some runs are just not meant to be

My alarm woke me from a very deep sleep, my room was nice and cool seeing as how I had the windows open last night.  My husband was out of town, which meant my cool room and comfy bed were all mine, so I snoozed for an hour. 

Now it's 8am.  I reach over and grab my blackberry from the side table, laying in bed reading some emails and texts, and of course checking Facebook.  I snuggle in for just a few more minutes and decide it's time to get up, dressed, and go 'running' for the couch to 5K challenge.  I've been doing this for almost 2 weeks now, and I have to say....I am REALLY enjoying every part of this workout.   I look forward to my next run, I love sweating for an hour after, I love accomplishing the run just as my day begins.  It's just been a really positive thing for me.

I decide against my morning V8, why?  I'm not sure...but I didn't have it today.  I put on my running shorts, they're new, they go just below my knee...yes below, and are quite comfortable.  Thirteen dollars WELL spent.  I put on socks and shoes, a light t-shirt (rolling up the sleeves), put my hair in a ponytail and headband and begin to stretch.  If you don't already know how crucial it is to fully stretch, let me tell you.  It's crucial.  See how easy that was?  Well really, stretching helps to lengthen the muscles, and as we all know, aides in keeping us injury free.   I go to my purse to grab a piece of gum, and I'm out.  Harumph.  I like chewing gum while I run.  Always have.  I keeps me from realizing how badly I would love a drink of water.  So, no gum today.  I sit briefly at my laptop to get my ipods going, and a cat kindly bats it off the table to the carpeted floor.  Annoyed, I reach down and pick it up.  I slide on my armband, turning the C25K workout on one, and Nike Plus on the other...and go outside.  I always ALWAYS double check the Nike ipod, that is the one that tells me how far I've gone, how fast (or slow), how many calories I've burned, the route I've taken.  It's pretty much the heart of the workout.  I look to see that it has frozen.  What?  UGH.  I've only gone two houses from mine, so I turn around to go back home to figure out how to reset it.  Now it's reset, and again....I'm off.

What a beautiful summer morning.  I notice horseshoe tracks on the dirt road, and I smile.  The sun is hot but the air is cool, such a nice combination.  Then the C25K ipod says 'Ok, time to start your first run -- GO!'  I mumbled to myself already, no wait....I actually said it out loud.  So, I ran, it was fine.  My legs were quite tight, but I did it and then brisk walked until he said it was time for me to run...again!  So, I begin my trotting and I'm noticing that my legs feel like....concrete columns.  Bad.  Very bad.  But, I slowly plow through that run....dreading the next.  And the next.  And the next. 

My goal on this glorious day was to go further then before....and I did, and I knew the Nike ipod would be tracking my every step.  I got to the farmhouse with all the cattle and horses, there was a red truck coming towards me, so I stepped off the asphalt to the soft gravel....and fell.  I rolled my ankle and landed on my right knee and right palm.  My hand skinned, my knee skinned, peeled, bloody, little rocks embedded, but I jumped right up for fear of the red truck stopping to see if i was ok.   He didn't stop, or slow down, and I was thankful.  It was then that I decided to turn around.  This run was feeling more like climbing Mt. Everest, and I never signed up for that.

HOME at last.  I'm sweating.  A lot.  My t-shirt is drenched, you know like you see on TV, that's me.  I always wash my face and hands when I get home, then keep soaking up sweat with a towel.  I sat down to load my Nike run....and it only got the first 8 minutes.  So not only did my run SUCK, it's like it never happened.  How awesome.

Today I will be trying yoga.

I did lose another 3 pounds this week, and I do realize I still got in a GOOD workout today :)

it's a win/win/win

Yesterday after my arduous Walmart trip, I collapsed for a brief moment at my laptop before putting the groceries away. Twitter was already up so I quickly skimmed the tweets. Tweets? Are we birds? Anyway, I saw there was an ISU contest. All you had to do was take a picture of yourself wearing an ISU shirt, three winners would be chosen and the prize was a new ISU t-shirt. I looked at the clock, i had 21 minutes to put on some ISU gear, take a pic, email it to myself, crop, figure out how to put a picture up on Twitter and tweet it to CyISU. My hubby graduated from Iowa State and also was a football manager for a few years, so we have a super abundance of authentic football jerseys. I tossed one on and had my son take a pic.

do i love this picture? no, but I wanted to win a tshirt!

