2 miles in 30 minutes

Whew, another mini accomplishment that's keeping me motivated. I was able to complete 2.1 miles in 30 minutes. I was previously doing 1.8 miles in 30 minutes and push myself a little harder today so I could make that 15 minutes a mile mark.

It wasn't easy. There's still snow on the ground and I ran through some of it. Not too deep. My lungs felt the burn by the fifth run/walk sequence. I appreciate the "Do you want me to leave or do you want me to fight now?" song around this time. I keep telling myself, I want to fight, I want to fight.

I'd like to eventually get to a 12 minute mile but right now I'm very happy with my 15 minute mile after one week of training.

I didn't make my run today

Ack! soooo busy today, teaching computer to preschoolers, birthday lunch with my hubby, dentist, food shopping for the little one to make Dad's b-day present, pick up little one, snacks and homework (still thinking I can make the run), help make birthday presents, then totally have a melt down when my daughter spills her juice. It was ugly, yelling, screaming and threatening to throw out everything even the dog when asked.

Sigh, didn't get to the run. I have hope for tomorrow. I have the motivation, just not the time today. It's suppose to rain tomorrow, but I'm going to try anyway. It's my eldest's birthday and Girl Scout cookie day. I want to cry.

Week One - Day Two

It is beautiful out! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the kids are playing. I got dress in my sweats and went outside. Week One podcast in my ears and away I go. I finished another day. I tracked my mileage on the Spark people Fitness Map and Run Tracker. It looks like I'm still under two miles. I don't think I have the exact mileage because with the snow I had to run around snow hills (yes, even with the warm weather we still have snow), and look for paths in the snow. I'm hoping when the snow clears my mileage will be more accurate and will shoot up.

I also went to Tae Kwon do yesterday. I felt sluggish. I think my medication is taking its toll on me and can't wait to get off it. Monday is the day I finish taking them but alas I read the side effects may last up to a month. I need to work through the rough times if I'm going to go all the way. This is in my half marathon training and aiming for the black belt.

I read somewhere once that exercise can actually boost your immune system. I feel I need to put a disclaimer here that I'm not a doctor and these are my opinions and what works for me. A good rule of thumb, I follow, is if you are exercising and feel good, keep going, if you start getting a headache, stop.

Here is Robert Ullrey's Week One podcast.

Week One - Day One - Check

I DID IT!! I DID IT!!

Granted I have a bit of a headache now but I started the Week 1 podcast by Robert Ullrey. I get links after my shower. I ran, I walked, I ran over snow piles up to my chest, I dodged cars and ran among narrow shoveled walkways. I DID IT!

One small victory! Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

30 Minute Walk

I called the dentist first thing Monday morning and yes I have an abscessed tooth. He gave me some antibiotics and set a root canal appointment for Thursday morning. Woo Hoo - hear the sarcasm in my woo hoo. ;-)

After two days of constant pill popping, I feel a bit better. I have a dull ache on my tooth and am looking forward to tomorrow. I'm disappointed that I have not started walking soooo....

Today I decided I had to get out there. I grabbed the retractable dog leash and thought I just need to get out and walk about for 30 minutes. Would you believe that after 2 minutes and 42 seconds I checked my watch to see how much more time I had. No lie.

'It's a mind game,' I told myself. "I have nothing planned for the next half hour so I might as well walk." I pictured a general idea of where I will walk that will take up 30 minutes.

Everything is snow covered. Finding a pathway off the street onto a sidewalk is a bit of a challenge. But the Porthos and I weave among the snow piles, the narrowly shoveled paths and across icy streets. I check my time, OK 11 minutes go by. Up this street, down that street. 20 minutes go by. Woo Hoo I'm on the home stretch. Heading home now should take 10 minutes. Sure enough I'm home and it's 29 minutes and 52 seconds. Close enough.

Not bad for my first day out. I just wish it was running.

Ugh 101.7 fever

So for Valentine's Day, I had a 101.7 fever and a killer toothache. Went to the dentist today and will have a root canal Thursday. I got antibiotics for the abscessed tooth so maybe I can start running before the end of the week.

My tooth still hurts but maybe the antibiotics have not kicked in yet. We'll see.

Tae Kwon Do

Last fall, my family joined the TaeKwonDo dojang down the block. My first week I nearly passed out and could do maybe a half of a push up. I cried that I didn't want to go anymore. But my husband reminded me that is was me who joined everyone up. I'm also figured I paid for the first month, always wanted to try the martial arts, so I've got to go because I'll never have this chance again. Six months later, I can do about 20 push ups comfortably, stretch my legs so that my head can touch the floor, and I can make it through a class without passing out.

I'm a gold belt. You start out as a no belt. This surprised me. I thought you start with the white belt but know it's a no belt. Before I thought I'd be happy with just a green belt but now I think I want to go all the way to a black belt.

So today was elite fitness, one of the most difficult classes. My hubby was sick and the little one didn't want to go. Emily didn't want to go either but she went because I asked her. Of course I didn't want to go but because of the two blizzards I've only been to one class in 2 weeks. Apparently no one else wanted to go because it was just 3 of us. We made it through and moving on .... I'm glad though I think it will keep me in shape for the running I'm suppose to start tomorrow. Weirdly enough I'm nervous about it.

Running My First Half Marathon

OK, so I've never ran a race, ever. Not 5K and definitely not a half marathon. I was never a fan of jumping, and running is like constant jumping to me. Then there is the boring factor, the scenery may change house, trees, people, house, trees, people, house trees people, dog, house, trees, people.

In January of 2009, my sister ran her first half marathon with teams in training at Disney World. She had never ran a race either. Teams In Training trained her well, she finished in about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Not bad for never running a race before.

When she started, she told me about Robert Ullrey's couch to 5K podcast . I put on my strongest bra, CD player in my pocket (no I didn't even own a MP3 player at the time) and away I went. I did well. I made it to week 6, then it got cold and I stopped running.

I have ran on and off since but with no consistency, sooooo I signed my dear hubby and I up for the Disney World Half Marathon for January 2011. I wanted to start my training last week but we got slammed with not but two blizzards. So my start date is Valentine's Day. Isn't it romantic? I say in a sing song voice. I am not doing it with Teams in Training (I don't think I can raise that much money). This is on my own.

Here's the plan:
1. Follow couch to 5K 9-week podcast by Robert Ullrey
2. Run my first race, a 5K for the local women's shelter
3. Run/jog for additional 4-5 weeks.
4. Begin 10-week half marathon training.
5. Run a 10K somewhere in there.
6. After 10-week training, just try to get my time up.

I have to be over a 16 minute mile. I know I can do a 20 minute mile by walking fast, so 16 minute mile doesn't sound so bad.

My First Blog - My First ... well anything

I've turned 40.

time passes as that number sinks in

OK, so I'm 40 and there are things I never got to do, so I want to try and see how far I can get. I don't know why it took me so long to say "forgetboutit I'm just doin' it" But there it is.

I hope I take the fear out of the things that I am doing and help you develop a plan to do it yourself. This blog is also a journal of my personal journey, so that I can see where I've been and reflect on what I am doing.

So this blog is about firsts for me. Trying and experiencing new things. I've started a first already. In addition to this blog, I've joined a Taekwondo dojang. Pretty cool. Been doing it for 6 months now and I'll blog about what I remembered in the beginning, where I am now and where I am going.

The second first (or third, if you count this blog) for me this year, is running a half marathon. I've never ran a race, so this will be interesting. :)

So those are my firsts for 2010. I might pick up one or two more along the way but I think these will keep me busy.