Monday, January 24, 2011

Cool Runnings

Last fall, LegoMan's swim team practice increased from three to five nights a week! Instead of my usual sitting around and watching practice, I decided to take advantage of this hour and half to get back into a regular exercise program.

For the last SEVERAL years, I had become quite complacent with my couch potato lifestyle. I get up before crack of dawn for work and after work involves supervising homework, keeping up with the never ending laundry and housework. I was certainly not going to get up at 4AM to exercise and at the end of the day I was just TOO tired.


I began walking a couple miles while LegoMan swam and at some point in the process I lost my mind. I downloaded the Couch to 5K app on my phone. This is a 3 day a week, 9-week program that takes you from being fat and happy on the couch to running a 5K.

Seriously.

Little known fact, if you actually finish the program you receive a lifetime membership to the Funny Farm!

Along with a friend, we started the program.....we finished the program. I went from barely being able to run 60 seconds in week one, to running 28 minutes NON-STOP in week 9. I won't lie, it was hard. There were times when I wanted to stop and walk, I didn't. I let my determination win. I am proud.

In November, we entered our first race. It was just 2 miles, but we ran the WHOLE way.

BEFORE:

(don't kill me Carol)


AFTER:

NOTICE: I am still upright and no oxygen was necessary



Our next goal is to run our first 5K in February and then a insane long-term goal is to do the Princess Half Marathon in February 2012 complete with a tu-tu and tiara. For real. (Teresa, stop laughing. I.Am.Serious.)


*Insert recent MRI results and talk with neurosurgeon*


My running days just got started last fall and now they are over. I'm not exactly sad about it. I never really loved it, I did it because I was insane trying something new. Besides, I think I'm the only person in American who can start a running program, continue it and gain 3 pounds in the process. I know, I know....."it's probably just muscle". Whatever.


I was really bummed that I would not get to do the Princess Half Marathon. You see, I had competely embraced the idea that my insanity would carry me 13.1 miles through Disney World, all while sporting a tu-tu and tiara (again, Teresa, stop it). This weekend I found out it IS actually possible to walk the course and I even found a training program for walking a half marathon. So, the Disney dream is still alive and I've got a year to get ready.


The last couple weeks I have had to rest and regroup. This week I plan to restart slowly with LOW-IMPACT exercises ONLY. Oh, I can't leave out the Pilates to strengthen my core muscles. That should be highly entertaining for all involved.

Stay tuned.....

2 comments:

The Source said...

If I wore a hat, it'd be off to you. What an accomplishment! You have motivated me to at least get off my lazy behind and walk the track while my boys are in PE. Maybe?! Good job!

Oh! And I hope your rest and recuperation has helped!

Dawn @ simply transparent said...

It's a wonderful program and I've been doing something very similar in my workouts..hit 10min w/out stopping and this was a great accomplishment for me at 206lbs! Any who..don't stop and remember walking is known to have better results anyways!

WTG Girl!!