Long Run and BoiseRunWalk

Last weekend I joined Boise RunWalk. I've been meaning to do that for ages, to have a little extra push to get out there.
Well, one of the things that has been holding me back is the time. They start at 0730. I often don't get up until 0730 on a good day. So I set my alarm, and hoped.
I got up in good time, but didn't really get out of the house in time to be on time. I made it by 0800. Fortunately or unfortunately, they do a lesson kind of thing first. So I missed it, but I made it to the stretching and comraderie part.
The leader was awesome at introducing us newbies to people. And the program is new, the summer program just started (the overall program's been ongoing for ages). However, I did not particularly care for the feeling of being assigned to someone. And I promptly (although not planned!) lost that someone as I went to the bathroom and then out to do the run.
Heck, I don't run prettily. I don't like talking to people as I run. I like to listen to music. I had two new to me tunes on the Zune, Finger Eleven's Paralyzer and Skillet's Monster. Paralyzer came on as we were heading out, truthfully perfect timing "I want to make you move/because you're standing still."
From Shoreline Park, we ran north two miles, which is mostly downriver and therefore rather on the downhill side. But it was okay. Usually I like to do upriver/uphill on the front part and down on the back, but it worked.
Although I wasn't running with a partner, it was great! to have people to wave out and say howdy to. I did feel like my allergies were overwhelming me, I felt like my legs were wooden and I gasped a lot. I didn't realize until I hit the two mile mark that I was going a little on the fast side. And I kept the pace up, honestly don't know how I did it.
So, 4 miles done. Ran 2 min 15 seconds and walked 3 minutes 45 seconds. I will bump this up with my next run to 2.5 minutes running and 3.5 minutes walking.
It wasn't unpleasantly warm, but it was definitely summer time running. I do believe, though, that by doing the run a couple of hours earlier than I have been helped me run a bit faster. Relatively. I completed the four miles in 64:30. Which I realize is not fast, but it's a sight faster than the 67:30 I did on Sunday.
After the run, I got in line and had a deep tissue massage. I don't usually like those, they are often painful. But the therapist does Shulman technique which is different, and I really felt my pain relieved from one shoulder. I think I will save my pennies and go see the guy again.
Now, for the week, I did 14.9 miles which is more than my usual. I also did 238 minutes of exercise this week, which is fabulous.

However, I gained four pounds this week, despite really doing well on the exercise. So this tells me that it is at long last time to address the food. That's another blog.

A screaming success last night.
After Wednesday's long, dragging run/walk (all of 35 minutes), I was not eager to exercise again. I'm done. Aren't I? So I fell asleep on the couch after dinner for a few minutes, then woke up and shook myself a bit. Cleaned out the fridge. Finished the grocery list. Got on the computer. Argued with myself.
And then, I went to the gym.
Not my best workout. 35 minutes of moderate level elliptical. 2.37 miles. But the triumph is, I did it. Even when I didn't want to.

So far this week: 174 minutes exercised.
10.9 miles.

I am skipping Pilates this week, and I'm only going to go next week and that will be that. It's a good workout, but my schedule has completely changed.
I go to BoiseRunWalk tomorrow for their long run/training/companionship. It's at the ungoshly hour of 0730. Um, hello, that's usually when I am dragging myself out of bed! But I will go. And I will run. And it will be good.
And I will add another hour to my workouts for the week, and another 4 miles. And that will be awesome. I was worried that I was going to overdo, but skipping Pilates and then taking two rest days seemed to be the ticket.

Next week, I'll walk Sun, elliptical M, run/walk Tues, rest Weds, run/walk Thurs, Pilates Fri, and long run Saturday. Or I may change it around. Who knows?

Well, okay, I posted about my long run on Sunday.
It took everything I had to work out on Monday, but I did 37 minutes on the elliptical, 2.53 miles.
Yesterday I took a rest day. Exhausted.
Today I ran/walked again on the Greenbelt. Felt like the heat was sucking the life force out of me. My calves were in knots. It was just so hard. Barely got 35 minutes in, maybe 2 miles.

So far this week: 139 minutes exercised.
8.53 miles.

Well, I posted this on my other blog yesterday but I'll put it here. Yesterday I had a realization and it will change my entire schedule.
I joined a run/walk group to train for the half marathon in October. They do their long runs on Saturday instead of Sunday. So I'll switch my long runs to Saturday starting this week.
That means I'll move my Pilates class to Weds for the short term, and may just quit the class at the end of this session (two more weeks of it). I am not progressing, so it's time to do something new. It's a good workout, but I can't do it Friday and a long run Saturday.
So, also in the mix, a possible new gym. There's a new one open near me and near the Albertsons I frequent. I haven't checked it out yet, but it is only a dollar a month more expensive than the gym I go to now, and there are classes to take. Not many, granted, but they are there.
Or I could go to my original old gym and see what shakes out there. There are many classes there. I will explore.
But first, I will read for a bit and go to bed!
I have done a four mile run this week, and 2.53 miles on the elliptical.
2.53/6.53
37/104

Goals for the week, July 4-10

Sunday: 60 minutes run/walk
Monday: 37 minutes elliptical
Tuesday: 37 minutes run/walk
Weds: rest
Thursday: 37 minutes run/walk
Friday: 60 minutes Pilates
Saturday: 37 minutes elliptical

At LEAST 240 minutes exercising, and to add: keeping track of food, and at least one yoga session.

