On a Break :(

So it looks like I won't be running for a while. I'm extremely sad about it and I hope my doctor can help me find a way to be able to run again. I have been having some pretty severe knee pain, and have been hoping the exercise would help. Well, it hasn't helped, and it has only gotten worse. So instead of risking the health of my joints long-term, I have decided to take a, hopefully, short-term break from the couch to 5K program.

Now I just have to make sure I get my exercise in other ways. Good thing I have a doggie to motivate me to take long walks! And hopefully I'll be able to post something soon about my running!

Week 4...all over again

So I think I will be doing week 4 a second time. I did another workout of week 4 tonight because i tried the first week 5 workout and I just couldn't do it. I didn't quite finish the end of the workout i did tonight. I did almost everything. I just couldn't make it through the last 5 minute run. But i still feel great and I know I got a great workout. I will be doing another week 4 workout on Friday and I'll go from there. I am getting worried that I will just not be able to finish this program. Is it possible that I'm just not cut out for running? Well, I'm going to keep trying and I guess we'll find out!

Finally! An update!

It's been so long since I've posted! I have been trying to keep up with the program. The week of Passover was really really hard for me because we kept Passover very strictly and it was hard for me to even cook a simple meal because of all of the restrictions. I think I only ran once that week.

I have been having a hard time staying on schedule because there have been so many things going on at home, and honestly, I wasn't making it a priority like I should. But I got back on track on Saturday and finished week 4 yesterday! I feel like I should be a lot farther ahead. I have a feeling that I accidentally did week 4 twice...I'm not sure. I just feel like I've run more than 3 times since March 30th (when I last posted).

Anyway, I plan on doing the first workout of week 5 tomorrow. We'll see how it goes. If I absolutely can't make it, I'll do one or two more workouts from week 4, just to get back on track.

I have been feeling badly about not being further along. But DH was so right. He said what I have done is better than doing nothing, and to imagine how i would feel about myself if I were getting no exercise at all. So I will try to start looking at it from that point of view.


I also started tracking what I'm eating. I registered on sparkpeople.com and have been doing a pretty good job. It makes me accountable for the things I eat and that helps me a lot. I've never really done something like this before. It makes it easier for me to make healthy choices when I know I will have to enter everything I eat and see it in writing. Being healthier is so incredibly important to me because I want our children to learn how important it is to be healthy.

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's workout! Hopefully it will go well.

Beginning of Week 3

So today was my first Week 3 workout...and boy was it rough! It was more running than before, which I know is the whole idea. But it killed me! I went from running 90 seconds at a time last week, with breaks in between, to running 3 minutes at a time. It was so hard! Especially on the hills. But the weather was great. And I made it! I had to really push myself at first, but after the first 15 minutes, I was really starting to feel good, and I feel like I really did a good job!

I am looking forward to my next workout!

Last workout of Week 2!

This workout was amazing. I can really feel my progress and it's great. I can feel myself being able to run a little faster. And even though the hills can be tough, I make it through. I changed routes, because the one I did for week 1 was way too hilly for me. I love my newer route. Its perfect. Just the right amount of hills and flat road.

I just love the way I'm feeling about this program. I did my workout this morning at 6:45 and I have felt so great all day. I was a little sleepy this morning, cause i usually don't drag myself out of bed until 7:15, so running that early was a little different for me. But after I got over the sleepiness, I just feel great. I can't wait to start Week 3! It looks like its going to be a challenge, but based on how well today's workout went, I think I'm ready for it!

I wanna thank all my buddies from the WC! You ladies give me such encouragement and motivation. This would not be as easy if I didn't have all of you to talk to!

Week 2, Second workout

So I bought myself some new running shoes! The shoes I have are definitely not good for running, so I went out and got myself some nice running shoes. They are really comfy and I can feel the difference. I have knee problems, and my knees don't hurt half as much as they did with my other shoes. The only problem with the new shoes is they gave me a blister, but I'm sure my feet will get used to them.

Anyway, todays run went really well. The hills really kick my butt. But that's ok. I like it! Not only did I do my workout today, but I also took my daughter and our dog for a 2 mile walk this morning. The weather was so nice today, I just wanted to be outside.

This program has really done amazing things for me already. I feel so great about myself. And it gives me time to myself that I wouldn't normally get at home. I'll admit that it is hard to walk out the door by myself, leaving my husband and daughter behind. I know it might sound silly, since I'm usually gone less than 30 minutes, but my mom never took time for herself and she always felt like she wasn't allowed to. So I guess that feeling has transferred over to me. It's hard to overcome the guilt, but I'm lucky because my husband really likes for me to go out and take time to do something for me. I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks and seeing myself progress.

My First Post!

Well, I've finally started an actual workout program. Thanks to nestie mrssisler, I have started the couch to 5K program. It's so perfect for me because its very gradual, and I've been a total couch potato for way too long. So even though it's hard, it's definitely do-able. And it makes me feel so great! I have always wanted to run, but I've never had a program telling me how to get started and how to progress. So now I am going to be able to do something I have always wanted to do!

The first week was pretty hard for me. I did 2 of the 3 workouts outside on the streets and it was not easy. I had to push myself. But I liked it. I was able to go to the gym for one of my workouts and run on the treadmill, and I really liked that. So I think I will try to do at least one workout a week at the gym.

I started week 2 today and it was noticeably harder. But I did it! It felt great to progress. I'll hopefully do my next workout at the gym.