Saturday, October 31, 2009

Finished week 3

Yep, finished my 3rd run for week three Friday. Not too bad, I did sweat something fierce and I have decided I need to find a way to hold back my hair when I run. Having hair in my face I tend to hold my head down which affects my breathing. Running is hard enough I don't need anything to make it harder. The C25k podcasts by Robert Ullrey are terrific. Almost like having someone running with you. I would love to find a real running partner. I haven't figured how to find anyone yet but I will keep trying. I know a few people that run but they are all so much further ahead in their running abilities. The slow, steady progress seems to be working so far... it is difficult to not jump ahead and on every workout I have to tell myself to stay with the program.

Finally went to HG Harders park, been wanting to check out this park -- turns out the walking path is pretty cool. Total of 2 miles with a good portion of the path is NOT paved. This should be much better for my knees. Today I start week 4 and I will take the overweight Lab with me. While the dog & I are running, my best friend is going to have her camera. The path goes around a pond and the birds are migrating! During our visit yesterday we saw a kingfisher, several wooodpeckers, bluebirds, warblers, gnatcatcher, anhingas and hawks. A pretty neat place to be...

Looking forward to today's run - I think the dog is going to enjoy the path too. She loves being with us and when she can be with us and be outdoors she is in heaven!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Week Three...

Yesterday was 'week 3 day 1' of the couch to 5k program. The run wasn't too bad. I am forcing myself to not jump ahead. My mind tells me "you've got this - go on to another week - maybe week 5", BUT I paid the price in August for pushing it too hard. If I am to become a runner, I must take my time and build up to it. I have been working out too and it is paying off. Two years ago, we bought a Wii console for the adults :-) and the Wii Fit balance board. I liked the idea of what the Wii Fit program promised, however, I found the yoga moves were just too hard for me. I had hoped to develop a consistent yoga program using the Wii Fit. This just didn't work for me - guess, I am not even up to 'beginner' status. Recently, we purchased the Wii Active program and this one is working for me. I am doing the 30 day challenge - currently, I am in the last week of the challenge. This is the closest I have come to completing all the workouts. The weekends can be difficult as we tend to do all sorts of outdoor activities from dawn to dusk. I tend to be exhausted or it is very late when we finally return home. I can put in my 'journal' the other activities but still lose the scheduled workouts. I know consistency is the key to fitness, with the 30 day challenge and the couch t0 5k running simultaneously I seem to be developing a good fitness 'habit'. I have lost nearly five (5) pounds, my clothes are starting to loosen a bit and I am getting stronger. Today is a rest day - a good day to organize my nutrition plan to add to my fitness success.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Let's hike...


Saturday we spent hiking the trails by Camel Lake recreation area in the Appalachicola National forset. The trails were really wet from the heavy rains the night before... we started a little late for a 9 mile trail so we only got a portion of the trail before heading back to the trailhead. We managed two miles out and two miles back so a total of 4 miles. Sam got the opportunity to play with her new camera lens. She's got a Sigma 50-150m telephoto lens which is awesome but there is a bit of a learning curve to using the lens well. Perhaps I will get a lens like this one day. Felt good to be outside, saw lots of woodpeckers (all too far for my camera) and that was cool... the forest has numerous mature long leaf pines that the woodpeckers prefer.

The Camel Lake recreation area is close to the Florida Trail -- the camping section by Camel Lake includes shower facilities and I bet if I was hiking the FL trail I would make a stop here to at least have a shower. The trail is over 1,000 miles long and showers are one of the greatest gifts to civilization. I would love to hike the trail in sections -- Actually, I would love to hike the big trail - the Appalachian trail (from Georgia to Maine). Section hikes seem doable to me.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Week Two...

Sunday morning's run was "Week Two - Day one" of the Couch to 5k program. Not a bad way to start a week. I actually slept-in a bit, didn't get out until nearly 8 am. The dog (slightly heavy Lab) ran with me and she LOVED it! She did not understand why we circled the same 1/2 mile pat 3 times... She kept looking up at me as if to say, "uh, we've been here already - why are we here again?" Unfortunately, too many loose dogs in the neighborhood. Perhaps I can take the dog to nearby hiking trails a little ways from here. I don't worry about my dog but the strange dogs... I don't know how they might react to the pair of us.

Doing a quick internet search, I have discovered there is a county park that is supposed to have a cross-country trail. I must check this out! If this is an unpaved trail I will be thrilled (easier on the knees) and if I can bring the dog (on a leash) I will be ecstatic!

Friday, October 09, 2009

Starting over


Last Tuesday I attempted the 1.5 mile fitness test without any recent training. Of course, I bombed. So now I have decided to start over again with the Couch-to-5k run/walk training program. I have even downloaded the Podrunner Intervals mp3 files for musical encouragement. The Couch-to-5k program is 9 weeks long -- I will stick to it this time and not jump ahead. I am pretty sure my knee was injured due to over-training this summer.

Today's run was day 3 of week 1 -- Actually, went pretty well. I am forcing myself to stay with the program and not jump ahead. It is so easy for me to think "ok, I am doing so well - so I can go ahead and skip a week or two." Not good thinking -- I need to stick with the slow, progress of the the program AND make sure I stretch! Also, this time I am running outside and not on the treadmills... treadmills are not the same as the track. This morning I used the path at Cain-Griffin park near the house. I need to find out how long that path is -- I am pretty certain it is longer a quarter-mile. At least my legs tell me the path was longer ;-]