The final workout

Distance: 3.25 miles

Calories: 475.2

Workout: run 3 miles (6.5 mph); 1/4 cool down

This was the final workout on this training program. I can officially say I can run a 5K! I have ran (and in the beginning walked) over 73 miles. I have lost 17 pounds. I now weigh 148 pounds!

I said from the beginning that this was a journey. To search inside myself and find what was missing and I have found Jesus! I knew Jesus before I started running but now I KNOW that He has been waiting for me to fully commit to Him in all areas of my life. To let go of any fears I might have, any reservations I might have, any obstacles I may be imagining, any limits that I may have been placing on Him. I have been in training to run but have found the more I run the more I realize that I am in training to live for Jesus. So that when a door opens I am aware that it is open for me and I will have the courage and the endurance to walk...to run through that door!

I feel like God has been speaking to me SO LOUDLY in the last two months. He has been using so many different areas of my life to help me connect the dots I can only conclude that God has something new in mind for me. I don't know what it is yet and even when I do know it may not be something that is so drastic that all will immediately know. But I will know and so will Jesus!

Thank you to those of you who have been on this journey with me! I love you all! At this point I think this will be my final entry. I am leaving this blog up for now as a reminder to myself of where I was and were I am today! I will be continuing to run but I feel like this blog has served its purpose and this chapter is now closed.

Week 9; Day 2

Distance: 3.25 miles

Calories: 474.2

Workout: run 2 miles (6.5 mph); run 1 mile (6 mph); 1/4 mile cool down

So I was hoping to finish the whole 3 miles at 6.5 mph but my legs decided otherwise! Glad I was able to finish the full three miles but it was a stuggle on the last half mile. Hopefully next time will be better...

Week 9; Day 1

The final week of this training program!!

Distance: 4 1/4 miles

Calories: 626.1

Workout: run 4 miles (6 mph); 1/4 mile cool down

It's good to alive and running with Jesus in my heart!

Week 8...The day she ran 3 MILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Distance: 3 1/4 miles

Calories: 474.6

Workout: run 3 miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (6 mph); 1/4 mile cool down

I am just AMAZED to even be able to blog this tonight!!

I cannot take any credit for this! Praise Jesus!

It is through His strength all things are possible!

Notice anything different?!?!?!?!?!?

Week 8, Day 2

Distance: 3 miles

Calories: 444.5

Workout: run 2 3/4 miles (6 mph); 1/4 mile cool down

Getting closer and closer to the finish line!!!

Running with Crystal

So Sundays have become my "Running with Crystal" days!!

I did MUCH better this Sunday than last! Don't know if it was attitude or that I was more relaxed or what. It was just better!

So we ran a couple miles...I almost made it to the top of 7th street...still need to work on running uphill! Next time I'll make it!

Thing I love about running with Crystal is that when you get done, you get to hang out on her comfy couch, drink some very cold bottled water and visit before returning home to your family!

Thanks again Crystal!

Week 8, Day 1

Distance: 3 miles

Calories: 441

Workout: 2 3/4 miles (6 mph); 1/4 mile cool down

My Saturday's in Feb and March are spent sitting in a chair. Somedays I swear I can actually feel my butt widening as I set there hour after hour preparing tax returns and financial statments for our clients. So it feels especially good when Saturdays are a running day...I'm on the every other day schedule right now.

As I was running I'm thinking to myself. When did it get this hard to be healthy? Is it just that I have ignored it for so long that it is starting to catch up with me? Or is it something else? When you go to the grocery store and look at the food on the shelves you have three choices...regular, light or fat free...for pretty much everything. The news is always telling us that obesity is at an all time high for Americans...so why wouldn't the manufacturers just make the fat free stuff and just have it be the "regular"? I know, I know...it's all about the money. Maybe I'm just being more aware right now...Ted says I'm obsessing over my food...I feel like I'm in a war right now...not with Ted (he's totally on board) but with the food!

I'm taking the same approach with this as we did this summer when we did a total financial "diet" (Dave Ramsey)...he says "You control your money, don't let your money control you. You have to TELL your money what to do..." So I'm controlling my food...planning meals, reading labels, calculating points...."TELLING" my food what to "do"...

Anyway, I don't really know where I was going with that last statement and my steamer timer just went off so that means it's time to eat! Steamed broccoli and chicken tetrazini...the tetrazini is mass points but when you run first before you eat it you are OKAY!!

