Author Archives: Michele

Week Three Wrap-Up, My Life Run

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Better late than never, they say! I haven’t done my update for last week because it sucked. I was so busy and I didn’t take the time to run. This week Fiona changed my routine a bit with running and adding in some cross training. I have 2 short runs, 1 long run, 1 day of Turbo Jam and 1 day of EA Sports Active plus 2 days of rest/stretching. I have put all the workouts on my calendar as appointments with my Nike+ that I am determined to keep!!!

I am NOT allowed to walk at all. I was walking too much because I “think” I can not run for long periods of time. So, this week, my focus is on the running. It is a mental hurdle I need to get past. I will let you know how it goes.

Sorry for the short update, but I have to get my daughter to dance!! :D

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Running For My Life: Week 1 Update, Fitting Exercise Into A Busy Schedule

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Our Training Schedule

Image by ScrappinMichele via Flickr

I completed the first week of my running for my life project. I ended up running 2 days and walking one day. I was not able to get a long run in over the weekend. It was Memorial Day weekend and filled with family activities. Running just wasn’t in the plans. But that’s ok. Sometimes family has to come first!

It was a very HOT week with most days nearing 90 with high humidity. Running was hard, but I just mixed it up with some walking and I felt awesome. Changing my focus to just going out there and running and walking really helped me. I didn’t think about the final goal and just went out.

Exercise And Busy Schedule

One day it was really hot, but I wanted to move, so I decided to walk around the track during my daughter’s soccer practice. I have been trying to think about ways to fit the exercise into my already busy routine. I’m using the time I used to sit and watch kids or just gab and getting out there and moving it. It feels really good.

My suggestion if you think you don’t have any time to work out is to really look closely at your schedule and see when you can fit in some time. Even if it’s 30 minutes while your kids are in practice. Yesterday I saw a women walking around the pool while her kids were swimming in the pool. the pool was crowded, but she made it work. It is important to schedule it in to your week as an appointment.

Week 2 Plan

For this week I am planning on running 3 days, walking 1 day and doing yoga twice.

  • Monday – Rest
  • Tuesday – Run 30 minutes
  • Wednesday – Walk 30 minutes (during soccer practice)
  • Thursday – Run 30 minutes
  • Friday – Yoga
  • Saturday – Run 40 minutes
  • Sunday – Cross Training – EA Sports Active
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Recap of Week 3, Now Week 1, of Half Marathon Training

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Michele's shirt
Image by ScrappinMichele via Flickr

It still hasn’t really hit me that I’m training to run 13.1 miles. Every time I say it people look at me like, you? run 13.1 miles? Yeah, Good Luck with that! I’m still struggling with it. For me, visualization is HUGE. I need to see something to understand it. I can’t think in my head about running  or think about how that room will look in red. I need to see it! That is my focus this week. To do what I can to get my mind on track.

I ran twice this last week and worked out once on my EA SPORTS Active. Next week I plan to add Yoga to my routine at night. Yoga always gets my mind and body in sync.

My body really wants to do this, but my mind keeps saying, “uh, can you really do it?” I haven’t convinced myself yet that I can and I know that until I believe it, it won’t be possible. Now, having said that, I really need to stop focusing on the 13.1 mile run. After 1 mile, I think “that would be 12.1 more miles to go.” After 2 miles “that would be 11.1 more miles to go.” I need to set smaller goals and forget about the 13.1 miles. It is 18 weeks from this Saturday. I have time to work towards that. AND, as I was talking to Fiona today I realized, I can walk 13.1 miles today. I know that I can do. It’s the running part that is tripping me up. So, why am I freaking out?

These are the steps I’m going to take this week.

1. Put my training schedule on my calendar. Seeing it each day will make it real. It’ll be my appointment and I’ll work everything else around it!

2. Run 2 – 20 minute runs during the week and 1 30 minute run on Sunday. My goal is to do a 60 min long run in 3 weeks.

3. Put up some pictures of me running. This will help me visualize myself as a runner and remember who I’m active for….ME!

