It's been a few days....

Not really sure why?  I'd been pretty good about blogging lately.  Usually I have more to say at the beginning of the week because of the weekend and then trail off at the end.  However, this week I don't have much to share.  Thursday Gage and I visited the zoo with my bestie from college, her sister and her little girl, Lauren, Gage's future girlfriend.  Unfortunately, I got zero pictures.  I'm kind counting on Jennifer to send me a few.  It was harder than I thought to push an empty stroller and to chase a toddler around a zoo- I didn't have any time to take pictures.  We have been there several times before so I didn't really need to take any of the animals, but I'd like to have gotten a few of the kids.  Thursday afternoon after nap we went swimming at a friend's pool.

Friday, Daddy was off work and I went in to work for a few hours.  We're supposed to go in a few days over the summer and usually in my case that doesn't happen often, so I thought I'd get a few things done before we ventured to the beach this week.  Yesterday was a pretty laid back day and we took advantage of tax free shopping to buy Gage some new Fall clothes.  This morning we went one more place and later on we might go swimming.  All in all, pretty much the most UNeventful weekend we've had lately.  Gage and I have been so busy during the week these days that it was nice to not do anything this weekend.  And as always, we're off again tomorrow.....headed to the beach for 4 days with Nana and Grandiddy.  After tomorrow it's supposed to be cooler weather, so we're looking forward to it.  I'll try and get up a few posts  before I leave.  Have a good week.  Stay cool!

Oh, I did get to run twice this week!  C25K, what?  Yeah, I know, better late than never though.  I still have my 20  min. run to do by Wednesday.  I'm seriously doubting that one's gonna happen, but we'll see.

Couch 2 5K: Week 5, Day 3....FAIL

This is the worst kind of failure too, I didn't even try.  I didn't get my tail out of bed early enough this morning before my husband left to run.  I anticipated having time tonight but since we are in the process of buying a car and Luke has been at the dealership for the last 3 hours, looks like that won't happen either....boo!  I was really dreading this run and looking forward to it all at the same time.  Better  luck next week for me.  Now I'm deciding should I do Day 1 over as well or just Day 2 twice?  Either way, I'm not moving on 'til I do Days 1, 2 and 3 all in the same week!  Now, I'm off to study, wahoo!  Hopefully we'll have a new car by tomorrow night!  Happy Weekend.

Couch 2 5K: Week 5, Day 2

Yesterday was Gage's last day of daycare and my last official day of not being a SAHM for the next 8 weeks.  After studying of course, I was pondering what to do with my last day off when I read good ole Heather's blog.  If you remember, Heather is my virtual running buddy and she was bragging ;) about how she has just finished her 8 min. runs so I figured I better get to it as well.  I wasn't sure if I would be able to run 2 8-minute stretches, especially at 10am in the sun. (I usually run at night.)  But lo and behold, I did it!  I didn't feel great afterwards, or during, for that matter, but I successfully ran the whole time I was supposed to. 

Now, for the final goal of the week:  Run straight for 20 mins!  Yeah, right!  Wish us both luck!

Thanks and Couch 2 5K Update

Thanks to all of you who have told me to get my tail off the computer and study.  I actually spent 2 hours last night with a practice test, so I felt ok about blogging today, although I haven't studied.  There are many things I need to blog about- our trip to the beach, our weekend and what's to come this summer, but for some reason I'm feeling stressed right now and can't wrap my head around blogging about these things.  I also have a WAY overdue blog post about Gage's dinosaur bathroom and his vocabulary.  Also, we had family pictures today- oh my, looks like I have posts for a good 2 weeks or so.  Anyway, I will leave you with this....

I completed Day 1 of Week 5 today without a hitch, I'm a little nervous about Day 2.  Supposed to rain the next few days, so shooting for Wed.

Have a great week!

Couch 2 5K: Week 4...done

I cheated again, but again, I have a good excuse.  I have run the Week 4 routine 4 times, twice last week and twice this week AND I didn't walk at all when I was supposed to run AND I know Week 5 is going to kick my butt, so becuase I am comfortable with Week 4 after having done 2/3rds of it twice, I am moving on.  Good luck to me, I suppose.  I am pretty certain I'll have to repeat Week 5, with the 20 min. run...hah!  so might as well do that one 48485 times instead of Week 4 that I already know I can do.  Now, let's see if I'll make some time to run at the beach.

P.S.  I was going to run tonight, but the winds are 18mph and since I've done it 4 times.....well, I'm a cheater, what can I say?

Couch 2 5K: Week 4.5

Yes, it's true, I have to do another week over, due to more heat advisories and thunderstorms.  However, the good news it that I have done 2 days of Week 4 and am trying for 3 days of Week 4 this up and coming week.  I was hoping to one day catch up with my virtual running buddy, but it looks like she remains a week ahead...rats!  I will say I have made it through both of the Week 4 days with no walking when I'm supposed to be running, so I'm proud of that!  I didn't think at first I could make it, but I did....yesterday, I ran/walked a total of 2.5 miles.  I'm not sure exactly how much of that was running, but I guess it gives me a good gauge for the future.  I am pretty sure I run as fast as a normal person could walk, however.  And tonight's run I think was pretty much identical to last night's- neither faster, nor slower. 