Week 7; Day 3

Distance: 3 miles

Calories: 425.3

Workout: 1 3/4 miles (6.5 mph); 3/4 mile (6 mph); 1/2 mile cool down

In honor of love day I attempted to keep my Training Zone in the "red". In this case red does NOT equal love; it equals aerobic!! I had to dial it down for the last 3/4 mile...I thought my lungs were going to explode!

Conclusions of the day...I need to SLOW down. My body is TIRED!! The next two weeks I will be sticking with 6 mph as I progress up to running 3 miles. And the incline, well that's just going to have to wait until after tax season!

In other news, I have lost at total of 12 lbs!! I am VERY excited about that!

Week 7; Day 2

Distance: 3 miles

Calories: 441

Workout: It was supposed to be run 2.5 miles; I decided to do this...

1/4 mile 3% incline; 6 mph
1/4 mile 1% incline; 6 mph
1/4 mile 3% incline; 6 mph
1/4 mile 1% incline; 6 mph
1/2 mile 6.5 mph
1/4 mile 4 mph
1/2 mile 6 mph
1/8 mile 3% incline; 5 mph
1/8 mile 7 mph
1/2 mile cool down

My legs are DEAD right now! The incline work totally burns!! Can't say that I really feel good about this workout. Its done so that's great but I felt like the treadmill was getting the best of me most of the time. I did notice the time went by a lot faster when I was changing this up ever 1/4 mile or so.

Plans for Day 3...no incline; faster pace (6.5 mph) for 2.5 miles.

Road Test

Pre-run feelings: very nervous. Excited to be putting my training to the test, nervous that I was not going to be able to keep up with Crystal and Robin.

During the run: right off things were okay, pace was good, my legs felt good, thinking to myself "I can do this". Then we turned the corner and started running into the wind...my legs started getting heavy (and burning)...breathing got heavier...TOTAL REALITY CHECK! I am not in shape yet!!:) Very glad that Crystal had asked her regular partner to come with us...that way she had someone to visit with since I could barely talk!! They normally run 3 miles...we ran 1.75 and walked a couple blocks...her watch said our distance was 1.9 miles and our pace was 11 something per mile (that averaged in our walking speed too I think) Robin has one of those fancy running watches...very cool.

Post-run feelings: Definitely have A LOT more work to do. I'm totally beat right now. Glad that I did this today. It was a good test to see exactly were I am. Am going to adjust my training program over the next few weeks to include some incline work on the treadmill. A month ago I wouldn't have even been able to make it to the end of the block so progress has been made but I will not be calling myself a runner just yet!;)

Week 7, Day 1

Distance: 3 miles

Calories: 441

Workout: 1/4 mile (4 mph); 2.5 miles (6 mph); 1/4 mile (cool down); rubber band training upper body

Sunday road test! Hope I can keep up!! Really hoping that training on the treadmill hasn't given me a false confidence in my running. I am hopeful that it will be a good thing to be outside. 25 minutes of staring at the wall is BORING!!

The last half mile was pretty tough tonight. But I am running really late tonight since we went grocery shopping. So I think I can add another mile or so of walking to my work out, right?!?!? I had the list where you have to go to all sides of of the store...you know, Q-tips, windsheild wiper fluid, food, food, food...more food...

Week 6, Day 3

Distance: 3 miles

Calories: 445

Workout: 5 min warm-up (4 mph); run 25 min (6 mph); cool down

I have things to say but the stack of work in my office is calling me to hurry up and eat dinner and get back to work!

Week 6, Day 2

Distance: 2.75 miles

Calories: 410

Workout: 5 min warm-up (4 mph); run 10 min (6 mph); walk 3 min (4 mph); run 10 min (6 mph); cool down

Off to do more taxes!!!

Week 6, Day 1

So I thought this was appropriate...not that I'm a big Mac fan...although I am a BIG fan of my Ipod nano...so I guess that makes me an Apple fan of sorts...anyway, I am starting to feel like "a new soul" and its a catchy tune so here you go:

Truly I'm a PC girl at heart! Too much left brain in this girl to be an Apple lady!;)

And now for the real deal...

Calories: 410

Distance: 2.75

Workout: 5 min warm-up (4 mph); run 5 min (6 mph); walk 3 min (4 mph); run 8 min (6 mph); 3 min (4 mph); run 5 min (6 mph); 5 min cool down; rubber band work-out-upper body

Best thing about this workout: I got to eat TWO pieces of YUMMY lasagna for dinner!;) Cause yeah, I'm still all about eating!:)