4. Start using running podcasts during my runs to take my mind off the run. (Fiona suggested the JogTunes Indie Podcast)

You will also no longer see the words, “training for half marathon” on my weekly recaps. I’m going to rename my training, ScrappinMichele’s Active Training. I’m training for life, not a half marathon.

I have decided to use my daughter’s dance time to run. I usually sit in the waiting area and chat, but today, I will run at least 20 minutes. I’m going to go put my running clothes on right now (at 1:45 pm) because that way I’ll have no excuses… I’ll be ready!

Let’s Talk!

What mental hurdles do you have when tackling a new fitness goal?

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ScrappinMichele’s Week 2 Wrap Up, Fitness Mental Block

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Week 2 of my half marathon fitness training went much better than last week. I walked 2 days and then ran a 5k on Sunday. It wasn’t an official 5k, but I wanted to get a benchmark starting point.

I’m not sure what came over me, but I woke up on Sunday morning with this urge to just go run. I knew that if I went alone, I may not run far, so I volunteered my oldest son to go with me. Fortunately he agreed. I couldn’t wait to get out there.

The 5k

I laced up my Nike shoes, turned on my Nike+ and we just started running. We talked and ran until the Nike+ said we had gone 2.5k. Then we turned around and ran back home. We walked about .5k and ran the rest. It wasn’t a fast run, just a slow steady run. We finished in 37 minutes averaging about 12 minute miles. I was happy with that time. I have not run consistently in the last few months and the last 5k I ran was on October 17, 2009.

When I was done, I felt so good. Running makes me happy. It makes me feel like anything is possible because for me, running wasn’t always possible. Well, physically it was, but mentally it wasn’t. But somehow I got past that and now I’m a runner.

The Empowered Mile

That first mile of my first 5k was the longest and most difficult mile I have ever run. It felt endless. It felt impossible. I managed to get past that first mile and I don’t know where the energy came from, but I was able to finish the 5k.

I was the kid in gym class who finished last, not real great at any sports. I always told myself I’m not an athlete. So maybe I’m not good at the sports where you need to use an object and hit another object, but damn…I’m good at the sports where you need to use your body. My body doesn’t fail me when I treat it right.

Fitness Mental Block

This week was more of a mental hurdle than anything. I needed to get past the thought that I can’t run a half marathon. I know it’s possible, but I haven’t been able to envision myself actually completing it. As I was running the 5k, all I thought about was “I really can do this.” That run somehow helped me push past the fitness mental block.

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, Here I Come!

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Remembering the Power of Exercise

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Exercise is so powerful. Besides the obvious point that exercise makes you stronger, it also makes me feel like I can take on the world. However, when I need it the most, I often don’t have the energy to exercise or just don’t feel like it. I need to remember that feeling I have after working out, the feeling that I’m on top of the world. It is better than any drug out there.

Today I ran a 5k with my oldest son. Not an official 5k, we just set the Nike+ for a 5k and ran in the neighborhood until we had run 3.1 miles. After I felt AWESOME. My body and mind both felt really strong. It had been quite a while since I had felt that energy and I forgot how it felt. It got me thinking about the last few months when I’ve been struggling. If I could somehow bottle that feeling and save it for those times when I feel like crud and I just want to crawl back into bed.

When I am on track with exercise, I get to the point where I have to work out daily or else I don’t feel good. I crave that feeling of the endorphins running through my body after a workout. I am so ready to feel that again.

How does exercise make you feel?

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Week 1 Wrap-up for ScrappinMichele

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I wish I could report that I am back on track and working out and eating right and well on my way to running a half marathon. Believe me. I considered lying and telling you all that I ran 3 days, but I can’t do that. I promise I wick always be honest with you even if I am embarrassed.

I did manage to get in one really good hour long cardio workout last Tuesday and that was it. This week I am focusing on getting back into the routine of working out. I am at a point right now where unfortunately it isn’t taking a high priority in my day. Each day this week I am going to focus on getting in at least 30 minutes of some type of exercise. Three days I will focus on running.

What do you do to get yourself back in the habit of working out when you have gotten off track? I need all the ideas I can get.

Michele Reaching a Goal of a 4 miles Straight Up Hike

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