Latest attempts

Tuesday: nothing
Wednesday: still nothing - crappy out!
Thursday: another attempt at running. Got farther in the first ten minutes, but still couldn't do the second.
Friday: nothing.
Saturday: Snow! So rode the exercise bike for half an hour.
Yesterday: Walked for 5.5 miles!

Limited success with the challenge

Saturday, I did some "free form" running somewhat resembling Week 4 Day 2 because I forgot to pack my stopwatch for Thanksgiving travel. It went ok, but it was colder, windier, and hillier than I'm used to, and I think I was still getting over my throat infestation.

Today, I attempted Week 4's challenge day - run 10 minutes, break for 2, run for 10 more.

Instead, this is what happened:
1. warm up walk for 5 minutes
2. Run for 10 minutes. I covered .84 mile. Go me!
3. Walk for 2 minutes. Gloat. Pant.
4. Run for four minutes, decide to walk for two.
5. Walk two minutes.
6. Try to run again - legs give out after a minute.
7. Walk the rest of the way home.

At first, I was kind of disappointed. But then, I started thinking.
- I can run for 10 minutes! I'm 85% towards my first distance goal (one mile).
- I petered out because I worked myself to capacity. I know that I could not have worked harder, so I will get the maximum benefit of my time.
- I am a lot stronger than when I started.

So I'll try again on Wednesday (or Thursday if it's crappy out)

Success! and illness. :(

Tuesday, I did the first day of Beginning Running Week 4. It went pretty well – and I miscalculated my times, so I actually ran for five minutes instead of four on the second set. I’m pretty excited that I can do that.

Now I’m traveling for Turkey Day and recovering from a sudden-onset bacterial throat plague, so it’ll be a challenge to get in the rest of Week 4.

I'm feeling a lot better today than yesterday, and hoping that tomorrow will be good for running.

Today's light exercise

2 mile walk with the man. Did not feel winded at all. Also did some doorway pushups.

Week 3 done!

I can run for four minutes at a time! The first two go-rounds weren't too bad, the third was a little harder, the fourth was excruciating, and the last was also pretty hard. The second-to-last seems to be the hardest every time, and I think it's because that part of my route is slightly uphill.

I'm pretty pleased with myself so far. I would like to be able to run a mile, and I can run about a third of one now.

Week 3 Day 2 down

The fifth running segment was HARD. But I did it!!! Tried out some new stretches afterward, too. Yay!

It's working!

My blood pressure at the doctor's today was 120/62. It's never been that low.

I can run for three minutes!!!

Sunday, I did the "Challenge" day at the end of Week 2: run for three minutes; walk for two, repeat five times.

Today, I did the first day of Week 3: run for 3 minutes; walk for one; repeat six times.

My legs are getting strong. Wool or synthetic socks seem to be helping with the blister problem. I'll be so happy when I can run a mile again (summer 2009, I could run for 25 minutes - covering about a mile and a half. That's the best I've ever gotten).

Yesterday, I goofed off on the chinup bar enough that my arms and back were a bit sore this morning.

Does this count?

I had to go up the stairs at work about six or seven times today because the remote door unlocker wasn't working.

Probably not a workout, though.

Week 2 Day 2 down

Got kind of awkward when I ran into a funeral, though.

It's an unseasonably warm November, which is nice for getting some outdoor exercise.

Nothing today

I can be such a bump on a log. Also, I want cake.

Week 2 of beginning running

Day 1 is done!

I found myself having a lot more trouble keeping up speed during the running portions today. There's a big difference between walking for 3 minutes in between runs and only walking for 2.

First week of the program, you run for 8 minutes total out of 20 (not including the warm up and cool down walks I always add). Second week of the program, you run for 12 minutes total out of 24.

I also need to get some more strength training or yoga in - and it would be good if I could ride the "bike to nowhere" on non-running, non-Sunday (break day) days. Maybe I can work my way through the original series of Star Trek while I pedal away...

Happy Saturday!

So I did the "challenge" day at the end of the first week of the beginning running program. I think it went ok, but now I have some icky blisters on my feet. This is frustrating, because I don't want to destroy my feet in the name of stonger legs, lungs, and heart.

Yes, I'm wearing proper shoes.

Nov. 4th

Second day of the beginning runners' program. Did ok, I think. Also was pretty good with food, except for the candy bar on the way home from work (It's a good headache cure corollary).

Still getting winded walking up two flights of stairs at work - hope more running helps with that.

Late October and early November exercise

Nov. 3 - hung from the chin-up bar with knees bent and raised my legs to 90 degrees 8 times. Pretty good since I couldn't hang for more than a couple seconds when we first got the thing.

Nov. 2 - First day of this program, designed for beginning runners. Previously, I've done Couch to 5K, but I think I like not having to worry about half minutes. Ended up with an 8 minute cool down walk because home wasn't gonna move to me. (I also do a 5 minute warmup walk).

Nov. 1 - Nothing. Much deserved rest day.

Oct. 31 - touristy walking, probably a mile or two.

Oct. 30 - five miles of walking

Oct. 29 - freeform interval run/walk.

Not another lifestyle blog

I've spent the past nine months trying to regain my mental health and starting to work through an unexpected (but probably needed) derailment from my planned career. It's been a stressful year, and last year was pretty stressful too.

April-July 2009, I successfully went running (well, interval training) two or three times a week. I got to the point where I could run for 25 minutes straight! It was awesome. Then I had my skin cancer removed from my forehead and was told not to do anything strenuous until the stitches were out. After that, I made a few halfhearted attempts at running in October before descending into my pit of anxiety and despair. I tried again in March. And September.

I'm trying again. I don't like being winded easily. I also don't like not being able to do things like chin-ups. I don't like filling my body with crap and taxing my liver. It's also a really good idea to keep my body as healthy as possible so it can support my brain, which is finally functioning like normal again.

I have a safe neighborhood to walk/run in, an exercise bike in the spare room, a chin-up bar in the doorway, an exercise ball, and some weights. I don't have to be out of shape if I don't want to be.

Here are things that will make this different than other fitness blogs:

1. I will not talk about weight. Sure, I'd like to lose some. But the number on the scale indicates nothing other than how much pull Earth's gravity has on me. It can't tell you who I am, how strong I am, or how healthy I am. I will also not do any measurements of my body. The only numbers I care about are miles per hour, reps done, and distance. This will be about what my body can do, not what it looks like.

2. I am currently NOT IN SHAPE. I am weak, I can't run too long, and sometimes I eat crap. This is mostly for personal use to keep my head in the right place. If I record my activity, it might give me a sense of accomplishment. It might give me a reason to get off my ass and work out. I'll keep it honest.

3. I could give a flying fuck if anyone else works out or eats right. Be inspired or don't. I'm not a fitness expert, and won't pretend to be one. This is my own experience with trying to whip myself into shape. This isn't advice.