Training: Weeks 2 and 3

I'm happy to report in that Rusty and I completed Week 2 and are nearly done with Week 3! Woo Hoo!!!

We didn't stick exactly to the training schedule for Week 2 (we made some exercise substitutions) so for that, we did NOT treat ourselves to ice cream. It's probably for the best, anyway. Week 3 has been a little different, also, so I don't see that ice cream is in my near future... oh well.

Now I know excuses don't matter, but we've had something unexpected come up that's hindered our plans. When Rusty worked at 24 Hour, we had free memberships, as one of his benefits. Well, he's not worked there in over a year and a half, but our memberships were never cancelled. I went to the gym a couple of weeks ago, and got in to workout without a problem. (You see, Rusty and I always joke that one day we'll walk in to work out, only to be told our memberships were cancelled, and it's like playing Russian Roulette - we just never know when it's going to happen.) Well, last week, during Week 2, the bullet came out. I went up to the gym for my non-running workout and sure enough, I was denied access.

On my way home, I was actually a little upset, thinking, "How dare they cut us off?!?" Of course it's something that should've happened a LONG time ago, so I had no right to be upset, but I was TOTALLY bummed! So anyway, we've had to kind of improvise for that workout because let's face it - there's not an *insert your favorite cardio machine here* just sitting on every street corner. I've still been logging the time, but it's been spent doing activities that I know aren't as productive as what I would've done at the gym.

We have done all of our running though. It's getting easier, that's for sure, but it doesn't get any more fun. I forgot about that part. We are still no where near where we need to be, but we will get there. I'm honestly so thrilled that we've stuck with it for this long. We have a short weekend getaway trip coming up soon, so it'll be interesting to see how that affects us. Hopefully the little adjustments we'll have to make in our schedule will be good in that they are just something different to do for a couple of weeks.

Keep sending motivational thoughts our way - I know we could use them, and they've been helpful thus far!! :)

TTFN!

Training: Week 1 Update

Well... I successfully completed my first week of training! Woo Hoo!!! I think I'm more excited about the ice cream I'll treat myself to tonight, rather than the huge accomplishment. Honestly, though, I'm really proud of what I did. It's probably been close to a year since I've really run. This week was NOT easy, and the runs weren't even that long or hard. It'll be interesting to see how I handle the next 15 weeks. **GASP**

I will go on to say that running is only a small part of the training. There's a good bit of walking and power walking up front, along with other forms of cardio, like cycling or the elliptical, as well as some strengthening. Of the 7.5 miles I logged this week, only 2.5 of them were actually spent running. The other 5 were all walking/power walking. This morning was just a run - 1 mile. I ran it in 11:50. Not great, but it's the first full mile I've ran all at once in I don't know how long. I'm elated I actually finished it without stopping! I think I'm most excited to see how this particular stat changes over the coming weeks.

Rusty's done very well also! He's done everything except today's run, which I know is on the docket for him at some point. (I know he'd hate to sit there and watch me eat ice cream all by myself. That wouldn't be very fair to him...) I like that we're doing this together, because we can help motivate each other. It's also a little bit of healthy competition. At least when he comes out doing better than me at the end of all this I can blame it on the life-changing, body-altering surgery I had. He he! :)

On a side note, most of our motivation in this is to lose some of our baby weight. I know weight is just a number, but right now it's the only point of comparison I have for how I'm doing. I had 9 pounds to lose when I started this journey last week. I will go on to say that I honestly don't care if I lose all 9 pounds - I just want my old clothes (pants...) to fit again. I like it when my pants button comfortably. :) As of this morning, I'm up 2 pounds, which I'm SO EXCITED about, so that brings the grand total to 11. As we get further along in this process, I'll start having better stats that I can compare. I'll also add that Rusty's gone up a pound or two this week, which makes me feel better. (You know that joke "Lord, if you can't make me skinny, then please make my friends fat!" ??) The ice cream tonight will also help with that...

Well, here's to a successful first week, and what I hope will be a successful second week!

TTFN

Training: Week 1

So yesterday Rusty and I (really just "I" but he agreed...) decided its time for us to get back to our pre-baby weights. We started a new exercise plan yesterday - we are training for a half marathon. (And yes, I said so WE can get back to OUR pre-baby weights...)

I had an old magazine sitting around that talked about training for a half marathon in just 8 weeks. Now I'll say up front that is a little too ambitious for me. I'm still working on just getting around normally again, since the c-section. It's going to be a slower ride for me, that's for sure. We've come up with a 16 week plan... starts off nice and slow, which will hopefully be the start we (I) need.

I read through the training plan yesterday, which is broken out day by day for 8 weeks, starting with a Monday. I was very excited to see that Monday was a "rest" day. Woo hoo! Day 1 down, but does it really count?? Rusty and I both agreed to our modified (aka less intense) training plan... and we both successfully started today! It'll be exciting to see how we do, how far we make it, etc. I'd love to be writing in 16ish weeks to say that Rusty and both successfully completely our training and RAN a half marathon. How cool would that be?!

I have two short term goals to get through this week. They are:
1.) To complete today's exercise. **NOTE** I did! That was the first time I've ran in over 10 months... note to self - wear at least one extra sports bra.
2.) Do Day 3's exercise no matter how bad I want to die from being ridiculously sore after Tuesday's run...
I think if I can get these 2 done, I'll be able to make it through the rest of the week. Assuming I make it through all the exercises on Sunday, I'm going to treat myself to ice cream.

I'll be sure to keep you posted on our progress... I'm sure we could use your support and motivation to keep up our efforts and good work!

TTFN!