5K, 10K Training- Love/ Hate Sitchy

So I realize that I have been neglecting the exercise portion of my blog so I decided it was due time to update you on my (5k) 10K training! Welp lets just say, things are heating up!

I am officially on week 7 of the Couch to 5K plan and we have a love/hate relash.  Yes, I absolutely love that feeling as I prance down the streets of New York after my run feeling powerful and strong and wearing "I just worked out and your jel" sweat all over my fun Nike track shorts, but, while said run is happening, I look a little bit like this:

Source

The interval training that happened the first five weeks was pretty right up my alley.  Running then walking left me satisfied but not felling sluggish.. Well my dear friends, interval training is over and its time to hit the treadmill at a nice run, consistently. My body hates me.  As I have told you all before, running was never really my jam. I always made excuse after excuse for why I just "couldn't run"- I don't have the lung capacity, I am bottom heavy (which is pretty much a lie...), my back hurts.  I am sick of it, so about 7 weeks ago I decided to take charge.

A lot of people probably say that training for a 5K should not take 9 weeks and that if I pushed myself hard enough, I could run 3.1 miles today.  Well you are right about part of that.  I am sure that if I pushed myself hard enough I could run 3.1 miles today, but I would end up being as discouraged as ever and making more excuses for why I "cannot run". I decided to do a program that would teach me to love running and would allow me to learn to trust my body and its capabilities.

Yesterday's run was probably the worst one yet.  I have had 6 weeks of great workouts and things have consistently gotten a little harder as I went along. However, yesterdays was like sticking forks into my eyes. Dull forks. I blame the weekend jousting tournament. However, looking back I am deciding to have a combination of positive outlooks about it:

1) It wasn't that bad, you made it out alive, move forward

2) It was terrible, therefore it cant get much worse and you made it out alive, so its only up from here! :)

I enjoy these. Either way, my 2.5 mile run yesterday (which took me 26.37 minutes, I have no shame, I am still learning how to be a runner, speed comes after) is now over and I am looking ahead to my 2.5 run tomorrow and Sunday. (hey, I am supposed to run 3 times a week but I have had such a mess of a week with the long weekend do you think its OK to count Sunday into this week's training as long as I don't count it with next week's as well? )

How are you guys doing with your training? Any of you make excuses that prevent you from pushing yourself?

Great Tips to Stay Motivated While Training

As everyone knows, I have been MIA because of my big move (dont worry, pics to come!) but lucky for me I have managed to still stay on my 5K training schedule!  Unfortunately, the move has kind of cramped my blog posts so Jenny over at Feet of Fancy was nice enough to help me out. Check out her great guest post below for some amazing tips to get yourself motivated for that first, second, third and bazillionth race!

How to Keep on Keepin' on

I'll be honest, training for your first race is hard. If you're just starting out with running and training for a shorter distance, like a 5k (go Jessica!), it's hard. If you've been running for awhile and are training for a longer distance, like a half-marathon or a marathon it's hard.

Between choosing a race, a training plan, finding the time to train,  and tracking your training it can feel a bit overwhelming. Everyone will face individual obstacles on the path to becoming a racing rock star but they one thing almost everyone will have to face during training, is a lack of motivation.  Sometimes, you just don't want to run.  No amount of cajoling, bribing or baked goods can make you run. But you've paid all that money and gotten this far, so what do you do when you can't seem to lace your running shoes up? Here are five things that might help:

1) Think about why you run

Sometimes you can get so wrapped up in training that you forget why you started running in the first place. I initially started running to get back into shape after too many late college nights, but running soon became much more than that. It was "me" time. Running helps me de-stress, clear my head and organize my day.

Now, I run to raise money for Team-in-Training while preparing for my first marathon. Whenever, I don't feel like going out for my runs, I think about what I'm running for- to help fund cancer research and prevent others from losing family and friends.

2) Remember that you will feel a zillion times better after you run

Seriously, I'm not lying to you. Your muscles might be tired, but you feel energized and ready to take on the world! You may even get lucky and find that elusive "runner's high." You won't forget it when you do.

3) Run with a friend

Honestly, there is very little that motivates me more to get moving  than knowing someone is waiting for me to join them on a run. When I'm really struggling to get out the door calling a runner friend and making a running date will quickly solve that problem.

It can be hard to find people to run with at first, but there are plenty of places you can try. Local running stores often have running clubs with people that run at all paces. If you have a blog or Twitter put a call out to readers or followers in  your area. Dailymile.com is another great resource (plus the people are amazingly friendly!)

4) Bribe yourself

I try to avoid bribing myself into running too often (otherwise I'd never need another reason to run), but sometimes it's all you can do. I usually bribe myself with the promise of new work-out clothes, but I have runner friends who bribe themselves with spa treatments, or race registrations. Wine is another popular option. Or margaritas. Or baked goods.

Find something that works for, so when those desperate times hit you can take the mature path and bribe yourself into getting out the door.

5) Remember that you paid cold hard cash for this race

Nothing motivates me more than reminding myself that I dropped money on a race. I hate feeling like I wasted money and once I've spent the cash I want to make sure I  get the most out of the event. The only way to ensure that is to train.

