W6D2

Today I had a fabulous run except one major problem...shin splints! Five minutes into my run I started feeling a pulling and by the end of my first 10 minute run session I had the worst shin splint I have experienced while doing the C25K. It was so bad that the 3 minute walking bit was not long enough to walk this shin splint out. Usually as soon as I stop running the pain is alleviated. By the second 10 minute run I was ready to quit but kept pushing on because I didn't want to have to repeat a day.

After the run and cool down I headed back to my dorm room, with a disgusting burger that I ate half of, and thought about why I am just now experiencing these shin splints. One possibility is that my mother's shoes this weekend ruined my feet because before I wore them I hadn't had shin splints since I first started running. The second possibility is that I really do need to just strengthen the muscle there. So I looked up some exercises that will hopefully help. I will do these exercises 3 times a day and I'm hoping that magically the shin splints wont appear during the 25 minute run that I have scheduled for Tuesday.

On a separate note, I have found something that is calming but distracting enough during my runs, audio books! I selected one from iTunes this morning entitled "my secret life" and I listened to the first 20-something minutes of it during my run. It sure beats listening to angry loud music, which ruins the relaxing factor of exercising, and it is interesting enough that I do not always have to focus on pain or breathing. Also, because I love reading but don't have time for it during the school year, I look forward to having a book read to me! 

So overall, today's run was amazing! My breathing keeps getting easier and I am not experiencing muscle pain anymore after my runs. If I could get rid of the shin splint in my right leg, without my normal solution of hobbling, then I'm sure I could raise my speed and complete a 5K this week! One last thing, on my C25K ipod app there is a motivational quote for each day. I'm going to put them here after I achieve each of the runs to help with motivation. Today's quote:

"Running is like mouthwash. If you can feel the burn, it's working."-Brian Tackett

This morning was refreshing. I woke up feeling happy, hungry, and excited to start running again. Usually I don't eat breakfast, its a bad habit of mine that I'm working on correcting, but this morning I was awoken by my stomach growling and two stiff calves. I have to watch random quick leg pulling while I'm in bed, especially since I've started running, because I've become prone to calf cramps. So with the combined noise of my stomach and the tight uncomfortable warnings from my calves I ventured downstairs for some grub. I wanted a big cup of orange juice (orange juice is my weakness, I drink it by the gallons) but instead I decided on some cereal, a fruit cup, and a bottle of water. I think I need more potassium to help with the calf cramps and eyebrow twitching that I've been getting so hopefully this fruit cup has some potassium.

Yesterday I was willing to give up the C25K; today after reading on of my favorite blogs (fat man running-whose authors sadly stopped posting), and after going on the cool running's beginners forum I am excited to continue tomorrow. Which reminds me, I have no muscle pain from yesterday. I get stiffness when I walk up the stairs but there's absolutely no muscle pain! So I'm going to enjoy my breakfast now and continue to imagine myself running in a cute pink and gray outfit on vacation this summer!

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I had a pretty uneventful day...except the TWO pounds I lost this week!!! Last weekend I restarted the C25K at week 5 because I was 116.8 pounds, today, exactly 6 days later, I am 114.4 pounds and off course I have set a new running record with how long I can run! So it's been an awesome week. When I did the C25K before I never passed week 4 and I didn't loose any weight and I was dieting then, so I didn't expect to loose any now with all the water I had been drinking I was afraid I'd gain water weight! So you can imagine my surprise when I didn't diet, just drank more water and ran and I've lost 2 pounds. I am very excited! This is the perfect inspiration to continue with the program; I'm not hugely religious but maybe this is God's way of telling me to keep up the good work.

W6D1

 W6D1: 5 minute warm up walk, 5 minute run, 3 minute walk, 8 minute run, 3 minute walk, 5 minute run, 5 minute cool down walk, for a total of 29 minutes.

