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Health

10K runner – week one

 

Eek! I wanted to post this last week but had to go and find the picture I wanted 🙂

Last Sunday, June 14, 2015, I ran 15k on Toronto Island. That isn’t pretty impressive except for the fact that I think I ran about 5 km total in May and maybe 15 total in April. But I had signed up for the Nike Women’s 15k Toronto ages ago and, well, really wanted that necklace.

Nike + Tiffany & Co.
Nike + Tiffany & Co.

And I promised myself that if I did it and didn’t die or end up hating myself afterwards I’d regroup and move on. So I did.

Monday – Week 1 Day 1 of the 10k Runner app.

I think the app cost about $5 and it sets out three runs a week for 14 weeks for a total of 42 runs. I know I can run 10k BUT what I want to work on is consistency and, maybe, getting rid of the intervals – right now I still mostly run/walk (so I ran the 15k last week as running 5 minutes, walking 1) and I thought I should finally try to get rid of that. So we’ll see how it goes.

I’m also still recovering from a soccer injury to my wrist right now so I’m not able to do any yoga or strength work involving my arms. So for now at least, just the running. Oh and I’m aiming to run 4-5 times a week and not three like the app says SO the titles of these threads will follow my Monday to Sunday week and not the app’s ‘weeks’. So Monday was week 1 day 1.

Total time: 25 minutes Total Distance: 2.6 km Pace: 9:38 min/km

Tuesday – Week 1 Day 2 of the 10k Runner app. Went out at 9 pm which in and of itself is pretty impressive I think 🙂

Total time: 30 minutes Total Distance: 3.2 km Pace: 9:22 min/km

Wednesday – rest day!

Thursday – I had a physio appointment today. My wrist is getting better and I was given some exercises to do to start strengthening it. She said I should still hold off on strength training and yoga. Hopefully I’ll get the go ahead soon!

Friday – Week 1 Day 3.

Total time: 30 minutes Total Distance: 3.3 km Pace: 9:05 min/km – not sure where that improvement came from but it was nice to see!

Saturday – Busy busy family day! It was nice to go out with Q to a birthday party and stick to my eating plan.

Sunday – Week 2 Day 1

Total time: 28 minutes Total Distance: 3 km Pace: 9:19 min/km

Sunday – June 21 this time – was also the weigh in for a dietbet I’m in.  The idea is to lose 4% of your weight in 4 weeks. I was actually in two. One that ended on Sunday June 21 and one that ends Sunday June 28. I’m happy to say I made this dietbet’s challenge – now to keep it off for one more week!

Next week, I’ll try to run at least 4 times again and ideally 5, especially as I’m still not allowed to do anything that requires pushing, pulling, lifting or moving weights or applying any pressure on my wrist!

Categories
Health

Day 2…

saw this on facebook today:

http://fellowflowers.com/
http://fellowflowers.com/

It’s exactly what I needed to see today. March 2, 2015 was my “day 1” – which is why this post, on March 3, is called “Day 2.” I’m not sure how many “day 1s” I’ve had but I know it’s been a lot. But I know that having one more is better than not having another one at all.

I’m back to being close to my heaviest weight in recent memory and haven’t run in ages (3.25 km on February 11 in case you’re interested). My mid-February half in New Hampshire was postponed and I will DNS Around the Bay at the end of March. Both these things actually make me sad so I figured maybe I actually like this running thing (despite thinking that running is stupid) BUT the thought of jumping back in where I left off was way out of the question.

I thought about what my main goal is – and it’s to become healthier. And to do that I have to stop, uhm, stopping. So I thought I’d go back, way back, to the beginning. Start small in order to build the consistency; to make this a true habit. It’s always been a chore and I want to see if I can finally stop being my usual lazy self. I dug out the learn to run plan I did aeons ago but then realised that I’d do better if it was easier to follow (the plan I have is on a word document chart I made up in 2007 or something). Everyone always recommends the Couch to 5K program to new runners so I downloaded that. And did Week 1 Day 1 today 😀

My plan is to never go more than 2 days without running and to finish the whole program before our trip on May 3. It should be doable. I’ll let you know!

