If it ain't rainin' we ain't trainin'

Third training week with No Boundaries and once again, it rained. It wasn't cold this time, but it was a good rain. Distance today was 1.5 miles and I am very happy that I maintained a 12 minute mile pace, faster than my previous 13 minutes when I did 2 miles. I actually feel pretty good afterwards. I think I might be getting better at this.

2 Fantastic Milestones

Last Thursday was weigh-day at WW. I haven't been reporting on that since it has been very disappointing but this week was different. I finally broke through the 25lb mark. I lost 2 lbs last week for total loss of 26lbs in the last 24 weeks. It took 8 weeks to go from 20lbs to 25lbs but I think I'm over that hump.

This morning, I managed to run 2 miles continuously. It was a slow run, taking 26 minutes, but I did not stop. The only pauses were at two traffic lights but those were very brief. I feel great after but I'm not looking forward to Monday.

Forecast is for thunderstorms for No Boundaries. Oh joy.

Thee weather gods are not nice

Weather delivered as promised; another crappy day for running. Cold, windy, rain, and then at the end... hail! Lovely. Well I made it 1 mile again despite really, really, really not wanting to. My knee is bugging me a bit after I slipped and twisted it but otherwise I'm OK. Up this week, more 1.5 mile runs capped with a 1.75 by the end of the week.

Hopefully.

Another crappy weather day

Today is the 2nd No Boundaries training run. The forecast? 40s and rain with possible snow later on. Lovely. Its going to be hard to stay motivated if the weather sucks this much.

On a high note, I bought a new pair of shorts yesterday... from Target. Its the first time I have bought pants from a regular store in a very long time. They don't carry a lot of things in this size, but there are some.

Progress feels great.

1.5 miles (almost)

So today was supposed to be my first 1.5 mile run. I finished a run that was longer than my previous 1 mi but I miscalculated and the run ended up being 1.5 miles according to mapmyrun.com. I was off my 1/10 but I felt good at the end so I know had I planned correctly I would have made it. I feel really good. The new shoes I bought make a difference I think. I am also feeling good that I'm making progress.

First 1-mile street run 13:24

Today I got up a little earlier and went for a 1-mile run in the neighborhood. I used mapmyrun.com to plot a 1-mile loop from my house to Ashland and back via Ohio & Erie streets. For grins and giggles I decided to time it. Came in at 13:24. I think I need to have Fleet Feet look at my shoes. I'm not too sure about how well they work on pavement.

Yesterday was a crosstraining day. I did 20 minutes each on the elliptical and stationary bike and a cool-down walk on the treadmill. After the last few weeks on the treadmill, I definitely noticed the difference. I worked up a good sweat but was not overly tired when I was done.

Like I saud before, progress feels good.

Day 1 of No Boundaries

What a fantastic day for my first group training. 40 degress and light rain/misting. Kudos for all of us who actually came out and made it. I was ambitious and decided to go for the 1-mile run. About 9 or 10 of us chose to try it and I think we all made it. We were a little spread out and I was somewhere in the middle. I did make it but by the end I was very winded and my knee ached like I hadn't been running - thank god for Motrin.

This time next week the goal is to run 1.5 miles. I'm still waiting for it to get fun.

Getting ready for No Boundaries

Today I received an e-mail with the particulars of the No Boundaries program. Much of the training seems to be a "run 1 walk 2" form of training alternating running and walking and repearing a certain number of times. I think at first I should be able to handle it no problem.

On the treadmill today I changed things up a little. First, I set the incline on the machine to 1 degree. I've read a few places that using that feature on the treadmill makes the run a little more like running in the real world. The second thing I did was alternate running and walking .25 miles. I kept the running pace at 5.0mph and repeated 4 times. My right knee is bugging me a little but otherwise I felt pretty good.

Monday is the first training meeting for the program. I'm very excited but I'm also a little nervous about running somewhere other than on a treadmill.

Good day today

I feel great that I am making progress. I wasn't sure how successful I would be when I started this but I felt like I had to try. I needed a goal - something physical that I might reach. Today I am halfway to the 5K. I made 1.5 miles on the treadmill this afternoon. More importantly though, I felt good. I feel pretty drained right now but as I kept going I was able to push through the desire to stop and then I hit a new stride. I am very excited to begin the No Boundaries program. Key for me is going to be running outside vs running on the treadmill.

I might actually make it.

No Boundaries

Today I signed up for the Fleet Feet Chicago's "No Boundaries" program. It's a 10-week training program for people who want to run a 5K. The "graduation" for the program is the Jim Gibbons 5K for Luekemia research on Thursday, June 18th. I signed up to try and get some group training and running somewhere other than on a treadmill in the gym. I am hopeful that it will help.

Mixed bag this week

So the weigh-in was a little disappointing. Instead of breaking through the 25lb barrier, I ended up gaining 2 lbs. Part of that was that I had waited over a week to get my thyroid meds refilled and the other part was the debate tournament. A lot of sitting and really poor food.

Good news is that I have made 3 days in a row of running on the treadmill and today I made it to 1.25 miles straight. I used one of the new treadmills here at school. I was afraid that there would be kids in there but last period of the day has no PE classes; that means the fitness center is empty. Its a no-frills gym but the machines are new and nicer to run on than the well-used ones at my regular gym. I might try to make a regular thing of it on Fridays. (That's the only day I'm off last period)

I'm not sure if I should be working on distance or speed overall. Even though I made it 1.25 miles, it was not very fast, about 4.5-5 mph.

Yesterday was good

Yesterday I managed to get in 1.5 miles of running. Some of it was not very fast, just 4.5 mph, but I kept going. I ran for a mile straight, the I alternated walking and running for .25 miles each. I was thoroughly exhausted afterwards but overall I felt good that I was able to do it.

I am aware that I might be pushing myself a little too much but I have to. I need to get the weight loss going more and I need to up my stamina for sure.