First Legitimate Training Day

The half marathon is looming and I need to get serious about my training.  After recovering from my bout of food poisoning, I took my flabby body to Bally's in an attempt to complete one hour of walking/jogging without falling onto my face.  I started out ambitious...pushed the speed of the treadmill up to 4.0 not realizing that I should work my way up to a 15 minute mile after little to no training and recent diagnosis of high blood pressure.  After about 10 seconds, I had to drop the speed down to 3.2 lest my face become acquainted with the running belt beneath my feet.  I slowly picked up speed and every 8 minutes I would up the speed to 4.2 for one minute.  I pretended Jillian Michaels was yelling at me every time I would hold on to the treadmill.  I was playing with the incline as well, but began to feel discomfort in my knees and figured I would forgo any added benefit and save my knees so that I would still be able to walk after the race.

I completed 30 minutes and 1.89 miles.  Not great, but given that I haven't exercised in YEARS, I was pretty happy with my accomplishment.  During my first cool down I was wiping my face and felt a little lightheaded when my eyes were behind the towel.  I shook it off and figured it was just a fluke caused by the heat and dehydration as I was completely soaked with sweat.  I looked awful but decided I could do another 30 minutes.  I changed treadmills so that I could have a working heart monitor (the diagnosis of high blood pressure a month ago has me a little scared).  I went a little slower this time around and was concentrating on building endurance not speed.  I figure the speed will come as the race date nears.  I stayed within the 80% range and monitored my heart rate every 5 minutes.  I completed another 1.77 miles in 30 minutes and actually felt pretty good.  Sweaty but good.

I decided that I shouldn't push it today and went to the locker room to dry my completely soaked hair.  Waiting for the bus rose my temp a little bit as the high humidity and temps have returned to Chicago.  When the bus arrived, I was ecstatic to feel the powerful air conditioner creating a "meat locker" on the #22 bus. Twenty minutes on this bus in the frigid temperatures caused my muscles to stiffen and my arches and ankles to start aching.  I felt like an old lady as I stepped off the bus, every muscle in my lower body screamed as each foot touched the sidewalk.  I took it easy tonight and plan on doing another 30 minutes tomorrow, in addition to some weight training to start building some strength in my atrophied muscles.

Today's Results:

Workout Time:  60 minutes   Total Mileage:  3.66 miles
Miles per hour rate:  16.39  Rate needed for Disney:  16.00 mph

Once I see some progress I will post some photos.

Unexcused Absence

I talked a big game last week in my post.  Promised to be here every day to document my progress towards getting my butt off the couch and attempting to ready myself for the half marathon I promised to run in a mere 6 weeks.  But I didn't count on salmonella poisoning;  not a part of anyone's plan.  Funny thing is, the salmonella was from eggs, not the recalled eggs from the farm in Iowa, just some undercooked eggs from a local fast food place.  And I knew it...knew it when I opened the container...the eggs didn't look right.  But I ate them anyway.  What followed was 7 days of pure misery, which I didn't connect to salmonella until Wednesday.  Just thought my intestines were rebelling against my healthy eating.

   Spent two days of my four day weekend recovering.  Today was the first day I actually felt human again.  Human enough to train.

Finding my way out of the funk

photo credit

I have been a huge fan of the Biggest Loser since the first season.  I follow several former "Losers" on both Facebook and Twitter.  One of my favorite former contestants is Matt Hoover.  I relate the most to his struggles, both physically and emotionally.  I used to read his blog religiously and feel he is a great motivational speaker.  His blog from a few days ago opened my eyes...he talked about "being in a funk".

In the last few months, I haven't been connected to many things I used to love.  I have secluded myself and restricted social interactions if at all possible.  I don't know why I have been hibernating, I just haven't felt like myself lately.  I still go out and be social, but I don't take as much pleasure in things.  Trivia is ok, but losing its luster.  I keep making excuses for canceling on plans with friends (sick, too hot, no money).  And although most of the excuses are true, if I really felt like going, I would find a way.  This funk has also enveloped my training for the half marathon.

I have 5 weeks to prepare for this race and I am probably in the worst shape I can be to run 13.1 miles.  Yet I still can't find the motivation to get out there and train.  I found a program that will help me finish the race under the time deadline.  What I need to find now is the energy to follow through.  I had every intention of getting to the health club today to put in my four miles on the treadmill.  My body decided I needed to stay in bed until 1pm.  I need to figure out a way to push myself.  To find a way to realize that if I actually work toward the goal, all of the other things will fall into place.

I was browsing some friend's photos on Facebook and see how happy they are...I want to feel that again.  I want to feel like I am worthy of dating and find a good man, not the unemployed, pathetic men I have dated the last few years.  One of the first steps to any "problem" is to admit you have one.  I have a problem, I need to get off my ass and get moving.  No more excuses.  The next 5 weeks will be blogged so that I can document my progress.  I will finish the race...I have 3.25 hours to finish 13 miles.  I will get my medal.  The first day of my new life is tomorrow.

Thanks Matt for the kick in the ass I needed.