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Health

Taking a “weight loss” break

I updated last Sunday and promised to post pictures and update weekly about my weight loss. Except every time I do this something happens and I mess it all up so now I’m going to go the other way.

I’ll write about Q, and whisky, and lego and running and training but not at all about the weight loss. Hopefully then it’ll stop bugging me so much.

Wheeeee

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Family Health

Looking ahead – 2014

I don’t really do resolutions but I find myself looking ahead this year at what I want to do; what I want to achieve; how I want to feel when I look back over the year.

I want to be sure that I’m spending time with Q not just being present. Even silly things – we usually watch an episode or two of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse before bed. Instead of being on the laptop while sitting on the couch beside him, I’m going back to the “snuggle time” and playing and stuff during the show. It may seem like a small change but he seemed to really like it tonight.

I’m also going to try and be sure we get some outdoor time every week. I know he does at “school” (aka day care) but we need to get out as a family too.

Clearly, he takes a bit more after me than Toby…

low IMG_6177Spending time outside will actually be a bit easy (hopefully) now that Q is 3 (THREE!) years old, he and I are signed up for caregiver and tot skating lessons at a park close by the house. Our first lesson is Saturday morning. I’m so excited. I hope he likes it. Or at least is willing to go the second time.

I also want to spend more time with Toby. The trip to Dallas and Las Vegas over New Years was great but we should do more together at home too. Our big family trip looks to be a visit out west with Toby’s family. I cannot wait. They’re all so lovely (and I’m not just saying that on the off chance they read this!) and Victoria, B.C. is beautiful.

a relatively recent picture of Toby
a relatively recent picture of Toby

And finally I want to spend more time with myself. Ha, that sounds funny. I mean I want to do more quality things than just futz about online when I can’t sleep. I want to carve out some time to practice French, to knit and cross-stitch, and to bake – for others at least if I can’t have any!

Health wise – I didn’t meet my goal of running 1500 km in 2013 but I cracked 1000 km which I had never done before. Mostly that was thanks to the encouragement of my friends in doing a running streak through December (running at least a mile (or 1.6km) a day, every day, in December). Thanks to timing and everything I actually made it from November 30 to January 2. 34 days. Not too shabby. I was pretty inconsistent throughout the year and that’s the number one thing I’d like to improve on in 2014. I kept the same 1500 km goal though just to push myself 🙂

Weight wise – I lost, and kept off, about 22-25 pounds. I’m about 10 pounds heavier than my lightest weight in 2013, but considering we’ve just come out of the holidays, and 3 and a bit days in Las Vegas, I’ll take it.

I’m going to try and focus more on being healthier rather than just “lose the weight.” This also means I’m going to try and do other things beside running – a weekly spin class for example. Also yoga. I think I need more yoga. My hamstrings tell me so. And yea, ideally, I’d manage to lose about 30 pounds too.

Not to say running won’t be important. I already have a 10k and two halfs (one in Washington and one here at home) on the calendar for the year. I’m also hoping the 10 miler happens again this year. But I’m going to try and balance it with other things.

Anything you’re looking forward to?

Categories
Health

8 weeks till December 31

EEK!

I posted something on facebook the other day: do something you’re passionate about. If you aren’t then at least do it for a reason/cause you are passionate about. Also floss more.

I added the last bit ’cause I always put off flossing.

But I need to remember the earlier stuff – I may not be passionate about my work all the time for example, but it’s a great job and I get to be creative and learn new things on a regular basis. AND it earns me money, which means I get to go places with Toby and Q and keep the house heated etc.

I may not be passionate about ‘running’ itself but it has brought me some amazing friends and some amazing experiences.

No one is ever passionate about losing weight I don’t think but losing weight means I get to spend more time with Q (’cause I’ll be living longer right?) and buy nice clothes at regular stores and not be uncomfortable on the subway etc.

So I have 8 weeks to work on finishing this year on a high note. I’ve been sick and a bit blah lately as a result. I’m sure I’ve gained a bunch of pounds too. I’ll weigh myself in the morning so I can see (a) how far I have come despite the recent blah-ness and (b) I can see how well I’m doing each week from here on out.

I was gonna say: wish me luck! but I don’t need luck. I just need some reminders some times.