c25k - week 2

So week 2 actually started at the end of what would have been week 2 and it's probably going to last longer than 7 days. It has been HOT and humid here which is just not conducive to running, especially when you already pretty much hate it.

But Saturday morning while on the Cape, I was in the mood to go out for a run/walk, so I did the first workout of week 2.

Week 2 consists of 3 workouts, all identical, that look like this:

• 5 minutes brisk walk
• Jog for 90 seconds then walk for 2 minutes. Alternate for 20 minutes

I ended up actually walking an extra 10 minutes afterwards because I wasn't as close to my parent's house as I thought I was when I was finished with the workout. It was actually a nice way to cool down.

I was planning on doing week 2, workout 2 tonight (and maybe I still will), but with temps hovering over 90 degrees today, I'm not sure how good it will actually feel to get out there. Maybe after dinner though.

c25k 1-2

Couch to 5k - week 1, workout 2 - CHECK!
Yesterday was another beautiful day, so I went out for my run/walk right after I got home from work. I even made it through my route 1.5 minutes faster than Monday!
The last workout of the first week will be tomorrow morning - gotta love having every other Friday off work!

I've been so good this week. I did workout 1 on Monday, played field hockey on Tuesday, did workout 2 yesterday, coached track camp today and will do workout 3 tomorrow!

I swear, this is it, for realz

I am a bad exerciser. Monday marked the 3rd time I have started the Couch to 5k workout plan. However, I have vowed to continue with it this time! Really, I promise.

Despite my 2+ week battle with a sinus infection/bronchitis/whatever, I got home from work Monday and was in the mood to run, so I did. It was beautiful outside (Summer, welcome to New England, thanks for joining us this year) so I did the workout outside and it was great. There is no need for me to write down the exact workout again, so I won't. I'm already geared up to do workout #2 today after work. It's supposed to storm, but I hope I can get it in outside. If not, it's off to the gym (that I pay for monthly yet hardly use. Fail.).

In other news, our siding is coming along nicely. As it stands right now, I think they plan on finishing everything but the front this week and then doing the front next week. (We're using shingle style siding on the front, so it's more work, hence it being saved for last. Plus, they have to install our new front doors). No new pictures, but it is still looking awesome.

We also hired a landscaper to come fix up our front walkway and to build us a patio out back. We are SO excited for this and can't wait to be able to grill AND eat outside. Grilling and having to eat inside kind of ruins the fun. The extensive work that needs to be done out front is a little daunting to explain, but I do have "before" pictures to upload that will be easier to show.

As I mentioned earlier, I've been sick. It started out the week before the 3-Day as a sinus infection of sorts. Luckily I was ok during the walk, but I think the walking, paired with having to travel by plane (for work) the week after the walk, prolonged my illness. No sooner did my sinuses clear that bronchitis set in (they actually overlapped a little, NOT FUN). I am just now feeling better, though I still have my cough, and last night was the first night in probably a week that I haven't woken up in a coughing fit in the middle of the night. The other downside to all this - Tim is now sick. His symptoms are presenting a little differently, and I just hope it doesn't last as long for him as it has for me. Especially because he doesn't like taking medicine.

Next up, I need to recap the Breast Cancer 3-Day (now that it's been almost 2 weeks since we walked!). Hopefully by Friday (since I have Friday off) I can do that before I forget too much!

couch to 5k - 2

Week 1, Workout 2 - Thursday, June 25
@ gym - treadmill

1. 5 minute warm-up walk @ 4.0 mph
2. 60 seconds jog @ 6.2 mph
3. 90 seconds walk @ 4.0 mph
4. repeat steps 2-5 for 20 minutes (8 cycles)
5. 5 minute cool-down walk @ 3.5 mph

couch to 5k - take 2

Well, as motivated as I was to start the couch to 5k program two weeks ago, I didn't make time to get past the first workout. Big FAIL. I re-started yesterday and I have a new plan in place to make sure I stay on track this time around. Even though the gym is only about 2 miles from our house, I will now pack a gym bag in my car so that I can go straight to the gym from work. So here we go again:

Week 1, Workout 1 - Tuesday, June 23
@ gym - treadmill

1. 5 minute warm-up walk @ 4.0 mph
2. 60 seconds jog @ 6.2 mph
3. 90 seconds walk @ 4.2 mph
4. 60 seconds jog @ 6.0 mph
5. 90 seconds walk @ 4.0 mph
   
6. repeat steps 2-5 for 20 minutes (4 cycles)
7. 5 minute cool-down walk @ 3.5 mph

Workout #2 (identical to #1) will be tomorrow night after work.

Aside from trying to get myself to the gym more often, we have been doing a ton of work to the house. This past weekend we put the windows in both of our bathrooms and this weekend we'll be finishing out the windows by installing the double window in our other upstairs bedroom - then we're done! Tim and his helpers (my father-in-law, possibly a cousin and a work friend) will also install our new French patio door! We've gotten word that our siding contractor should be starting on July 13th!

More updates after the weekend :)

couch to 5k

Last week I decided that I needed to seriously do something about my lack of physical activity since the wedding. It's quite sad and embarrassing actually, how out-of-shape I have gotten since I graduated college and retired from PSU track and field 2 years ago. I had heard of this Couch to 5k program but never looked into it. Well I figured it couldn't hurt to try it out. I did the first workout last night and I really liked it! Even though I don't have an actual 5k in mind to run anytime soon, I figured it couldn't hurt to use this program to get into better running shape.

In order to try and keep myself accountable for following the program, I'm going to use my blog as a way to record the workouts. So, away we go!

Week 1, Workout 1 - Tuesday, June 9
@ gym - treadmill

1. 5 minute warm-up walk @ 4.0 mph
2. 60 seconds jog @ 6.0 mph
3. 90 seconds walk @ 4.0 mph
4. repeat steps 2 and 3 for 20 minutes (8 cycles)
5. 5 minute cool-down walk @ 3.5 mph

I felt really good the whole time and will try to up my speeds for steps 2 and 3 next time around (tomorrow!)