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.