Wednesday Workout Update!

OMG. I'm the biggest slacker. Ever.

My friend came into town on Thursday, so I didn't run Friday, Saturday or Sunday of this week. Of course, that really doesn't give me any valid excuse for not running Wednesday or Thursday, but I didn't.

I had to physically threaten myself to run on Monday. Then I skipped Tuesday! I will admit though, I had a terrible migraine Monday night that sent me to bed with AJ at 7:30. I decided to spend Tuesday hydrating so I wouldn't run into the same issue again.

Today marks the start of a new week and I resolve to run at least every other day. Even if I don't want to. (I know I won't want to.) We have a 5k race at the end of August that I want to be able to finish with a decent time.

What are some tricks that you use to keep yourself motivated?

Wednesday Workout Update!

Not a bad week, all in all. I was true to my word and after I posted last week I got out there and really ran! I got some decent mileage in the second half of the week and then the weekend came along. I have trouble getting motivated on the weekends normally, so no big surprise there.

Unfortunately, that lack of motivation carried over to Monday as well. I just couldn't bring myself to get out and run Monday morning. This seems to be a recurring problem for me, looking back on things. Its definitely something for me to work on, I suppose.

This is what my week looked like:

Wednesday 7/28: 2.53 miles with the jogger
Friday 7/30: 4.04 miles with the jogger
Tuesday 8/3: 2.31 miles with the jogger

Total: 8.88 miles

I think my goal for this week is not so much the mileage, but making a point to consistently get out and run every day (even if its just 1.5 miles or so). I'll let you all know how it goes!

I'm also thinking about taking some of your suggestions to heart and incorporating some cross training into the mix. I've heard some good things about the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I'm thinking about ordering it. Any thoughts?

Wednesday Workout Update!

The motivation just isn't there. My runs don't seem to be getting any easier and that makes it really hard to get myself up and out there running more than a few times a week. Add that to the fact that this baby refuses to sleep more than a few hours at a time lately and well, you've got a tired mama!

I always feel accomplished after I finish my run, but I may have hit a low this week. Saturday I was out early with AJ in the jogger and someone passed me. Yep. He was running with a jogging stroller as well so its not like I could even tell myself that it was okay. Granted, it happened at about 2.5 miles into my 3 mile run (about the point that I really wonder if I'm going to finish or die), but it still made me feel like crap!

I do have to add here that my run yesterday went really well. I felt good, I ran a good pace (even with the jogger) and it may have rejuvenated me for the rest of the week. I really needed a good run, so thank goodness I dragged myself out yesterday!

With that being said, here's how my week looked:

7/22 Thursday: 3.03 miles with jogger
7/23 Friday: Walked 1.12 miles with stroller
7/24 Saturday: 3.03 miles with jogger
7/27 Tuesday: 2.54 miles with jogger

Total: 9.68 miles

I'm really going to try and get out there running more often this week. I think it will hurt at first, but eventually make a difference in how my runs feel. Wish me luck!

Wednesday Workout Update!

I started out the week full steam ahead! I went running Wednesday with AJ in the jogging stroller and felt pretty decent. I thought that meant that running without the stroller would be even better. Well, Friday night D was home with AJ, so I headed out once the temperature dipped below 1,000. Yeah. Not so great.

That run kind of unmotivated me from running the next few days. For me its super hard to stay motivated when I haven't actually started my training program for my 1/2 marathon yet. My training program starts in August though and I have a ways to go before I feel like I'll be ready for a 6-day-a-week regimen. Thankfully I sucked it up and went out for a shorty-run yesterday.

I did take AJ out for a walk Saturday morning though, so I'll count that as exercise as well.

Here's what my week looked like:

Wednesday 7/14: Ran 3.45 miles with stroller
Friday 7/16: Ran 3.1 miles
Saturday 7/17: 1.42 mile walk
Tuesday 7/20: 1.65 miles with stroller

All in all, not too bad.

Wednesday Workout Update!

I decided this week that AJ is officially big (and strong) enough to sit in the jogging stroller while I run. Unfortunately, I did not take into account that I am not strong enough (or in good enough shape) to push her in it while running. Ugh. I have some serious work to do before 1/2 marathon training can start.

My goal is to be able to run with her in the jogger so I can do my 12-week training plan pushing her. Then when the time comes to run the race sans baby, I should do awesome, right?! Well, let's just say that its a good thing I went to the CYS briefing yesterday. I now have the option of putting AJ into hourly care so I can get a good baby-free run in every once in a while.

**For those non-military/non-moms who read my blog, CYS is Children and Youth Services, they run the CDC (Child Development Center) otherwise known as on post day-care.**

On to my update...Please pardon my lack of exercise over the past week. Monday officially started my pre-1/2 marathon training, so I'm going to be much more active over the next 6 weeks or so, then I start my 12 week program for San Antonio!! Ack!

