Had to put it out there.
For some bizarre unknown reason, technology has decided it doesn't like me. Just for the last week or so, but really, that's long enough for me.
With any luck, I'll wake up tomorrow and this will all be a bad dream.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Yoga
Well, I am happy to say that I have successfully managed to workout on schedule for a week now. That means I have been on a treadmill for 25-26 minutes every other day since last Thursday, when I stepped on a treadmill for the first time in about 7 months.
I should also note here that my first half-marathon is actually scheduled for the end of May, not the beginning of September. I am not changing my original goal, I will be running in the Queen City Half-Marathon in September next year with the goal of finishing in under three hours, but I am adding another race, and my plan for that one is to finish. It will give me some training partners, will show me what it is like to actually run a half-marathon race, and will let me figure out a personal race time so that I can work on my pace development.
... listen to me talking as if I'm actually a runner! Woo Hoo!!
And now, back to the topic of this post, which is actually yoga.
I need to start stretching. I am planning on modifying my workout schedule for this program (C25K) so that it includes 30 minutes of yoga on the days I'm not on a treadmill. The problem is that I have no idea how to arrange a yoga session, and as one blog auther puts it, Sequencing (Vinyasa) is the Holy Grail of yoga.
So.
I know the basics of yoga, but do I truly understand Vinyasa? I think not. My best hope is to find a 15 minute Sun Salutation sequence for both morning and evening that I can do every day, and a 30 minute "Other" sequence to do on my non-running days until the New Year.
Off I go to research.
Google is an amazing thing.
I should also note here that my first half-marathon is actually scheduled for the end of May, not the beginning of September. I am not changing my original goal, I will be running in the Queen City Half-Marathon in September next year with the goal of finishing in under three hours, but I am adding another race, and my plan for that one is to finish. It will give me some training partners, will show me what it is like to actually run a half-marathon race, and will let me figure out a personal race time so that I can work on my pace development.
... listen to me talking as if I'm actually a runner! Woo Hoo!!
And now, back to the topic of this post, which is actually yoga.
I need to start stretching. I am planning on modifying my workout schedule for this program (C25K) so that it includes 30 minutes of yoga on the days I'm not on a treadmill. The problem is that I have no idea how to arrange a yoga session, and as one blog auther puts it, Sequencing (Vinyasa) is the Holy Grail of yoga.
So.
I know the basics of yoga, but do I truly understand Vinyasa? I think not. My best hope is to find a 15 minute Sun Salutation sequence for both morning and evening that I can do every day, and a 30 minute "Other" sequence to do on my non-running days until the New Year.
Off I go to research.
Google is an amazing thing.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Days 1 and 3 of ... a lot
I am very happy to announce that I got on a treadmill for the first time in about 9 months.
The first week of the Couch to 5K (C25K) training program involves a brisk warm up walk followed by 20 minutes of alternating 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking.
Day 1, my walking speed was 2.5mph, and my jogging speed was 3.0 mph. About 15 minutes into the 25 minute program, my hips hurt, my calves were cramping, my lower back hurt, in general, it was all I could do to keep moving.
Serves me right for avoiding all forms of exercise for so long!
At any rate, I finished the 20 minutes, having gone just over a mile (~1.9 miles), and was very pleased that I had stuck to my plan for 1 whole day.
Day 3, I left Angharad sitting in my apartment skyping with her parents and headed off in a snowstorm to the gym, where I hopped on the treadmill again.
My walking speed has increased to 2.6mph, and my jog to 3.1mph. My total distance was 1.15 miles.
My hips didn't hurt at all, and the only place that still cramped up were my lower calves and my feet. Probably time for a new pair of shoes.
I am also going to start doing yoga, aiming for two short daily sessions, morning and night, with a longer ~30 minute session on alternating days with my running. That should help stretch out my muscles.
Next step, figure out a yoga series. Or three, really. Morning, evening, and half hour "workout" sessions.
By tomorrow.
Hmmm. I have company this weekend, and I am now halfway through Week 1.
By Tuesday.
The first week of the Couch to 5K (C25K) training program involves a brisk warm up walk followed by 20 minutes of alternating 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking.
