This week's prescription is run 3, walk 2. Eight times. So, 24 minutes of running in a 40 minute workout.
I missed Tuesday's class because I had to grade midterms. It was super windy that day, so other people missed class, too (but I totally would've gone in spite of the wind if I'd been able).
This was the first time I've actually felt close to stopping during a run (apart from that time I was just really cold one night). The baby had a really rough night, so I did, too. And Thursday's are just long. And I got to class exhausted and forgot to use my asthma inhaler first and so on and so on. But I kept running and I'm glad I did. I ran somewhere in the middle of the pack (when I usually find myself toward, but not at, the front of the group).
I've been feeling very guilty about going away from the baby for school/work stuff. Ideally, I could hang out with him all the time, but there's just no way to do that. I'm gone from him as little as possible, but it's still really trying for both of us. I wish my only away-from-baby "obligation" was running, because as much as I wish I could spend those ~3 hours a week with him, I do the running for him, really. I want to be healthy for him, and happy, and able to keep up with him, and all that. It's the only time away from him that I wouldn't want to find a way out of, honestly. Of course, it would help a lot if he tolerated the stroller and came running with me. Maybe we can work on that over December and when the next class starts up in January, he and I can run "together" by then. I see lots of babies in jogging strollers, some younger than my guy, and they're totally chill, so I have hope.
We're increasing our running intervals again. 2.5 minutes of running (with 2.5 minutes of walking), eight times. I think we'll do more intervals on Thursday and for the honor run. If so, we'll be running 25 minutes (total) by the end of this week. Yeah!
I missed my honor run this weekend (I tried, really, but was only able to do three running intervals before the baby protested being outside), but I think I handled tonight's run well. Especially well, actually, given that I forgot to use my inhaler before the run and the air was cold(ish). My lungs did feel a little tight, but it wasn't too bad and I imagine I'll feel even better in subsequent runs this week. So...yay for 2.5 minutes. It seemed long a few times, but I've felt that way in the past (like when we bumped it up to 2 minutes) and that feeling eventually went away.
I used my new headlamp. It was okay. I got one with a retractable strap thing-y, and at times wished I'd bought one with a normal strap, but I do like that I can really simply attach mine to a bike's handlebars or to the stroller, too, so I guess it's okay. Plus, it just looks cool:
I'm getting really excited thinking that we'll probably do 3 minutes soon. I believe our goal for the end of the class is to run 4 minutes, walk 1 minute. Ten times? That's 40 minutes of running, and it just amazing considering that we started with 6 minutes total our first week!
Run 2 minutes, walk 2. Ten times.
Run 1: Super stormy day, class was canceled (but I showed up anyway, waited a while, and went home). Ran by myself around my apartment and on campus a bit. To be honest, I've done this run before, to save time on last week's second run (by cutting down walking time to avoid mama guilt). While I'm being honest, I'll also mention that I extended the last interval of my second run last week and went for 6 minutes. In a row!
Run 2: Okay, so the class reconvened. It was really humid this afternoon/evening. A few people showed up kinda bundled, but I knew from my solo Tuesday run that this was excessive. Anyway, the run went well and seemed quick (except for when I paid attention to the mugginess). Oh! This was my first time running with my new watch. That also went well.
I'll probably honor run on Sunday. I need to find a headlamp before then
I'll just go ahead and write about all three runs, while I have my hands free.
Run 1: Our coach gave us the wrong instructions, and we ran 2 minutes, walked 4, 9 times. Or was it 8? I can't remember. I'm pretty sure it was 9 times. It was hard, but do-able. Going back to the longer walking intervals makes the whole thing feel longer, it seems. Or maybe it just *was* longer. Whatever it was, my right foot hurt a bit toward the end, but not after.
Run 2: We found out that we'd had the wrong instructions and went down to 1.5 minutes, with 3 minute walks, for 10 repetitions. It went well, I think. It has been getting dusk-y toward the end of the runs, and I think we're getting reflective vests one of these days.
Honor Run: John isn't running because he has tendinitis, so I thought I'd try to do my run on the track on campus so he could call out to me to let me know when to switch from running to walking (to running, to walking). It was like...6-ish, but it was chilly. My knees were cold, my hands were cold. I used my asthma inhaler before running, and my lungs felt good, though. Anyway, I felt stiff because of the cold knees and that only got marginally better as time went on. This run was to be 11 reps (we're "building up to 2 minutes," and ignoring the fact that we accidentally did 2 minutes earlier this week), and I felt like giving up at least 2 times before I got to 5 reps and was nearly halfway done (and once you're halfway done, you might as well finish, I say). Up until then, we'd had the track to ourselves, but around 5/6 reps, a large group of girls (not to be confused with a group of large girls, which might've been preferable) arrived and I decided to go run around the soccer field for the remaining reps. Running on the grass felt a bit better on my knees (but they might've just been numb by then), but was actually a bit harder. So, yeah...I finished up on the grass and we walked home.
I'm excited to learn what the next week's prescription will be. In some ways, I don't feel like I'm...progressing. But I must be, right?
I also can't believe I'm almost halfway through!