If you are thinking of doing this, again, I recommend a running podcast that tells you when to run/walk, I also recommend mapmyrun.com if you don't have some sort of GPS that'll tell you how far you've gone. It's really easy to use, you just have to remember your route and it'll at least give you a good idea of how far you've run.  So until next time....I will try to run Wed. or Thurs., I'm taking tomorrow off!

Couch 2 5K: Week 3

Success!  I finished Week 3 w/o a hitch.  Given I did all 3 days in a row- it was when I had time, still, I finished them and I felt pretty good.  I'm not gonna lie that 3 mins. at 1st was hard (how pitiful is that), but I do feel like by today's last interval it didn't seem so long.  We shall see how this next week w/ 5 min. intervals goes.  Until then....I will update soon on our wonderful weekend w/ the grandparents and my countdown to Summer!

Couch 2 5K: Week 2

Ok, so I have completed Week 2 of the C25K program....sorta.  See, in my last post I mentioned that I got through part of Week 2 and then got bronchitis....so this week was my do over week.  Well this week, much crappy weather got in the way of being able to run as much as I wanted, so I only was able to get in 2 runs.  However, b/c I did one before I got bronchitis, I am cheating a little and saying that I finished Week 2.  At least I'm being honest w/ the Internet world and saying that I'm cheating, but there are a few reasons for it.

One, I wasn't struggling at all to finish the 90 seconds.  I felt good about it and felt that I could've gone a little further each time.  Two, I would've actually finished this week by running tomorrow night too, but they have already issued a heat advisory starting tomorrow at noon and lasting through the night until Tuesday night.  The actual temperatures are supposed to be upper 90's, breaking 100 on Tuesday and heat indices in the 105's......therefore, I will not be running.  I'm not hardcore like that....at all.  I ran tonight when it was in the 80's and I thought I was pretty badass.  Anyway, thirdly, I don't want to do Week 2 AGAIN, for the 3rd time, because I honestly do think I can handle Week 3.  So, I guess we'll see.  And if I'm wrong, I will gladly go back to Week 2 and if this takes me all damn summer, than so be it.

One thing I do want to mention if you are interested at all in doing this- I found a running podcast on iTunes.  Apparently, there are many, but I just came across a pretty popular one and have used it.  The idea is that it tells you when to run/walk with a voice prompt and you don't have to check any kind of device for time, which is KEY for me.  When I used to do this at the gym, I would constantly stare at the clock on the treadmill and it would drive me nuts and this time I was trying to stare at my cell phone while I ran down the street.  This way, I have NOTHING to look at and just run until they tell me to stop.  It's a good thing for me.  Maybe not for others.  The one thing I will say is that on this particular podcast,  the music sucks.  But again, it's worth it to me because of the voice prompts.  I have heard it's not hard to make one of your own as far as putting in voice prompts, but I personally don't have the time for that right now.  Hell, I barely have the time to run!  So, there you have it....Week 2- check!

I will be beginning Week 3 hopefully Wednesday evening.  Wish me luck, since I'm a cheater!

Couch 2 5k Running Program

This was a program that I began back in Jan/February of 2009.  I was going to finally 'learn' to run.  Now don't get me wrong, I didn't think I was going to run in a marathon or anything, but I did want a sense of accomplishment in training for something and finishing it....so I set my sights low....on a 5k.  It was fine, it was going to be enough for me and I was excited to see how I could progress from being able to not run at all, to actually running a few miles at a time.  Plus, running is quick exercise that keeps you in good shape AND you can do it anywhere and not have to have a membership to a gym.  In Feb. of 2009, I did have a gym membership and liked to change up my routine frequently as not to get bored and since it was cold outside I used their treadmills to begin my Couch25K. 

Anyway, fast forward a month later...I found out I was pregnant and never ran again....ha.  I know, I know, I didn't have to quit altogether, but I mean starting a new fitness program/routine isn't exactly the best choice when you just find out you are having a baby.  So needless to say, there went my Couch25K....I was up to running 2 miles alone, so I always said I'd return one day.

Today is the day.........or rather a few weeks back was the day.  As much as I have wanted to, I have not worked out since March of 2009 when I first found out I was pregnant.  I mean, I have taken Gage on plenty of walks, etc., but never have I truly worked out for myself again.  I have said- when he's 6 months, when he's a year, etc....but, there's always something else to do and I have found it really hard.  Even after he goes to bed, which is early, there's always something to do around the house, rather than work out.  Anyway, enough of my rambling....I AM BACK.  hah...Heather over at Life with the Ardies (can we say cutest kid ever??) mentioned something in her blog that she wanted to begin a running program and was looking for some support.......I gladly stepped up to the plate and thought that with the 2 of us motivating each other, we were bound to succeed! 

I got through the 1st week easily and was about to get into the 2nd week when I got bronchitis....so I am actually beginning Week 2 over again starting tomorrow.  I figure if it takes me longer than the 9 weeks it's supposed to, that's ok, I just want to reach the goal.  So....here I am- I have committed now to the Internet world to get this thing  going, so let's hope it works out!  Heather is already on Week 3, so I'm a little behind, but again, as long as I finish....

Now, I know some of you, 'runners' are laughing at me because I'm trying to 'train' for a 5k....but I'm telling you, running has never been my thing so it's still a pretty big deal for me.  Wish me luck!  Or at least wish that I'll get off my butt and get back into some kind of exercise program!  (Other than Billy Blanks on OnDemand!)

Anyone care to join?