W9D3 - I graduated

I was so happy yesterday, I stuck it out, I finally completed a program I started. I have been jogging for almost three months, I can't believe how time flies!

The run went okay, I was really tired and almost couldn't keep it up, but I kept chanting "Come on, you can do it, it's graduation day, come on, you gotta blog about this later'. That kept me going, I even kept going for a minute after the BEEP.

I had some other things eating up my time yesterday, so sorry I didn't let you all know right away. Big thanks to everyone who gave me encouragement and support, you can find links to their blogs in my fellow runner's section on the right (I'm coming down with a bad bad cold and am a lazy blogwriter for not linking inline I know I know). Thanks Richard, Gary, Melly, Batman (wow, that sure sounds funny in there), CMB and anyone I may have missed. Couldn't have done it without you.

Plans for now is a one week break. Mostly because I'll be really really busy at work and this cold is becoming quite the nuisance.

After that I'm going to do two interval days a week and one "long run". I love doing the intervals. I haven't exactly thought how to divide them yet, I might make them 'natural' and do what my body feels like doing. The first three weeks I'm holding on to my regular route for timing and distance purposes, after that I'm going to try to increase my mileage.

Thanks again everyone -toasts cheap wine to celebrate-

W9D2 - I tried to be a morning runner

Well wishfully I had set my alarm to 5am this morning to try and do my run in the morning. I got up grumbling after two snoozes, had a quick cup of tea and a banana. Changed into my running clothes and got out of the door by 5.25am. Enough time for warmup, 30 minute run, cooldown, stretching and a hot shower.

It was hard! I had a lot of trouble keeping my pace steady and ended up running two intervals one of 12 minutes and one of 15 minutes. I was exhausted when I got home. I cooked up some breakfast right away because I was starving. Had some oatmeal and an apple, only after that did I feel energetic enough to hop into the shower.

Being a morning-before-breakfast runner really isn't for me, my energy levels are way off in the morning, I need a good breakfast and I need my food to settle before I run.

Nice attempt to rearrange my schedule, though it failed.

W9D1 - Yay!

I'm a 30 minute runner now!

I figured with the week break that I'd have trouble today, but I didn't. With the help of music and lovely though cold weather I was fine. It's actually easier to run when it's only 45F out than I thought. I was worried I'd get cold, but no where near that.

The main advantage was that I didn't need to stop running because I got too hot. I had that problem a few runs when it was around 80F, I just had to stop running because my body was just overheating.

One down, two more to go!

Life's looking up

After a good long talk with my parents and my brother they've decided to loan me and Steve the money for plane ticket. I'm gonna see him at Christmas and New Years, I'm going to Florida for two weeks!

I can't express in words how incredibly happy and grateful I am to my family. They are awesome, my life would probably be at rock bottom without their love and support. My parents and brother don't know about this blog, but if they happen to run across this, thank you, for everything!

My abcess is calming down nicely and is no longer painful, so I'm gonna try to do a run on Saturday. Just a repeat of W8, unless I can of course keep it up two minutes extra. I'll keep you posted.

And thank you all too for the support in running, the comments always cheer me on and keep up my spirits

Leave of abce(ss)nce

I've had problems with chronic abcesses in my loins since I was in my teens. Some periods it's absolutely gone and sometimes a huge abcess appears and gets infected.

Yay me!

Just walking and driving hurts right now and agitates the abcess further, so I'm gonna have to lay low till it's healing. I ignored pains and problems with a few in the past and they've taught me that it will only take longer to heal and will scar. A lot.

And just in the last week of the program too.

W8D3 - Running of frustration

I wasn't planning on running last night. But I was upset about missing my boyfriend, and missing my friends that I just got into my running clothes at 9pm and headed out the door. I ran out in the streets, because I really don't want to be in the park alone when it's dark. The streets make me feel safer, and my phone actually has a signal most of the time.

The run went okay, it relieved me off some stress and anger. It's a really good way of venting, blowing off steam.

This weekend was the yearly get-together of my old friends from the Everquest days. Nowadays we play World of Warcraft together occasionaly. But I've known most of the years for 6+ years. They are the reason I first visited the US. They are the reason I met the love of my life. This was the first time I wasn't able to make it.

I was heartbroken that I couldn't be with my best friends, the silly group of people that miraculously have so much in common and somehow met completely at random. I miss them, I love them!

As it says in my profile, I'm a dutch girl in love with an american man. We only see each other twice a year, if we are lucky. We've been together for over two years. It's hard. Most of the time I'm okay, we talk on Skype daily. But some days I get so aggravated and frustrated that we just can't be together physically.

I want to move to him, but US immigration -sighs- Yeah. Basically we have to get married and we both don't want to do that until we are absolutely ready for it. Or I'd have to find a job, which is not happening either because I lack experience and no one will even interview me (I apply a lot). Work visas are rare and nowadays pretty hard to get for even big companies.

I'm sorry for writing all this in my running/health blog, but then this is my journal and my mental health is a very important part to getting fit. For me I'd even say it's one of the most important parts, since it's one of my biggest burdens.

W8D2 - Not That Bad Actually

Had a great run today, felt so energetic and full of life during, but mostly after the run. And it rained! I went out and finally ran in the rain.

So incredible, to run in nature and the rain was just part of the thrill. Now I know not to shy away from rain anymore.

On another note, I really should not watch scary shows before bedtime, I'm staying up until I watched something totally non-scary!

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W8D1 - Back on track

I just got back and all I can say is I DID IT!

28 full minutes!

