Week 7
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Run 20 min. Run 20 min. Run 22 min. Walk easy Run 24 min. Run 26 min. REST
Walk 1 min. Walk1 min. Walk 1 min. 30 min. Walk 1 min. Walk 1 min.
Run 9 min. Run 9 min. Run 7 min. Run 5 min. Run 3 min.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Day 40
Well, we made it to our vacation destination, but just barely!
My poor hubby had a 6-hour, white-knuckled driving experience, navigating through the pouring rain, in construction zones with low shoulders, pulling a trailer and almost running out of fuel (another nearly disastrous consequence of pulling the trailer)!
Luckily, when we arrived a little after 10 pm, all of that was just a distant memory. We were greeted by excited grandparents who were happy to have us there and to share their home and Easter with us! And our three youngsters were quick to forget about the woes of travel as they raced around Grandma’s house, trying to find their favorite toy treasures, stopping every so often to give grateful leg hugs and ask for cookies!
Everybody slept like logs last night and woke up rested this morning. And even though we felt rested, my hubby and I weren’t initially sure that we felt rested enough to tackle our running schedule for the day (Run 18/Walk 1/Run 11), especially on Missouri’s very hilly country roads, but we had no choice, We are on vacation but NOT from running!!
Tracy ran before I did and came back looking refreshed and a little giddy! He said that the hills were ridiculous but in a good way! And, guess what? I believed him! ;-)
So, I took off in the light drizzle, with Dave Matthews singing in my ears, a fine mist on my glasses, Tracy’s directions in my head and joy in my heart. The scenery was new; the temperature was cool; my legs and heart felt strong! I thoroughly enjoyed myself!
It was a joy!
;-) Missi
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Day 39
I meant to get this post done yesterday, but time got away from me, as we are planning a 4-day Easter vacation at my in-laws!!
I have to say that I am really looking forward to it, and so are the kids! They are at such fun travel ages right now and have been counting down the days until they get to see Papa and Grandma, their aunt and uncle and their cousins. Of course, there will also be an egg hunt and lots of candy, but those things take second fiddle to just spending time on the farm!
My girls were so excited for the trip that they begged (yes begged) me to let them pack their own suitcases last night! I made a list for each girl, which she proudly took and then checked off each item as it made its way into the bag! It was so cute and responsible. I could hardly stand it!
When they were done, they put their bags by the door "so Daddy wouldn't have to look for them when it was time to load up!"
They're so sweet!
Happy Easter!
Missi
I have to say that I am really looking forward to it, and so are the kids! They are at such fun travel ages right now and have been counting down the days until they get to see Papa and Grandma, their aunt and uncle and their cousins. Of course, there will also be an egg hunt and lots of candy, but those things take second fiddle to just spending time on the farm!
They're so sweet!
Happy Easter!
Missi
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Day 37
Here's the deal. How I look REALLY matters to me!
I really want to put my best foot forward all of the time, in terms of my appearance. I cover my legs when I don't have a tan. I have a modest swimsuit that tries to hide my "fish-belly white" mid-section. I highlight my hair to cover the grey, and I try to stay in fashion in regards to the size and style of my eye-glasses! You get the picture. Perhaps you are the same way! ;-)
I say that to say this: My looks really matter to me EXCEPT when I am running!
In fact, what I look like doesn't even cross my mind while I am running. I guess that I am so busy concentrating on how much time I have left, what my heart rate is, what song is on the MP3 player, what my next blog post will cover, how grateful I am to be able to run and what a joy it is to be doing something good for my body and spirit that I don't have time to wonder if I look cool or even coordinated! It's very liberating and very unlike the natural me. And I love it!
I run like nobody's watching. I run for joy!
;-) Missi
I really want to put my best foot forward all of the time, in terms of my appearance. I cover my legs when I don't have a tan. I have a modest swimsuit that tries to hide my "fish-belly white" mid-section. I highlight my hair to cover the grey, and I try to stay in fashion in regards to the size and style of my eye-glasses! You get the picture. Perhaps you are the same way! ;-)
I say that to say this: My looks really matter to me EXCEPT when I am running!
In fact, what I look like doesn't even cross my mind while I am running. I guess that I am so busy concentrating on how much time I have left, what my heart rate is, what song is on the MP3 player, what my next blog post will cover, how grateful I am to be able to run and what a joy it is to be doing something good for my body and spirit that I don't have time to wonder if I look cool or even coordinated! It's very liberating and very unlike the natural me. And I love it!
I run like nobody's watching. I run for joy!
;-) Missi
Monday, April 18, 2011
Day 36
Over the course of the last 5 weeks, I have discovered that my favorite parts of each scheduled run/walk circuit are the beginning AND the end! The run starts with hope and ends with a sense of accomplishment and renewed vigor - not just relief, as in other exercise programs I've tried.
As for the middle of the exercise, well, that is where the joy takes place. Now don't get me wrong; throughout the program, every step has been a challenge to my body first and then my brain. But I have found out that during these longer run sessions of 15 and 16 minutes at a time, it has become more of a mind over matter thing! My brain is telling me that the schedule says 15 minutes, so I have to at least try my best to accomplish the task at hand!
And guess what! I do it. I just keep taking another breath, another step, and another minute goes by! It's amazing!
