So I've pretty much decided I should strive to do the 1/2 marathon. But I'll make my final decision later in the year after I see whether or not I can keep the motivation for longer than a few days.
I decided at the beginning of the year that this was the year I was going to focus on me. I was going to get healthy again. I've worked on the weight issue. And though I'm not where I want/need to be yet, I know I can get there if I just work out a little more.
I started rollerblading before work last week. I've been a little discouraged with the rollerblading though. My goal is to get these "little yellow bars" in my workout graph. I wear an armband as part of Jenny Craig Metabolic Max plan. I've used a similar program called the Body Bugg in the past. It measures caloric output in various different ways. It's a great tool and let's you see where you are. I've hit a plateau like this before and that's where I got discouraged and gave up with the Body Bugg. I have an office job. In order to get work done, I sit, a lot, in front of the computer. Therefore, my opportunity to get walking steps in is decreased. My Jenny lady gave me shit last week for not having enough steps. It wasn't for lack of trying. Its b/c I had a lot of lectures this quarter, therefore, when writing lectures, and preparing them on the computer, there's only so much time in the day to get them done. And when I get home and have a whiny cranky toddler, last thing I want to do is take the toddler on a walk. I want to shove food in her, get her bath and put her to bed ASAP. So I looked at when I could get steps. I've been waking up like clockwork every day at 5:30am. So I figured, why go back to sleep for a half hour, why not get up and do something. I love rollerblading. I could do it every day and never get bored. So I started doing that last week. I found that when Chris and I went 'blading (he was running) and we switched off pushing the stroller I got these "little yellow bars" which are targets that you're working harder on the graph the arm band gives you. I really can't figure out how to consciously get the bars. So I figured, cool, If I push myself harder (b/c when Chris and I went it was like a leisurely stroll), I'll get more bars! NOT! So then I figured, well maybe I need to do more hills, go faster, etc. Tried that. My ass was burning and I was huffing and puffing after these big hills. No bars! But somehow I got them cleaning the house randomly one night this weekend. Go figure! Oh and my pedometer (for a work challenge program) doesn't count rollerblading as steps, but my armband does.
So to get some yellow bars and to see how far I can really run in my vibrams (essentially barefoot running) I went this morning. Did almost a mile straight before my calves started to rebel. Better than I thought I could do, so I guess that's a start.
I was getting ready and Chris asked me if I went rollerblading this morning. I told him I went running instead. He was like "WHAT?! YOU DON'T RUN!!" ha ha! I think that's a challenge! Truth is, I hate running with him. He turns everything into a competition, which isn't what I'm out for. I'm out for encouragement, not throw it in your face competition. That's great that you can run longer than me, but my calves are cramping and I need a break. Sorry for the bad genes. Instead of saying "ok, stretch em out so we can keep going" he gives me some guilt trip about how I'm slowing him down and how hot it is, and by god how much he's SWEATING. Oh no not the sweat!! Or I get a "my shoes are better than yours" conversation. "I love these shoes. I can grip the road, and it's padded in just the right spot, yours aren't padded right. Yours aren't made for this terrain... mine are by far awesomer than yours..." BLAH! And the other part of why I hate running with him is that it's all on his schedule. He works out at the worst times. 6pm in Arizona this week - average temperature 95 degrees or more. 6am in Arizona this week - about 63 degrees. When would you rather run outside? On the weekends he decides to go at 2-4pm. Peak time for heat in Arizona. Why would I go run when it's 90+ outside when I could go by myself when it's in the 60s or 70s?)
So day 1 of running. My legs are killing me. My calves are giant knot balls and I've got some tendonitis in my ankles, but it felt good.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
1/2 marathon? Or too ambitious?
A few of my FB friends had posted that they're training for the Tinkerbell 1/2 Marathon in January. One's my 2nd cousin's wife who just had a baby in April. So I've seen a few mentions of this race.
Well my brother posted the other day that he'd like to do one of the Disney half marathons. That got me thinking. Maybe I should do it with him in January????
1. I'm still not at my goal weight. I need to exercise more. I got bored of the diet basically and yearned to incorporate more snacks into my life. Apples and carrots weren't cutting it. I like my pretzels and wheat thins and the snack size candy bar after a meal. My caloric intake is still less than 1400 cal, but I'm staying stagnant at 129-130. So I need to increase my activity. I started rollerblading in the mornings. We'll see how long that lasts, but apparently I don't burn that many calories doing it, and it's not like I'm just out for a leisurely roll.
2. I plan on having another kid next year. I don't want to be pregnant until after our trip to Disney World in March. I'm a big kid. I'd cry if I found out I couldn't ride the rides!! I said my goal before I had another one was to get healthy and hopefully in shape so I could hopefully continue that into my pregnancy. So doing a half marathon would help force the issue.
3. My parents want to buy us a double jogging stroller as a housewarming present (since everything else they wanted to get us, Chris already bought). So that would only encourage my motivation.
4. It's at Disneyland!! I mean how fun would that be to run through the Disney parks? I know for me it would give me more to look at and make me forget I'm running. Maybe that's why I've never been a runner? I usually get bored and can't get in my head and end up listening to my body.
