When you have a really long range goal, like mine is, it's definitely good to have intermediate goals, both to measure your progress and to provide motivation (and reasons for celebration) as you move toward your ultimate goal. (Yikes...I used the word goal three times in that single sentence. Ah, well.)
Anyway, to that end, I'm planning an intermediate goal activity which will take place exactly 2 months from today. Like the big goal, I'm keeping it secret (at least on the blog) for now. There are two people who know about it, one of whom is hopefully going to do the activity with me, and the other is going to take care of Connor while we do.
Yes, I will, as with the big goal, eventually let blog readers know what it is. (Or maybe what it was...I may not post about it until I can post that I did it!)
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Getting there...
I am about 15% of the way to my goal! Cool, huh?
Speaking of getting there, I will be going to the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area tomorrow and will stay there with a friend for at least one night, possibly two. (I'm having a medical procedure on Tuesday morning and not sure yet whether I'll be up for coming home later in the day on Tuesday or will stay another night and come home Wednesday. Don't worry, someone else will be doing the driving!) Anyway, I've been thinking about the fact that this most likely means that I will miss my running workout for the next few days, and it's really bugging me. I'm planning to pack running clothes and shoes, just in case I can get in a run tomorrow. Hope I can!
Speaking of getting there, I will be going to the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area tomorrow and will stay there with a friend for at least one night, possibly two. (I'm having a medical procedure on Tuesday morning and not sure yet whether I'll be up for coming home later in the day on Tuesday or will stay another night and come home Wednesday. Don't worry, someone else will be doing the driving!) Anyway, I've been thinking about the fact that this most likely means that I will miss my running workout for the next few days, and it's really bugging me. I'm planning to pack running clothes and shoes, just in case I can get in a run tomorrow. Hope I can!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Slightly faster
My speed is going up ever so slightly each time I run (although it's still not particularly impressive and does not qualify to be called "fast"). Yesterday, I ran 1.7 miles in 27 minutes. Today, I ran further (1.8 miles) in less time (slightly over 26 minutes). Told you it wasn't particularly impressive, but at least it's improving!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Down
I had a Dr. appointment today (annual checkup, I'm not sick), and I learned several things.
My weight is down (this I already knew of course, as did you, faithful blog readers).
My resting heart rate is down (to 62).
My blood pressure is down (to 121/78). This one was especially exciting, as my Dr. had been concerned that my BP had been high for some time, and was recommending medication. I asked for some time to bring it down by changing eating and activity habits, and promised I would go on the meds if that didn't work. So I'm really glad it seems to be working!
I ran in silence again today, since I run faster that way. I did have my iPhone with me (I use it to time myself), so I listened to music during my warmup and cool down walking periods, and while I stretched. The first song that came on when I turned the music back on for the cool down walk was one of my favorites ("Defying Gravity"), and the first two lines were completely appropriate based on the good report about my health measurements:
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I had to laugh! And then I enjoyed the rest of the song.
My weight is down (this I already knew of course, as did you, faithful blog readers).
My resting heart rate is down (to 62).
My blood pressure is down (to 121/78). This one was especially exciting, as my Dr. had been concerned that my BP had been high for some time, and was recommending medication. I asked for some time to bring it down by changing eating and activity habits, and promised I would go on the meds if that didn't work. So I'm really glad it seems to be working!
I ran in silence again today, since I run faster that way. I did have my iPhone with me (I use it to time myself), so I listened to music during my warmup and cool down walking periods, and while I stretched. The first song that came on when I turned the music back on for the cool down walk was one of my favorites ("Defying Gravity"), and the first two lines were completely appropriate based on the good report about my health measurements:
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I had to laugh! And then I enjoyed the rest of the song.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Self care
It almost goes without saying, but it's important to do other self care things (in addition to exercise). To that end, today I had dentist and opthalmologist appointments. Unfortunately, when you live on an island which has neither a dentist nor an opthalmologist on it, you have to go to the next island up (for the dentist), and the next one after that (for the opthalmologist). And while you're on these larger islands, you of course also need to do some shopping. This process takes all day.
