Barely 3 miles . . .

I thought I learned my lesson not to run in the late afternoon/early evening.  Too much excitement with an unexpected snow fall, I guess.  It was supposed to be my first day on the new job, but since school was canceled, so was the church.  I am now the afternoon receptionist - following in tough shoes to fill.  My main responsibility, other than answering the phone, is creating and designing the bulletin.  That will be fun!  However, my hope is that I will be a spiritual presence to any who come in and need someone to talk to. 

Snow does not cancel a run . . . a run outside, maybe, but not a run on the ratwheel.  UGH!  I hate running indoors.  It is a mental challenge just to run 3 miles.  Let it be SPRING soon!

I had to wear a mask again at first, but it seemed to constrict my lungs today.  I took it off after a half mile.  My lungs are hurting now.  This is with taking an inhaler.  20 degrees is not a good temperature for asthmatic lungs. 

At first, I forgot to put on my knee bands.  WOW!  What a difference they make.  My knees felt like they were grinding into my hips, but once I put the bands on, I couldn't feel them at all. 

I struggled with the last mile, especially the last half.  I wanted to quit and almost did.  Determination, or as Dave would call it, "stubborness", is good some times!  I'm drinking Coconut Water and it weighs me down.  It's way too rich and heavy for me.  Next time, I'm going to try diluting it with water and see if that will do the trick. 

During Lent, I have vowed to run every other day and go to the gym the other days, except Sunday.  Sunday, I will rest . . . unless it's really nice outside . . .  I love walking.  I should have a more regular blog and hopefully a better running body!  :) 

A Week Off . . .

I haven't been to Curves or running in a week.  It was crazy busy this past week with a funeral and applying for a job, which I got!  Yay!  Today was the first to get back on the ratwheel.  I needed to wear a mask for the first 1.25 miles.  Then I was able to take it off.  That first mile was easy and went by so fast, but the last two seemed to take forever!  I'm glad I did it though! 

Running, but not blogging. YIKES

A lot has happened in a month.  I went home to NY for my cousin's Retirement Ceremony from the Air Force - 27+ years of service.  Quite an accomplishment!  I'm so proud of cousin Tom! 

While home, I ran in 40 degree rain for 4 miles!  I came back to Colorado and felt like I was dying at 1/4 mile.  It was very discouraging! 

I'm still going to Curves to strengthen my muscles, which includes my lungs.  I wasn't very consistant through January, but I'm hoping to be through February.  I joined the Curves Complete, which has shown me a new way of eating healthy.  The weight is coming off, slowly it seems, but nonetheless, it's coming off. 

I took Amber to the dog park and ran one lap, which is .7 miles.  It was an improvement!  The next time I took her, I ran 1.5 miles.  Woohoo!  Outside in the good ole Colorado air . . . or lack of it. 

Then it snowed and I haven't been back to the park.  I have, however, been running on the ratwheel for 3 miles every other day.  I'm now running at 5.1 mph, which is about 11:45 min/miles.  Not bad!   I'm pleased with my progress so far. 

The asthma part:  When it's cold out, I need to wear a mask for about the first 5 - 10 minutes of running.  Once my lungs are warmed and used to the run, I can take it off.  Some days, I take my inhaler before running and some days, I don't.  Some days, I provoke a small asthma attack and other days, I don't.  It's getting to the point where I really don't have to do that anymore. 

At first, 5.1 mph seems a bit slow, but I don't want to push the speed just yet.  Once I'm running an easy 3 miles, then I will start increasing the speed.  I have a year to prepare for the Disney Half Marathon.  Last summer, I didn't think it would be possible and wanted to cry.  This year, there's hope!

Curves, a healthy diet, a face mask, and running at a slow, but steady pace will get me there!  Hopefully, it'll make me 60 lbs lighter.  I've lost 13 lbs so far, so only another 47 to go!  :) 

Increasingly Better!

I increased my distance to 2.5 miles today, but still at 12 min/miles.  Going to CURVES and working their machines is really helping a lot.  The first mile and a half was not bad at all, so I really was getting excited, because I thought I could do 3 miles.  Not so.  I started getting sick at 2.25, so pushed it to 2.5 and quit.  It was cold today, even though I was in the basement.  I had to put a hospital mask on to warm up the air to my lungs.  It worked.  After about a mile, I took it off and ran fine.  Cold lungs really prohibits running!  UGH! 

I joined the Curves Complete . . . or at least will be.  I was going to today, but it snowed and the person I had a meeting with canceled it.  So I'll have to join next week and stick to the trial week.  Since joining it on Friday, I lost 10 lbs, but then gained 3 of it back last night for my birthday.  I'm back on track today and am hoping that that 3 pounds and more will come off. 

Diet, Exercise and Motivation = weight loss!  :) 

Not giving up!

I wanted to quit before I even began today.  I really had to force myself to do the full 2 miles, which I did do and am glad for it!  I knew I would feel bad if I didn't do it. 

Now I'm drinking a blueberry protein smoothie.  It is way too sweet.  It tastes like someone put sugar in it.  There should be none in it.  Frozen blueberries are not the same as fresh ones!  Note to self - buy fresh fruit for smoothies!

The gym was closed yesterday, but open today.  I didn't go though, because it's my day to run.  I already walked Amber for 2 miles this morning.  I don't want to over do it on the exercise thing . . . or to burn out.  I ran 2 miles on the treadmill at 11.5 min/miles.  I walked another mile at 15 min/miles for a total of 3 miles.  My knees are a little shaky, but not sore, so let's hope I can keep this up. 

I started out with a hospital mask on, but it was too warm.  It's 48 degrees out.  The other day when I ran, it was only 30 something and my lungs were COLD!  It was much easier running today, but I feel like my lungs still have a long way to go to get them in shape. 

Running before my run helps with the asthma too - a slight attack prevents one from occuring the rest of the run.  :) 

A New Year . . . A New Running

Happy New Year 2012! 

My first run of the year: 

2 miles at 12 minute miles.  I haven't been to the gym in about a month and I'm still suffering a mild intestinal bug, so that 2 miles took all I had!  I was running on 5 hours of sleep . . . and not straight.  I woke up a couple of times in the night.  Considering my physical condition, 2 miles is great.  I feel so much better now - still exhausted, but a good exhausted!