35 minutes on the elliptical this afternoon. It is about the only thing that got done today, except for cleaning the house and laundry.

So, for the week: 222 minutes exercised.
14.70 miles

Goals for the week were: 240 minutes or more, and 15 miles or more. I really need to do cardio 6 days a week to get this goal, but I did the best I could this week.

An hour of Pilates today. I forgot to pay for it until today, but paid for it and then ran to the class.

For some reason, the class was really hard to do, but I got through it. I'd had something for lunch that I shouldn't have, and it kept my stomach irritated through the class.

When I did the part where we roll back and forth on our backs, I felt something go POP in my back. It didn't feel good, but it didn't really hurt either. I think something just went back in line. My lower back is a little sore right now, but that often happens after Pilates.

Anyway, I came home and crashed. One more workout tomorrow. Sunday I start my food blog.


So for the week: 187 minutes exercised.
12.36 miles

Goals for the week: 240 minutes or more, and 15 miles or more. Doesn't look like I'll quite make it, as I took an extra day off. But I'll try my best!

35 minutes on the elliptical. It was really hard to make myself go to the gym but I did it.

Nothing special, just one of those workouts that I gutted through because I was tired, and couldn't talk myself out of the workout because I got goals.

So for the week: 127 minutes exercised.
8.36 miles

Goals for the week: 240 minutes or more, and 15 miles or more.

Yesterday was so hot, so suddenly, that I decided it was the perfect day for a rest day.

Today, although it was still hotter than I like, I went ahead and did a 35 minute run/walk. 5 minutes walking, then 2 minutes running and 4 minutes walking until I was back at my car and the 35 minutes were done. I was huffing and puffing and it felt good.

So far this week I've exercised 57 minutes plus today's 35, for 92 minutes. I've done um....3.67 plus 2.33, so 6 miles so far.

Goals for the week: 240 minutes or more, and 15 miles or more.

Run/walk

So, today I went back to the Greenbelt to do a run/walk thing.
I have a couple of goals right now:
1. To get to a 60 minute run/walk at least once a week
2. Once I get to the 60 minutes, to start running more and getting faster

Today I meant to do 55 minutes. I started out running way too fast, and could only do 1.5 minutes. So I slowed down, and finished 7 run/walk cycles, of 2 minutes running and 4 minutes walking. With warm up and cool down, my overall workout was 57 minutes. I don't know exactly how far I went, it was 3 miles plus a bit, not quite another half mile but close. I will keep to the 2 minute run/4 minute walk for another couple of weeks. Next week is the week I hit the 60 minute mark.

At some point, I will post my ultimate training plan. For now, I'm content with what I'm doing.

I need to do 5 cardio workouts this week and Pilates on Friday (not that Pilates isn't cardio, I sweat like a pig when I'm doing it). So, the tentative plan: elliptical M, run/walk 35 minutes T, Weds off, run/walk 35 minutes Th, Pilates Fri, and elliptical Sat.
DH has also fixed our bikes. I am contemplating finding my helmet and riding my bike to the gym on Saturday, and looking into a basket or something so I can go get some groceries on the bike.

rest of the week

Yep, and that's pretty much all she wrote as far as exercise went. I crashed the rest of the week and only walked on Saturday.
However, it is a new week and I've adjusted.

Moving It

I am TIRED of the various places I've tried to post my exercise. Worn out. So it's time for a new blog detailing what I'm doing.
Maybe I'll talk about my diet adventure, and maybe not. For now, I am anticipating just talking about moving.

I have exercised at least three times a week for a couple of decades. I've exercised through pregnancies, through depression, through grief. I worry about myself when I can't drag myself outside at least three times a week.

However, in order to lose weight, I really need to work out five times a week, at least, for a half hour or more at a time. I've been working up to this since my urgent surgery in January. When I was sick, I didn't work out. The longest I'd ever gone without exercise before January was three months (and that was the last six weeks of my first pregnancy and the first six weeks of my baby's life).

So. I exercised five times a week a few weeks ago, then slacked off to four times the last couple of weeks. This week, so far, I've done better.

Sunday, I went out for a run/walk on my favorite spot on earth, the Boise Greenbelt. It's a path that follows the river for miles and miles. I started in a different spot than my usual, and decided to do the whole 50 minutes. I want to increase my exercise time once a week until I'm working out for an hour at a time. Then I'll start training for something.
Anyway, back to Sunday. With my earphones in, I was ready to go. I walked a bit, then ran 1.5 minutes and walked some minutes and kept repeating until I'd gone a half hour, and I turned around and headed back. It was wonderful on the Greenbelt, cool and shady for the most part. The sun was out, and it is finally feeling like summer is a possibility.
50 minutes workout, about 3.33 miles.

Today I hit the elliptical at the gym. I went kind of late in the day, but that's all right. I have never liked morning exercise, truth to tell. So going later on is just fine. 35 minutes on the elliptical, 2.35 miles.

So far for the week:
85 minutes exercise
5.68 miles