Anyways, Monday I took AJ out in the jogger and started out on the 5K route I mapped. I think we made it .75 miles before I had to walk. I did (most of) the rest of it alternating between walking and running. I have to admit, the route was an out and back, and I turned around a little bit before I was supposed to. I logged it at 2.66 miles and it took me 43 minutes. Not super proud of that, but hey, I can only go up from here, right?

Seriously though, running on the sidewalk/pavement is so much harder than running on the dreadmill and I do not want to make the mistake I made for my last 1/2 marathon (which was training 100% on the dreadmill) so for now, I'm sucking it up until I am in better shape.

So for the past week my workouts looked like this:

Wednesday 7/7: 3.1 miles on the dreadmill in 33:15
Monday 7/12: 2.66 miles on the road w/jogger in 43:00; 200 crunches on the exercise ball

I'm off to run the mean streets of our neighborhood now. Wish me luck!

How are you doing with exercising? Anyone have any new goals or achievements to share?

Wednesday Workout Update!

Its Wednesday again and you all know what that means!! Its time for the weekly Wednesday Workout Update! Boy do I have an update for you (or maybe not).

When we were home we went to the specialty running shoe store in Hometown, U.S.A. and I got fitted for a new pair of squeaky clean running shoes. I love this store. They totally know what they're doing and always make sure you get the right shoes for your needs. Their staff is knowledgeable and friendly. I told the guy that I'm about to start training for another 1/2 marathon and he found me the right pair of shoes!

The next morning I set off on a 5k run in my parent's neighborhood and jeez! I am super out of shape. It was my first time running on anything other than a treadmill since I started working out again and I struggled. I finished it, but my legs felt like they were full of sand. I suppose it can only get easier, right? RIGHT? Other than that one run, I didn't get out and do another but I did join my mom and go for a few walks around the block with the stroller and the dog, so that counts, I guess.

All in all...not a great week, workout-wise, but I wasn't expecting it to be. We're back home now, and thus, back to the grind. I don't have that much time before my 12-week program for the San Antonio 1/2 in November starts. I really need to get moving and get back into shape!

Wednesday Workout Update and a Birthday Shout-Out!

So I know I'm a day late and a dollar short here, but I figure better late than never, right? I'm doing a little early morning blogging from my iPhone because I fear that otherwise I'll forget completely!

My Wednesday Workout Update goes something like this:

Last week I finished out the week with another 5k on the dreadmill and walked the long loop around our neighborhood with the stroller. I went on MapMyRun.com and that loop is approximately 1.25 miles and fairly hilly.

This week I have seriously done nothing! I wasn't feeling it Monday morning, then Tuesday was crazy day! We had to leave early Wednesday morning to drive back to our hometown for a wedding this weekend. Tuesday was spent cleaning the house (so it doesn't stink when we get home), finishing laundry and cooking for the gathering we had Tuesday night. I guess I did workout after all!

So you might have guessed by reading the above paragraph, but in case you missed it, D, AJ, Abby and I are all back in good ol' hometown USA for a friend's wedding, the 4th and my little brother's birthday, which was yesterday! We're also here to show off the bebe a little too!

We were really excited to be able to celebrate with brother last night because he lives in London now and is only home for about 2 weeks before he has to head back overseas. We haven't seen him since AJ was about 3 weeks old and he came to Washington to see her for literally 24 hours. But, without further ado (because he sometimes reads my blog), "Happy 24th Birthday, Bean!!"

My brother posing with my little cousin when we were in Nashville for a wedding.

Stay tuned for today's daily post a little later today!!

Update

I went to the gym this morning and ran a 5k! I tend to be the type that sets my timer for 30 minutes and gets off the treadmill when it beeps. Today I decided to run a distance, no matter how long it took. The whole time I was running I was thinking to myself, "push out of your comfort zone." Who am I kidding, I was actually thinking, "don't throw up!" and "why did I wear these freaking shorts when they ride up so bad I have to pull them down every 3 steps?"

In the end though, 3.1 miles is still 3.1 miles. Log it.

Wednesday Workout Update!

I decided that in the name of alliteration, Wednesday will now be dubbed "Wednesday Workout Update" until further notice! I mentioned recently that I wanted to get healthy and back into shape not only to just feel better about myself, but also because I am planning to run some serious races in the not-so-distant future.

With that being said, my workouts have been okay. Last week I ran twice, logging a grand total of 5.48 miles. I think that is decent considering the fact that I haven't worked out in, oh, let's say, a year. I got the stroller out and walked around our neighborhood with AJ on the days that I didn't go to the gym (its so hot and humid here that just walking made me look and feel like I had gone for a run). I kind of took the weekend off (okay, I gave myself a 3-day weekend), so this week its back to the grind.

I walked outside yesterday and missed the window of opportunity for outdoor walking this morning. That just means that I'll have to leave AJ with D while I go plod along on the dreadmill at the gym this afternoon. I'm hoping that once life gets back to normal in a few weeks I can put AJ in hourly care for an hour or so each morning and do my run without having to "schedule" it with D. Believe it or not, life gets more simple when D goes back to work!