Now I really want a shower, it was warm out and I'm tired, but feeling content as well. Music back in the pocket, which seemed my biggest problem in week 7, running without music. With my iPod on I don't listen to myself breathe.

Reading - "No need for speed"

I've been intrigued with John 'The Pinguin' Bingham's philosophy on live and running ever since I ran across his column in Runner's World. So last week I decided to order his book "No need for speed", all about beginning to run.

Last night I read through the entire first part, even though I was planning on just reading the intro since it was the commercial break in a movie I was watching.

This man is so inspiring and fascinating. He makes sense to the average person who wants to start getting fit. He tells pieces of his life story and they may very well have been mine.

"Three weeks. That's as long as my inspiration lasted. Three weeks. It didn't matter what I decided to do or be, I couldn't get past the first 3 weeks of any quest."

He dedicates a large part of the book to the mentality behind becoming a runner, dividing the book up in sections called Inspiration, Perspiration, Dedication and Celebration

"You may be uncomfortable hearing that no one can tell you what your fitness goals should be. No one can tell you how much activity is right for you, what eating strategy will work best, or how long it will take to achieve your early fitness goals. It's true that there's no shortage of people who will try. Friends, spouses, and even authors of books are certain that they know what's best for you. They don't."

After each section he adds a chapter with practical information, like a guide on buying shoes, clothing and easy to use training schedules.

"Running is a relatively inexpensive hobby. It's not like you need a $15,000 bass boat or even a $1,000 set of clubs. But for the shop-till-you-drop fanatics among us, you can spend a lot of money on running clothes. In fact, you should plan to invest a little in your early running wardrobe. In the long run [pun intended], it will be money well spent."

A very practical and inspiring book that is helping me over one of the biggest hurdles in my quest to becoming fit, simply losing interest and sneakingly just give up. John Bingham is giving advice without looking down on you and without 'golden fits-everyone rules', most importantly he teaches you to listen to your own body and do what you feel you can accomplish.

I've already decided to pick up another book by him.

W7D3 - Bad run

Or hardly any running at all. I was able to run for ten minutes total, divided in two intervals. I found out I can't do it without my music. I just can't do it without it seems. I'll think too much about my breathing and about how tired I feel.

Of course it is also the first day of my period, and I've read on a lot of runner's forums that most women won't even try on that day. So it's not that surprising.

But I did walk out my entire route, so I was still out and about doing a brisk walk when I wasn't running.

Should I go on to week 8 and hope it goes better or should I repeat week 7? I'll figure it out. This whole week has been very hard.

W7D2 - Much better

I did W7D2 yesterday and it went a lot better again. My legs didn't feel like lead and my breathing was a ton better. I did my usual run and it seems to be around 25 minutes every time I do it, so when I go do W7D3 I'm not going to use a podcast or a watch and just run the run.

I'm not doing it for speed, but for endurance.

Yesterday I went shopping with my parents and even though the scale says I haven't lost any weight, I noticed the changes in my body so much. I tried on this fabulous coat that I would have never fit in because of the shape of my body, fit me perfectly yesterday. It was so gorgeous and it actually fit wel on my hips without being too wide for the rest of me. I'm really 'shaping' up.

I also don't have a full-length mirror at home, actually I just have one tiny mirror, so when I was trying on a cute top I saw myself in the big fitting-room mirrors I used to dread. And I looked at myself, and I was happy! I did not turn away in disgust as I've done in the past. I saw my noticeably flatter tummy and slimmer legs and I was happy.

I'm not where I want to be yet with my body, but I feel a ton better and I've gained so much confidence already. My body image is also getting much better and more realistic.

W7D1 - Blah

Just a short note, I just did W7D1 and it did not go well at all.

But then I have a bad cold and breathing is already the hardest thing about the whole running thing for me.

Oh well, I did 21 minutes and I feel good!

Singing in the rain

... Well.... not really.

It's been pouring most of yesterday and today. I am already a little bit sniffly, so I really didn't want to risk getting sick by running in the cold rain. I mean, just walking from my car to my front door drenched me from head to toe. And I really don't have any 'special' running clothes yet, I actually wear a cotton shirt, which is supposedly horrible when it gets wet. Next month I'm investing in some Dutch-weather-proof running clothes.

I'm hoping it stays dry to do W7D1 after work, but it's looking grim.

And I feel guilty.

I actually feel guilty about not having exercised for two days now, maybe going on three. For some reason I'm afraid that taking a three or maybe four day break will completely eradicate my progress so far and that I'll have to start in week 3 again or so.

I know it's silly! But it's still nagging on my brain.

So tonight if it is raining, I'm gonna do an hour of WiiFit, so I'll still have done something! I really hope the weather clears up some, I want to go running again!

What's after Couch to 5K?

Since I'm heading in to week 7 already and the end is coming near, I started wondering about the course of action to take after the program is done. I've decided to start yoga classes after I finish the program, so that will become a new habit along side of the running. It's so strange to find myself longing for more ways to get some physical activity in!

I've been doing some research and some browsing and found some training schedules. Because that is what I do know, I need to hang on to a schedule!

I'm looking for something:

• that will built me to run four days a week
• that will offer me diversity, so different types of runs
• that will help me run greater distances (10K)
• that will help me improve my times
• it has be something I can do with a simple (stop)watch.
• that will be a real challenge!

I've been looking at training schedules from Asics, Cool Running and from Runner's World. Just mainly looking around.

Anyone have any solid ideas so far or a schedule ready to go when you are done with this?