5. Motivation to become a barefoot runner and use my KSOs as they're supposed to be used. Then maybe I can get some new VFF Bikilas or SportTreks for Christmas.
6. But I do realize if I do it, we'll probably have to get season passes to Disneyland. We plan to go in December with my brother and his girlfriend. Will probably get 2 or 3 day park hopper tickets, which are about $160 each (granted Chris and I both have discount sites through work, but still) and Ryleigh is $150. If I do the 1/2 marathon, no entry to the park is included. And how can you tease a kid being at Disneyland and not go?? So that's another $80each. If we go 1 more time and do park hopper passes, it pays to have the season pass. I was thinking maybe for Ryleigh's birthday or say after I have a kiddo next year. You can take a baby on all the kiddie rides.
7. Training in Arizona = death! Would need to look into the Aquatic and Rec Center near work. They usually have a discount group membership through work, but when the next one will be I don't know. The Rec Center has an indoor track and they allow strollers on the track too. Just looked. 15 punch pass for $60. That could get me to the sign up most likely in August. And apparently they have a half marathon training group that starts in September and is aimed to get people ready for the PF Changs Rock n Roll in Phoenix in January, a week or 2 before the Tinkerbell one. hmm...
So we'll see how much motivation I get. I am leaning more and more towards just doing it. But I guess I'll try to work on running a bit and see how far I get with that lol. I don't have to sign up until September. Higher fee yes, but at least I'll be in better shape to make an informed decision by then... hopefully?
ETA: And now I may have found a training partner. My work is a part of the Virgin Health Miles Program. We all wear pedometers and get points based on our step count. The more steps we take the higher level we get to. And then we get cash prizes based on the levels we get to. We can do challenges and get more points for various activities. My coworker just sent out a challenge and I asked her if it it was her way of telling me I should train for a 1/2 marathon. Told her about the rec center and the program I found and she said she'd be interested in doing it with me. Perfect... all my excuses just keep going away.
Well my brother posted the other day that he'd like to do one of the Disney half marathons. That got me thinking. Maybe I should do it with him in January????
1. I'm still not at my goal weight. I need to exercise more. I got bored of the diet basically and yearned to incorporate more snacks into my life. Apples and carrots weren't cutting it. I like my pretzels and wheat thins and the snack size candy bar after a meal. My caloric intake is still less than 1400 cal, but I'm staying stagnant at 129-130. So I need to increase my activity. I started rollerblading in the mornings. We'll see how long that lasts, but apparently I don't burn that many calories doing it, and it's not like I'm just out for a leisurely roll.
2. I plan on having another kid next year. I don't want to be pregnant until after our trip to Disney World in March. I'm a big kid. I'd cry if I found out I couldn't ride the rides!! I said my goal before I had another one was to get healthy and hopefully in shape so I could hopefully continue that into my pregnancy. So doing a half marathon would help force the issue.
3. My parents want to buy us a double jogging stroller as a housewarming present (since everything else they wanted to get us, Chris already bought). So that would only encourage my motivation.
4. It's at Disneyland!! I mean how fun would that be to run through the Disney parks? I know for me it would give me more to look at and make me forget I'm running. Maybe that's why I've never been a runner? I usually get bored and can't get in my head and end up listening to my body.
5. Motivation to become a barefoot runner and use my KSOs as they're supposed to be used. Then maybe I can get some new VFF Bikilas or SportTreks for Christmas.
6. But I do realize if I do it, we'll probably have to get season passes to Disneyland. We plan to go in December with my brother and his girlfriend. Will probably get 2 or 3 day park hopper tickets, which are about $160 each (granted Chris and I both have discount sites through work, but still) and Ryleigh is $150. If I do the 1/2 marathon, no entry to the park is included. And how can you tease a kid being at Disneyland and not go?? So that's another $80each. If we go 1 more time and do park hopper passes, it pays to have the season pass. I was thinking maybe for Ryleigh's birthday or say after I have a kiddo next year. You can take a baby on all the kiddie rides.
7. Training in Arizona = death! Would need to look into the Aquatic and Rec Center near work. They usually have a discount group membership through work, but when the next one will be I don't know. The Rec Center has an indoor track and they allow strollers on the track too. Just looked. 15 punch pass for $60. That could get me to the sign up most likely in August. And apparently they have a half marathon training group that starts in September and is aimed to get people ready for the PF Changs Rock n Roll in Phoenix in January, a week or 2 before the Tinkerbell one. hmm...
So we'll see how much motivation I get. I am leaning more and more towards just doing it. But I guess I'll try to work on running a bit and see how far I get with that lol. I don't have to sign up until September. Higher fee yes, but at least I'll be in better shape to make an informed decision by then... hopefully?
ETA: And now I may have found a training partner. My work is a part of the Virgin Health Miles Program. We all wear pedometers and get points based on our step count. The more steps we take the higher level we get to. And then we get cash prizes based on the levels we get to. We can do challenges and get more points for various activities. My coworker just sent out a challenge and I asked her if it it was her way of telling me I should train for a 1/2 marathon. Told her about the rec center and the program I found and she said she'd be interested in doing it with me. Perfect... all my excuses just keep going away.
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