Here's something else that is amazing! About 13 minutes into every run, I start to feel a little winded and that maybe I just can't do this! But then, magically, around the 15-minute mark, I feel a warmth come over me. It starts in my legs and travels up my body, and once my face gets warm, I start to feel like I can do it! My stride lengthens, and I feel like a runner. Perhaps this is what they call the "Runner's High!" I like to think that it is JOY!
Until next time,
Missi
As for the middle of the exercise, well, that is where the joy takes place. Now don't get me wrong; throughout the program, every step has been a challenge to my body first and then my brain. But I have found out that during these longer run sessions of 15 and 16 minutes at a time, it has become more of a mind over matter thing! My brain is telling me that the schedule says 15 minutes, so I have to at least try my best to accomplish the task at hand!
And guess what! I do it. I just keep taking another breath, another step, and another minute goes by! It's amazing!
Here's something else that is amazing! About 13 minutes into every run, I start to feel a little winded and that maybe I just can't do this! But then, magically, around the 15-minute mark, I feel a warmth come over me. It starts in my legs and travels up my body, and once my face gets warm, I start to feel like I can do it! My stride lengthens, and I feel like a runner. Perhaps this is what they call the "Runner's High!" I like to think that it is JOY!
Until next time,
Missi
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Week 6 Schedule
Week 6
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Run 16 min. Walk easy Run 17 min. Walk easy Run 18 min. Run 19 min. REST
Walk 1 min. 30 min. Walk 1 min. 30 min. Walk 1 min. Walk 1 min.
Run 13 min. Run 12 min. Run 11 min. Run 10 min.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Run 16 min. Walk easy Run 17 min. Walk easy Run 18 min. Run 19 min. REST
Walk 1 min. 30 min. Walk 1 min. 30 min. Walk 1 min. Walk 1 min.
Run 13 min. Run 12 min. Run 11 min. Run 10 min.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Day 34
One Way Running!
Yesterday, I had my first forray into "One Way Running!" And I have to tell you that it was the most exhilirating exercise experience that I have ever had (and I've had plenty)! It happened quite by accident and on one of the windiest days that I can remember - and that's saying something for Oklahoma!
Here's how it went down: Early yesterday morning, I had to take my car (a 1983 Mercedes turbo-diesel wagon with a lot of personality ;-)) to the mechanic for an oil change. This involved my hubby and the kids following me in his truck so they could then be my ride home. Well, my hubby had the bright idea to wear his running gear so that he could run back home from the mechanic's, which is close to 3-miles from our house - one way (which is how far we are run/walking in the 30-minute time allotment).
He said that he arrived at this idea because the thought of running against a 40 mph cold northwest wind was daunting. He figured that the backyard fences lining the road would act as a windbreak.
Back at home, the kids and I were waiting to see how he did, and I was curious as to how he handled the north-westerly winds. As it turns out, what he thought was going to be a north wind was actually a very strong west wind (the direction he was running), so he had the wind in his face the whole way! He told me that it was almost too overwhelming at first and that he thought he couldn't do it, BUT then he started thinking that with each step, he was getting a little bit closer to home. He had a destination; he had hope; he knew he was stronger and heavier than the wind, and in the end, he arrived home with a smile on his face!
He wanted me to have the same experience, but without the head-wind, so he and the kids dropped me off at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, where I had the wind at my back most of the way. The time passed by in a flash. I knew that I had a one-way ticket home; I just had to fly!
I felt like a real runner today. I didn't cover any more ground than normal, but somehow it felt different and the scenery was new with each step!
I definitely recommend "One Way Running"! It's a joy!
;-) Missi
Yesterday, I had my first forray into "One Way Running!" And I have to tell you that it was the most exhilirating exercise experience that I have ever had (and I've had plenty)! It happened quite by accident and on one of the windiest days that I can remember - and that's saying something for Oklahoma!
Here's how it went down: Early yesterday morning, I had to take my car (a 1983 Mercedes turbo-diesel wagon with a lot of personality ;-)) to the mechanic for an oil change. This involved my hubby and the kids following me in his truck so they could then be my ride home. Well, my hubby had the bright idea to wear his running gear so that he could run back home from the mechanic's, which is close to 3-miles from our house - one way (which is how far we are run/walking in the 30-minute time allotment).
He said that he arrived at this idea because the thought of running against a 40 mph cold northwest wind was daunting. He figured that the backyard fences lining the road would act as a windbreak.
Back at home, the kids and I were waiting to see how he did, and I was curious as to how he handled the north-westerly winds. As it turns out, what he thought was going to be a north wind was actually a very strong west wind (the direction he was running), so he had the wind in his face the whole way! He told me that it was almost too overwhelming at first and that he thought he couldn't do it, BUT then he started thinking that with each step, he was getting a little bit closer to home. He had a destination; he had hope; he knew he was stronger and heavier than the wind, and in the end, he arrived home with a smile on his face!
He wanted me to have the same experience, but without the head-wind, so he and the kids dropped me off at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, where I had the wind at my back most of the way. The time passed by in a flash. I knew that I had a one-way ticket home; I just had to fly! I definitely recommend "One Way Running"! It's a joy!
;-) Missi
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