Day 1, my walking speed was 2.5mph, and my jogging speed was 3.0 mph. About 15 minutes into the 25 minute program, my hips hurt, my calves were cramping, my lower back hurt, in general, it was all I could do to keep moving.
Serves me right for avoiding all forms of exercise for so long!
At any rate, I finished the 20 minutes, having gone just over a mile (~1.9 miles), and was very pleased that I had stuck to my plan for 1 whole day.
Day 3, I left Angharad sitting in my apartment skyping with her parents and headed off in a snowstorm to the gym, where I hopped on the treadmill again.
My walking speed has increased to 2.6mph, and my jog to 3.1mph. My total distance was 1.15 miles.
My hips didn't hurt at all, and the only place that still cramped up were my lower calves and my feet. Probably time for a new pair of shoes.
I am also going to start doing yoga, aiming for two short daily sessions, morning and night, with a longer ~30 minute session on alternating days with my running. That should help stretch out my muscles.
Next step, figure out a yoga series. Or three, really. Morning, evening, and half hour "workout" sessions.
By tomorrow.
Hmmm. I have company this weekend, and I am now halfway through Week 1.
By Tuesday.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
From Couch to 5K by New Years
Is the plan.
Stage 1 of my training for a marathon is to follow the plan from coolrunnings.com, which is essentially three workouts a week for 9 weeks that are supposed to get you from no exercise (me, currently) to jogging 5k (or 30 minutes).
What this means for me is that I need to be on a treadmill faithfully every other day starting tomorrow until the New Year.
Off to bed I go!!
Stage 1 of my training for a marathon is to follow the plan from coolrunnings.com, which is essentially three workouts a week for 9 weeks that are supposed to get you from no exercise (me, currently) to jogging 5k (or 30 minutes).
What this means for me is that I need to be on a treadmill faithfully every other day starting tomorrow until the New Year.
Off to bed I go!!
Race Pace
Further comments about that goal I just set...
My race pace needs to be between 10:17.88 and 13:43.83
My race pace needs to be between 10:17.88 and 13:43.83
Running a half marathon
... that is the question. Do I even bother setting myself this daunting of a fitness goal? Or do I just say forget it, never going to happen.
The thing is, I would probably be fine if it was running a 5K next September. It's the thought of running 21K that terrifies me. That requires a definite commitment to training, and using my Saturdays for the next 10 months as training days. Ugh. With a capital "U".
Part of me thinks I am crazy to even begin setting that kind of a goal - my strong point is not, in fact, following through on big things, and there is another part of me saying "Screw those discouraging thoughts, of course you can do it!"
Sigh. Which voice to listen to?
The right choice, of course, is to listen to the one that says "Go For It, face your fears!"
But wow. I get a heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach, my tongue is dry, I'm practically sweating here, just thinking about how big a commitment that is. Heartburn has just kicked in!
<Pause for some research here>
Here goes:
And yes, I am hyperventilating here. Seriously, I'm shaking in my seat.
Note to self:
The thing is, I would probably be fine if it was running a 5K next September. It's the thought of running 21K that terrifies me. That requires a definite commitment to training, and using my Saturdays for the next 10 months as training days. Ugh. With a capital "U".
Part of me thinks I am crazy to even begin setting that kind of a goal - my strong point is not, in fact, following through on big things, and there is another part of me saying "Screw those discouraging thoughts, of course you can do it!"
Sigh. Which voice to listen to?
The right choice, of course, is to listen to the one that says "Go For It, face your fears!"
But wow. I get a heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach, my tongue is dry, I'm practically sweating here, just thinking about how big a commitment that is. Heartburn has just kicked in!
<Pause for some research here>
- As a non-runner I want to run a half-marathon
- Hal Higdon Training Programs
- The Couch to 5k Running Plan
Here goes:
I will run the Credit Union Queen City Half Marathon in Regina, SK in September 2013. I will finish it in 2:15 to 3:00 hours.And that, my friends, is a goal set.
And yes, I am hyperventilating here. Seriously, I'm shaking in my seat.
Note to self:
Breathe.
In AND Out.
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