None of these methods are full-proof and certainly won't work for everyone, everyday. If these suggestions don't work for you, no worries, there are plenty of other tricks out there for getting out the door. Just find a way to get out there and run!

5K Training- Week 3, Done and Done

Wanted to give you guys the quick 411 on my progress with my 5K Training!  I just finished up week three and I have to say, this program is amazing.  Granted I have never really done a running program before but I really recommend Couch to 5K!  The workouts are easy enough that I am not getting discouraged but hard enough that I am prepared for the next week.  I mix things up a smidge sometimes and do a little bit extra walking or running at the end (you know the standard finish up the mile at a run, walk up hill to round up the calories burned kinda thing).

Either way, I was able to get my patootie (yes that is my butt I am talking about) out of bed three mornings in a row this week! Monday I was still struggling from reunion weekend but Tuesday morning I woke up and was raring to go! Dominated that workout.  Wednesday, a little hard but got myself going.  Today I almost convinced myself that it would be better to do it tomorrow but no, I wanted those endorphins and I wanted them bad.  Man, I got em! Feeling good today!


Here is the workout I did. Simple, nice.

Maybe Ill even go for a nice walk today after work with Amy during our Old Navy and H&M shopping extravaganza. Amalamadingdong and I were supposed to do said shopping on Tuesday after work but we both vegged and got our lives situated.  Today, shopping with occur. Wish me luck!

5K Training- Week 2, Day 2, and a Surprise

As you guys already know. I am currently training for a 5K (Woot Woot!) Today was the second day of week two of training and it felt great.  I really enjoy getting up early to get my workout out of the way (or at least, for now I am liking it).  The actual getting up part is a little hard for me still.  Today my alarm went off at 6:30 and I laid in my bed for 20 minutes running through the pros and cons of getting up vs. staying in bed. After 20 mins, I realized that if i was awake enough to have an analytical debate in my head, I really didn't have any reason to not get my bum outa bed and get to the gym. 30 min of training and 1/2 and episode of Hellcats later (no shame), I was dripping in sweat and loving every second of it. Today's workout felt amazing.  It was tough because I was a dumby and didn't turn the air conditioning on in the gym, but not so tough that i felt defeated.  Just well worked and satisfied.

Given my new love for feeling running (NOPE- feeling accomplished) I decided to jump on the bandwagon that my friends are driving (?- do you drive a bandwagon, o well you know what I mean) and I signed up for my first ever 10K as well.  Yes. I am sure I sound crazy. I can barely run one mile and here I am signing up to run 6.2 (6.4? How long is a 10K?- Bad sign?).  Welp. I decided that, in honor National Running Day, I was throwing out my my belief that I cant run and diving in head first :) No time like the present!

Roommate dearest has been begging people to do an athletic event with her and because this one is so far away, I decided that I would join.  I signed up for the NYC Rock N Roll 10K in October!

When did you guys do your first 10K? I hear that adrenalin really helps ya out! Heres hoping.

How are you guys celebrating National Running Day?

5K Training- Day 3 and Week 2 Begin

Just wanted to fill you in on my 5K training!  I am absolutely loving the Couch to 5K training program that I am doing.  I finished the first week strong and even threw in an extra workout on Saturday (I am just discovering that I get stir crazy if I don't workout at least every other day) and I ran a whole mile without stopping!  This is  a big deal for me, don't hate.  

Either way, this AM I rose early and went to the gym and felt fabulous! I am starting week two of my plan and this is what the week entails:

I loved this workout. Felt amazing after.  Stood in front of the air conditioner for a little while to cool down. It is HOT HOT HOT in the citayyy.

And We Are Off

Morning everyone! I have exciting news on the workout front over here!  I have finally decided to kick my "I cant run mentality".  Now, this is a huge deal for me.  I really do struggle to run, which is something that I can admit, without shame, has really held back my work outs. There have been times when I have tried to run, 1 mile here and there, but ultimately I give up before really allowing my body to transition from a walker to a runner.  After reading all of my favorite blogs about these wonderful women who overcame multiple things to become runners (injury, loathing, disgust for the idea of it like yours truly), I decided that enough was enough.  So, with the help of my fabulous friend Amy over at Fruit Salad Life, my sista, and my roomie, I decided to do a 5K. Amy showed me the well known Couch to 5K training plan and last night, I started it! It is a 9 week plan, which I know may seem extremely long for a lot of you who run miles and miles a day, but I am excited about being able to ease into this and allow my body and my mind to really throw my "I am not a runner" mentality in the trash! 

So week one looks like this:

(Source)

Simple enough right?

This training plan is perfect for me because, as many of you know, I LOVE walking. Any exercise involving walking is my JAM so therefore an exercise plan that will teach me to love running, that starts out with a lot of walking seems like the perfect fit! That being said, yesterday's first work out was a little bit too easy for me as I have been working out (with my incline walking) and haven't be on the couch.  I added a little extra walking at the end and some abs and strength training! I am feeling super good about this.  It is great to find something to work toward that is attainable and can truly make you feel accomplished.

Now all I need to do is pick the 5K.  

What is your favorite 5K you have ran? Any thoughts on which 5K I should run around September?