This has been a very busy week. I've done two runs, but haven't had the chance to write about them. I also sold my watch (the one that didn't do what I needed it do to) and ordered a new one:
I'm not seeing much difference on the scale, apart from the 3-5 pounds I lost at some point in the past 5 weeks (which is a fine rate for a nursing mom, actually, so...yeah), "but" I am noticing my skorts feeling looser and needing to be graciously yanked and pulled up at the outset of every run now. I'm not going to replace them with a smaller size (unless I absolutely need to) until it's time for something warmer.
Oh, and I signed up for a 5K in November,
I started the run out with mi familia - John & the baby following along with the stroller (John's knee is sore, so he's not running for now), but baby started fussing 3 intervals in, so we turned around and headed back. He and his daddy hung out at home, while I ran by myself around our apartment complex. Toward the end of the workout, I started getting major mama guilt, so I shortened my walking intervals from 2 minutes to 1 minute. That was kinda hard! (That's what she said?) It was a really good workout.
I also ran a 2 minute interval on accident. John had been timing me at the beginning, but he misheard me and thought I was running 2, walking 1, so he let me run for what felt like a very long minute (but was actually 2 minutes). The cool thing about that is that this week (Week 5, which starts tomorrow), I'm doing the following:
Run 2 minutes
Walk 4 minutes
X 8
And I already know I can do 2 minutes of running! I'm stoked.
And I got a running water bottle. It doesn't actually run on its own. I hold it while I run and it's shaped in such a way as to make this easy. Just in time for cooler fall weather, eh?
And speaking of just in time, the skort I bought just last week already feels too big. Gah. It's okay, there are *much* worse things.
Today's run somehow felt longer than Tuesday's. I don't know why...the air just felt heavy. But I felt pretty good running and especially good afterward. I love that feeling, really. Something I focused on when it felt hard was remembering that every step I take running this week makes next week's running easier. And so forth.
I suspect next week will be challenging. And yet, I'm looking forward to it. We're, like...real runners now! Kinda. No, really. I think.
I got a new skort and a new (purple! yay!) shirt for running.
Baby's fussing. Adios.
First of all, I have a confession to make - I didn't do my honor run last week. It's hard to schedule things with a baby! Really, though...I intended to, but never had the chance. And when I say I never had the chance, I mean I never had the chance to do laundry, so I couldn't run because I had nothing to run in.
Anyway, I have clean clothes now (and should probably get more - I only have one "outfit" for running and I don't do laundry that often, so I have to do *special* laundry in order to keep up) and I went to running class this evening. We actually got to the park early and found a bench to sit on with the baby, but I somehow missed my classmates before they set off! It was weird - we walked over to the meeting place and there was nobody there. We started walking in their usual direction and saw them walking in a group, and I thought about jogging to catch up with them, but then felt silly, so I handed my phone to John so he could time intervals for me and figured I'd do my running on my own, since we were in the park anyway. But soon we caught up with my class, and I joined them and he and the baby went off walking on their own.
We did 1 minute of running and 2 minutes of walking, 15 times. I'd been a bit worried (and excited) about this "prescription," but it was actually pretty darn cool. The time flew by and it felt really good to be moving so much. There was a great vibe in the class this evening, for some reason. It's weird, I just feel very positive in class, and almost like I could keep going. But it's gradual and all that. I believe in "the program." Blindly, even. Really, I do. I look forward to each week's prescription and it's just...exciting.
Starting next Thursday, baby boy will be coming with me running in the stroller. I hope that goes well.
Oh! And I'm about 95% sure I'm going to sign up for a 5K in November. Wheee!
I don't have much to say about these runs. I was (as usual) nervous about the first run because it seemed daunting, but it went well (as usual).
Two observations:
1. Running faster makes it feel like the minute goes by more quickly.
2. I don't really have a friend or partner or group in the class.
Both of these are okay. I get along with everyone in the class (I think), I just haven't met my "match' or anything. I'm not a people person anyway. And I like running with the class "by myself," if that makes any sense.
Okay, I'm like 2 hours overdue for a shower.
John and I did my third run of the week this afternoon. It was my first time running so early in the day, and it was nice. But hard! I'm still feeling a bit under the weather after suffering from a self-diagnosed bout of sinusitis late last week, and even though I thought I was getting better, I'm definitely not at 100% yet. But we did the run!
I also discovered that the watch I ordered doesn't do what I want it to do. Anyone want to buy a very nice watch that doesn't do intervals of different lengths? We can get it to beep every minute or every three minutes, but not at one minute, then three, then one, and so forth.
Baby boy fell asleep for the second time in the running stroller. I worry about his head slumping forward when this happens (he's still itty bitty, even if he is technically old enough for the stroller, which doesn't recline), so I'm going to try using the little shoulder pad things he has in his carseat next time and see if those help his head stay somewhat upright when he drifts off.
I think next week is a big one. Hope I'm healthy by Tuesday!
Recent Comments
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madeline said:
[this is good]That's really cool. The 5K will be a breeze for you with all this training. read more
on IOU: Week 5, Runs 1 & 2 updates + gear -
Priscilla said:
Hi Romi,I'm so proud of you! This feeling - the nice, warm feeling, is a good thing that can extend... read more
on Week 2, Run 1 -
madeline said:
[this is good]Very inspiring. I'm sure you'll reach your running goals in record time! read more
on Gearing up!
on Week 8, Run 1