Today was just horrible. I can't believe that i saved my run until this afternoon, at the end of a long week/day. I was exhausted after keeping up with school all week and all I wanted to do was cuddle up with a slice of my favorite red velvet cheesecake and fall asleep. But I promised myself that I would run so that's what I did, the whole time wishing I had run on Thursday when I was more enthusiastic and less tired. Unfortunately, I forgot my sports bra and running socks and shoes in my dorm room when I went home this afternoon. Consequently, I was forced to run in paper thin socks with no heel cushion, a thick padded bra, and worst of all worn-out cheap sneakers.

From the instant I started running(5.0 MPH speed) I knew I had made a mistake with these shoes. Only 2 minutes into my run I had developed shin splints in BOTH shins and major calf tightening. I will say it took more will power to power through this workout than it did to get through W5D3 when I was more comfortable and in a better mood. Today's run has showed me how important enthusiasm is for me to have a successful running day. I did complete W6D1, it was painful, but at least I was able to power through it. Now however, I am nervous for the 25 minute run...maybe as long as I don't have to do it on my treadmill at home, in those god awful sneakers, I'll do as well as I did on the 20 minute run. To be honest today made me want to quit the C25K but I wont because I know another good running day is coming. At least I get Saturday off!

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I've decided that I beat myself up to much. I want to achieve the C25K so badly that when it isn't easy I get mad at my performance. I need to remember that the things in life that are worth having take hard work. Also, I need to stop thinking about and worrying about my next run. I need to have more fun with this and just advance at my own pace. I'll be where I want to be soon enough. But, if i keep getting angry with myself I'll drop the program all together like I've done twice before. From tonight on I am going to focus on not hyping up my runs and beating myself up over my performance. I need to dwell on positive aspects of my run, like my ability to finally breath, and forget about what could have been done better.

Motivational quote of the day:

"If you don't dare to begin, you don't stand a chance of getting there."-Author Unknown

Nothing today

I've been feeling extremely anxious and kind of upset today. I don't know if its because of my test or because of running. Turns out that reading a ton of running forums and seeing how far others are (marathons and half marathons) is rather depressing when you have just finished the first 20 minute run of your life. These people should inspire me but all they do is intimidate me and make me feel anxious that I can't do what they do.  Pair that with the fact that I wasen't able to run today and that's possibly why I feel like crap. With the exam, my schedule, and my boyfriend's schedule it was impossible to go to the gym today. I know its sad but I still dont have enough confidence to go without him so we decided to do our next run tommorow after school. I'v gotten over the hurdle that is W5D3 I can quit now, but I'm scared that just like the other two times I will. So for today I'm going to keep looking at other people's success and pushing myself mentally to finish.

On another note, I have been giving thought as to what I'll do after I graduate the C25K and have decided to run the 30 minute runs until right after my birthday then I will start the Bridge to 10K, which is a 6 week program that will prepare me for  an hour of continuous running. I wish that my boyfriend wanted to continue on to this goal with me but it turns out he isn't interested in running at all. He has decided to do a half hour run with me and then do some weight training for the other half our which works to. As long as we are both healthy and active  then I'm satisfied.

One thing I have learned about running is that it takes proper eating and hydration. Before I restarted this run I wouldn't drink very much. I suffered from frequent migraines that required Codine or Oxycontin for relief. Now I am drinking 2-3 bottles of water a day which may not seem like enough, but its plenty for me. I haven't been watching my eating yet though. That's hard to do with my boyfriend because he LOVES his unhealthy food, and I wont lie I do to. After I complete my C25K goal I will ween myself on to better food(not easy in college) because I realize it will ultimately help my performance.

I'll post back tomorrow and I will have finished W6D1.

I am a runner...not because I live and breathe to run every waking moment, but simply...because I run.  

W5D3 Success!!!!

I woke up this morning to 3 inches of fresh beautiful snow! It was perfect because school was delayed until 12:00 and therefore my Cell Biology exam was pushed back until Thursday. My boyfriend and I were able to sleep in today, which for college students, is the greatest gift you can get.  I was even able to eat a great breakfast of fruit and lemon bread and drink a bottle of water to prepare for my run. With all of this good luck I should have guessed my 20 minute run would go well.