Whew, my tweet was sent and winners would find out later in the evening if they won. So I cleaned the kitchen, then made some muffins.  Blueberry.  Blueberry Fiber One.  Two points each.  I froze half and ate the other 12....JUST KIDDING. 

don't these look divine?

I was sitting.... ok, sprawled on the couch and my blackberry started blinking. Could it be? It was a direct message from Iowa State Athletics!  I WON! 

ISUCy Congrats 2 @nickmongar @Dabobie @acrozier22 4 being selected as this weeks Searching Cy winners! Searching Cy will take place again next wed   (I am @Dabobie)

Then, this direct message :

ISUCy Congrats on being selected as a Searching Cy winner! Please send ur shirt size and address and we will mail you ur prize!
 
So, there ya go.  I had a pretty eventful night. Now my dilemma, do I get the tshirt for me or do I get a size for my hubby?

OHHHH, and I lost 5 pounds during week one of Weight Watchers :)

Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K is also known as C25K for the super cool and work out savvy (of which I am neither).  Before last week, it was nothing I had ever heard before.  I thought it looked kinda funny on Twitter, but then,  everything looks pretty foreign to me on Twitter.   My sister, @LovelyShaw was talking about being 'motivated' and 'ready and excited' to start this new workout/running regime where you will be able to run a 5K in 12 weeks.  After finally figuring out how to put the workout on my Ipod, I knew it was time to get out and START. 

I was all geared up with my Nike running shoes, Ipod and headphones and armband to keep the Ipod in place.  I clicked 'start workout' and got ready to GO!  Then it hit me.  I can't do the podcast along with my Nike Plus ( Nike Plus tracks your pace, how long you ran, where you ran, and how much time it took you to do it).  I grabbed another Ipod, you know, for Nike plus, but it was d-e-a-d.   So off I went without my high techie running stuff going, the only 'reward' for doing the run was to ACTUALLY DO IT.  It was not easy dear friends.  About 10 minutes into it, my legs were telling me things I have never heard them say before.  Ohhh the four letter words!   You know like stop, don't, and quit!   I did walk briskly through 3 of the 60 second running segments, but I was alright with that.  Then I pushed.  I pushed my legs to MOVE, not my heart to race, I pushed my mind past the 'maybe I can walk the rest'.  I kept going and I'm pretty darn excited about it. 

I saw 2 deer and 2 dead snakes (my favorite kind of snakes), multiple rabbits...no pun intended.  I always think the first step in something work-out related is the absolute most difficult, and I am pretty happy that first step is over.    I hope I can find my legs by Wednesday.

back on the Weight Watchers Wagon...again and again and again.

Part of my success as a new real estate agent (when I pass the exam) is the 'image' of myself being an agent.  Thin(ish) and professional, cute skirts, tasteful heels, pin-striped jackets with camesoles, long dark brown hair.  (yes, dark brown!)    I deeply feel this image or new career path is a package deal.  So, this past  Monday, I started WW again...AGAIN!  

I don't mind WW....I really like the 'good for you' foods.   Veggies, fish, fruit, whole grain breads, whole grain rice, water.  So really that's pretty easy for me.  What happens is I lose the weight, then take 8 months and gain it right back.  Exercising outside in the summer is a challenge because I'm SOOOO heat sensitive.  Luckily for me, it stays light enough for a late evening walk or run,  errrr slow jog....trot, ok...stroll.   I'm also good at preparing my own meals.  I do buy a few 'Smart One's' a week, but only three, and I add rice, or more steamed veggies.   I took pictures of my last two days of lunches.  Yesterdays was 5 points, today is 8. 

(omg i see my toes!!)

4 point Smart One's with 1 1/2 cups steamed broccoli added

(my fork has been 'used' to take the salmon out of the toaster oven lol)

4 ounces baked salmon, 1 1/2 cups brown rice (I add salsa for flavor) and 1 cup(ish) steamed broccoli ~ I use a salad plate for a full meal look effect.

So, I'm back in the saddle.  I consider it another step towards achieving my ultimate goal, which really....now that I think about it, is a whole new me.  And that excites me....a lot.