So I didn't get any exercise today...and I'm actually a bit disappointed in that fact. But I shall be sure and get some tomorrow!
So I didn't get any exercise today...and I'm actually a bit disappointed in that fact. But I shall be sure and get some tomorrow!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Counter-intuitive
I learned two things while running today, both of which are counter-intuitive.
1. Running without music causes me to run faster. I think this is probably because of my history of being in marching band in High School - when there's music playing, I feel like my feet must hit the ground in time with the beat. So unless I play music with a fast tempo, which apparently I don't, listening to music actually slows me down a bit. (Discovered this because my iPhone battery was dead when it was time to leave for my run today.) I also learned that there's something nice about running in silence (not that running to music isn't great, too...but there was just something rhythmic and lovely about the only sounds (in addition to birds, wind, other outdoor sounds) being the slapping of my feet on pavement.
2. Running faster is actually slightly easier than running slower. (Although I have to admit that it's entirely possible that the reason it felt that way has more to do with my body getting used to - and better at - running in general than it has to do with my running speed. Besides, I also have to admit that I'm still not running what most people would consider fast!)
1. Running without music causes me to run faster. I think this is probably because of my history of being in marching band in High School - when there's music playing, I feel like my feet must hit the ground in time with the beat. So unless I play music with a fast tempo, which apparently I don't, listening to music actually slows me down a bit. (Discovered this because my iPhone battery was dead when it was time to leave for my run today.) I also learned that there's something nice about running in silence (not that running to music isn't great, too...but there was just something rhythmic and lovely about the only sounds (in addition to birds, wind, other outdoor sounds) being the slapping of my feet on pavement.
2. Running faster is actually slightly easier than running slower. (Although I have to admit that it's entirely possible that the reason it felt that way has more to do with my body getting used to - and better at - running in general than it has to do with my running speed. Besides, I also have to admit that I'm still not running what most people would consider fast!)
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Random observations while running
1. Running to Gaffer's and back, while interesting just because it's different, isn't as picturesque as running to Oyster Creek or Jackson Dunes and back. (Or nearly as lovely as running on the beach, of course. Although running this particular route may result in other rewards (more on that in a moment).
2. The first day after running on the beach is not when you feel the muscles that were affected. The first day you RUN again is when you feel it.
3. There are undoubtedly very few other things that can make me feel as loved as running by the daycare, having Connor notice me go by and yell "Hi Aunt Kati", followed by "look, it's Aunt Kati!", and then run alongside me (on the other side of the fence, inside the playground, of course) as long as possible. And then blow kisses, too!
4. This running is much more of a mind game than I previously realized. Today, I talked myself out of running the full time because I was feeling (and not in a good way) calf muscles I swear I hadn't previously been aware were there (as a result of the beach run). So I switched to walking when I was only about halfway through the workout for today on my training plan. The stupid thing is that, right before I stopped running and started walking, I had actually just begun feeling better. But because I'd already decided I was only going to do half the workout, that's all I did. I'm okay with the "mind game" element of running, though...I just need to choose to set my mind on finishing rather than on not finishing.
2. The first day after running on the beach is not when you feel the muscles that were affected. The first day you RUN again is when you feel it.
3. There are undoubtedly very few other things that can make me feel as loved as running by the daycare, having Connor notice me go by and yell "Hi Aunt Kati", followed by "look, it's Aunt Kati!", and then run alongside me (on the other side of the fence, inside the playground, of course) as long as possible. And then blow kisses, too!
4. This running is much more of a mind game than I previously realized. Today, I talked myself out of running the full time because I was feeling (and not in a good way) calf muscles I swear I hadn't previously been aware were there (as a result of the beach run). So I switched to walking when I was only about halfway through the workout for today on my training plan. The stupid thing is that, right before I stopped running and started walking, I had actually just begun feeling better. But because I'd already decided I was only going to do half the workout, that's all I did. I'm okay with the "mind game" element of running, though...I just need to choose to set my mind on finishing rather than on not finishing.
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