So long story short I completed my 20 minute run and I am so impressed with how far I have come!!!! This time last year, before I started the C25K for the first time (this is my third attempt), I couldn't  run 1/6 of a mile. But today I ran 1.60 miles in 20 minutes!!!! I lowered my speed back down to 4.7, threw my sweater over the time and mileage, and just ran! I got a slight shin splint in my right leg which I was able to relieve my leaning left so that I would put more pressure on my left leg. Also, I got a small cramp in my right side but after firming up my stomach the cramp quickly subsided. However, my breathing was PERFECT! I was never winded and my breathing was even and deep for the entire run. Breathing used to be my problem, I would get chest pain and feel like i couldn't breath so I am suprised that I was able to correct this problem with time and practice.

The run itself was boring and even though my music was blasting I was still counting down the minutes in my head. I promised myself not to look at the clock until at least 4 songs had finished and by the end of the 4th song I was 15 minutes into my run! So i threw my coat back over the clock and took it off to count down my last minute! My legs were pulsing, they felt heavy, and they hurt but I felt great when I finished. Oddly enough though I was more excited after I completed my eight minute run two days ago. But now that I have completed this 20 minute run I know I can finish the C25K. There's no turning back and there's no quitting this time! I'm excited!

W5D2

So it's Sunday and my boyfriend and I headed back to school (we go home every weekend.) We were sitting around and I told him that today was W5D2 so we had to go to the gym. Off course because he is here with me I have to drag him into it! But secretly I think he enjoys it. He is in much better shape than me and used to run a lot during his soccer practices so he makes an excellent running partner. He takes it slow with me and he really helps to boost my confidence. I'll admit it was a little intimidating going to my school gym. The girl next to me ran for at least an hour and then to top it off I had to do two eight minute runs today! That's the longest time I have ever run!!! I did not think I would be able to do it but my boyfriend reassured me that if I didn't make it this time I'd make it next time.

So we stretched and started our 5 minute warm up walk to the gym. I put the treadmill on 5.2 because 4.7 felt slower on this treadmill and before I knew it the first 8 minute run was over. It went fast, no major thigh pain, no cramps, and no shin splints. The bruises and blisters I got during my last run in my mothers shoes didn't even bother me! The next 8 minute run was a bit tougher though; In the last 5 minutes I started feeling a stomach cramp on the bottom left side. By clenching my stomach muscles and putting pressure on the area I was able to rid myself of the pain and again before I knew it I was done! I did not think I would finish W5D2 but I surprised myself (and i think my boyfriend) and finished! My main complaint is that I am clearly dehydrated because my throat hurt and my face burned.

After the run we headed to the weight room, my boyfriends favorite place. I bench pressed the bar (45 pounds yay me!) and my boyfriend bench pressed 115 pounds...just blew me out of the water, but I expected that. Then we did a few extra exercises, bought some water and juice at our dinning hall, and headed back to our room for some stretching! Overall, I had a wonderful workout. I feel amazing and I'm starting to think maybe I can do the 20 minute run!

Week 5 Day 1 and goals for my 20th year

There are 49 days until my twentieth birthday and therefore 49 days until I am an official jogger. Yesterday, I came off of a 2 month long hiatus from running and completed week 5 day 1 of the Couch to 5k program. I ran it on my treadmill at a 4.7 speed for the three 5-minute jogging portions. This is slower than I had previously pushed myself but it felt great because I was never out of breath and was able to jog comfortably, even talk, without running out of breath. I could focus on keeping the stomach cramps away by flexing my stomach muscles and most importantly I could focus on my breathing. During the walking portions I stretched to get rid of a shin splint. I always seem to get shin splints on the treadmill but never outside. I'm hoping that I can fit in a run tomorrow outside at a park near school, but that will only happen if the soreness in my thighs goes away. I'm just so happy to have such wonderful weather here on the East Coast in February! Hopefully, this unusual weather is here to stay and because I love pictures that remind me of happy summer days, below I'll post a beautifully pink flower that my family and I found when we went to the Caribbean a few years ago. This picture is one of my favorite summer computer backgrounds!