me, and I had a baby on my hip, and dragging another one behind me. I was saving the lives of my children. It was pretty impressive, according to the German tourists that were watching this sight at Red Rock. Other than that one time, I don't do it. There has never been anyone chasing me with a knife or gun, so I felt no need for any type of exertion. So, this is a big deal for me! Just keep that in mind when you are reading, and laughing at my wimpiness. I would appreciate it. 

Well, I did it! I made it one week, following the schedule exactly! That was the hard part for me! I figured I would do this one or two times, and then......not do it again. HAHA! But nope! I pushed myself, and paid attention to myself, and I did it!

1 week down! Who thought I'd even do that?! Not me! HAHA!

So, here's what I've learned this week:

-I have learned that I like to run in the morning, before the day starts. I feel stronger. I feel happier. I am more patient. I am calmer. I just feel good about myself. I feel like I'm walking around with a sign on my shirt that says, "I just ran this morning. I hated it, but I did it. I even did it without a Dr. Pepper before hand. What did you do this morning, SUCKA!?" HAHA! I'm gonna maybe need to make that t-shirt, now that I think about it. HAHA! I ran a few times, at night, and I had a harder time focusing, and relaxing, because I was already so tired. I kept thinking of all of the things that needed to get done around the house before bed, and I started to cheat, and shorten my walks, runs or whatever. So, if I can, morning run on the treadmill it is!.....(hanging my head in disbelief) You were right Lisa.....

- I have learned that I can't watch the miles run, because that is defeating to me. I always think I've run farther than I have, and then I get so frustrated when I look down, and it's not what I was expecting....in fact, it's less. I pay attention to my time, instead. I keep a short term goal of, "Ok, I gotta run 2 minutes, so at 13 minutes, I can walk, then I have to start again at 15 minutes." I also have to do this 7 times, so I make a visual check list in front of me. I put a dot on the page, for each 2 minute run, so I can see that I'm half way done, or whatever. It works for me. So, time is more important to me, than miles.

- I have learned that it is TRUE! All of those nutty runners were actually right! I need to keep my arms bent, and my hands relaxed, with my arms close to my body. If my hands are relaxed, my whole body relaxes, and it just does what it needs to. If they are closed then I tense up, and I drag my feet, or tighten up, and I don't perform as well. Also, I've been trying to keep my head up, and my shoulders relaxed and down as well. I already have terrible balance, so if I start looking around, I'm all over the place. But if keep my head up and work on keeping my shoulders down and back, I can keep a pretty good pace, and I don't look like a drunk guy running from the cops. HA! The only problem I'm having now is getting sweaty.....I really don't want my arms close to my sides when I am sweaty. LOL! I gotta find a way around that, because it's gross feeling. HA!

- I have learned that it is important to breath. HAHAHA! Seems dumb, right? No! I freaking hold my breath, or my breaths get shallow when I run! I have noticed that when I'm getting tired, or feel like I can't do 30 more seconds, if I breath deep, and blow it out, it's like a second wind! I can go even longer. So, it's something I'm working on, and trying to remember to do, and it's totally helping a lot. I feel like I'm coaching myself in child-birth....."Just breath! Blow it out. Come on, one more time." HAHA!

- I have learned that I need music. Allan has 2 monitors in front of his walking desk, where he works, which is where I run. He watches shows while he runs, and he can go forever. For me, I need music, and I find that I do the same thing I did when I was walking. If I focus on the music, and really concentrate on the words and just focus on that, I can get lost in it, and just go and go. It's a nice mind flip for me. HA!

- I have learned that after a week of doing this, I can actually go longer than I thought I could! I was dreading next week because I have to do 3 minutes running, and 1 minute walking. Right now I'm 2 and 2. In the beginning, was dying at the end of my 2 minute run! HAHAHA! But, today, I did my last 2/2 and I found myself going over time by 15 seconds, and not being too tired. I just walked, because that's what I'm supposed to do. The last 2/2 was harder though, but I had also upped my speed a bit.

- I have also learned that I do have a comfortable speed, and if I mess with it, I get thrown completely off. Its not fast, but it works for me. I walk at a 3.8 on the treadmill, and run at a 5.2-5.3. If I change the running down to a 5, or a 4.8, slight difference, I'm actually really, physically, uncomfortable. That speed works well for now, but I'm trying to increase it little by little each day I run. I have kept my cool down walk, at the end of the run at a 4.2. It's faster, but after a minute, it's comfortable, and it's not such a shock when I stop. I don't know why. I don't find out why, I just do it. HA!

- I have also learned that, for me, stretching afterwards is really important. HAHA! I get so tight, and so sore afterwards, when I don't. But, if I stretch for even a few minutes, my body and my attitude feel so much better. However, I learned, I have no idea how to stretch. HAHA!  You'd think it's common sense, right?!

There are parts to this that I'm not sure what I'm doing, like the days I don't run, I have strength training (what is that?!), and then I have to do Yoga or Pilate's another day. So, Allan and I tried some Yoga videos. The first one was too granola for me. HAHA! I couldn't handle it. Like, I'm pretty sure that girl has never touched a razor in her life. The second one wasn't very good because she didn't actually show you how to get into those odd positions, and what you were supposed to be doing. HA! Then, we did the Jillian Michaels' Yoga dvd.......I only got 6 minutes in, basically gave Jillian the finger, said some other words, and said, "I'm done". HAHA! Allan was even surprised by that response. That part may or may not need a little work. HA!

So, as far as my mentality, I am actually feeling really really good! I am making small, short term goals, and reaching them, and it's not as hard as I thought. And I am making long term goals and seeing that I'm getting closer to reaching those too. I am excited to see if I am able to lose a bit of weight also, so it helps in the physical department, because that will help my confidence too. But, I feel really happy, I feel stronger, I feel energized, and I feel generally good! Most importantly, I feel proud of myself for trying to keep going, and push through when I don't want to do it. I'm seeing that I CAN do it! And it's awesome! I am so excited to see what more I can do!

So, next week is the week where I run for 3 minutes, and walk for 1 minute. I'm scared. HAHA! But, after today, especially, I feel confident that I can kick next weeks ass too! Let's see how this goes next week! Stay tuned, as the drama unfolds........