On the Run...

I just finished my first 2 weeks of training for my 5K that's on May 31. So far it has been great, I'm happy to say. The coaches have been wonderful and encouraging and enthusiastic, which really makes it nice. Each week, we run 3 times; twice as a group and once on our own. The first week, we ran 2 minutes, walked two minutes, ran 2, walked 2 etc. for 20 min. each run. Last week, we bumped it up to running 3 min. walking 2 for 25 minutes. Today, we will start running 4 min, walking 2 min. for 30 minutes. Next week will be run 5, walk 2 (for 35 min. maybe?) and then after that, we will just be running. It has been a very nice way to work our way into it. On Saturday (running 3 and walking 2), we made it about 2 1/2 miles, running just over half of it.



I have been pleased to find that doing the 10 week UBC prior to this (and I am still doing the workouts each night) has definitely been beneficial. I have a lot more stamina than I ever did before. My cardiovascular condition is pretty good from bouncing around the bag for 50 minutes each kickboxing night. All of us who are training for this 5K are beginners of all different ages sizes and fitness levels. I've never been athletic and I've never been a runner - even running bases in softball was traumatic for me! While I have spent my life at the bottom of the pack when it comes to fitness, I have been surprised to find myself always ending at the front of the pack on these runs. It has been a nice though quite surprising thing. I credit that completely to the workouts I've been doing since the beginning of January. It hasn't even been 4 months since I began working out and I am absolutely amazed at the change in my fitness level. I can't wait to see where I am at come this time next year!



As a weight watchers update, I have now officially lost 8.8 pounds since I began (and more than 10 since I started UBC in January). I am at 146.6 pounds and I really feel good about where I'm at. My goal weight is 140 and 143 will put me back to the size I was when I got married - though I'll admit my shape has changed a bit after 4 kids :o) The first 7 pounds or so came off very easily once I started weight watchers, but now it is going quite slowly. That's fine as I'm content where I am and I know it's a lot healthier that way. My instincts are to just keep reducing how much I eat to help me achieve my goal, but my instincts are wrong, so I have to consciously go against them. I want to keep my metabolism up and I want to have energy to work out. I'm still working on it, but I am little by little trying to apply this whole "balance" thing.

That's all for now. Have a great week :o)