Runsuccessful

Reason to be Proud: First day of classes and still made it to the gym

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:45:00 +0000

For most of you, this probably seems like a very small feat. To me, this is huge! I just started classes again today, and my first class was at 9:30 (keep in mind I haven't woken up before 10 in a month). Then, I went to the bookstore, which was surprisingly hectic, and bought my books and got back to my room around 11:45, when I instantly changed into my running clothes and went to the gym.

Good workout, I didn't think I would finish it. I started Week 4 of the couch to 5k plan today, so I ran 3 minutes, walked 90 second, ran 5 minutes, walked 2.5 minutes, and then again. During the first five minute run, my left shin felt like shit. It was hard to run on and I started feeling like a big baby. I really didn't think I would go through with the whole thing, but I did and it ended up feeling great in the end. Maybe I am getting a runner's high now.

Then, I took a shower and went to my next class. I feel great about this, I have to start making the gym part of my normal routine. Whew! Little things we do are the best.

Non-instant results are kicking my ass.

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:57:00 +0000

I ran four times in 5 days, my first week of becoming a runner so far. But my fourth run, yesterday at the gym, was horrible. I couldn't handle it. So disappointing since I went right after I wrote my last post, where I was feeling all great and motivated. I really felt like I had burned myself out, especially since I also tried to do weights at the gym before my run, and I did about four machines when normally I would do eight, before giving that up too. I was tired, my body didn't want to do it. It also had something to do with looking like shit and being utterly embarrassed when I was making eyes with a very attractive, most likely older, male. (I use my university's gym, so he couldn't have been too much older). So I escaped that, I didn't want him to look at me anymore. Im a big baby.

I get like this, I have problem. I want fast results, and when I need to do something gradually, I tend to overdo it or I just give up. But that isn't going to happen this time, I am going to follow through with the program (Couch to 5K). I need to give myself more rest days I feel, until I get more into it. Eventually, I'd like to be running 5-6 days a week, but it doesn't seem smart now. I'm so out of shape, I hate it.

So, I'm resting today. Which is good also because I got extremely drunk last night. I don't really suffer from hang overs often, but I'm sure that the drinking is not good for my burnt out body either. I did get something good out of last night's drunken shenanigans, I've got a date tonight.

The Past Few Days, Recap

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:33:00 +0000

I haven't been writing after every workout like I'd like to, I've been a bit busy with the end of break coming in a few days. I went to the gym Tuesday and Thursday, both times running the same intervals I ran that first day (90 seconds running, 90 seconds walking, 3 minutes running, 3 minutes walking) and it felt really good. Yesterday I couldn't wait for the running intervals to start and didn't want them to end. It felt fantastic, so I feel like I am getting somewhere.

Although, in my last 3 minute running interval, my legs really started to hurt and I wanted to quit. My calves are sore today, something I haven't felt in a long time since when I do strength training I don't really focus on my calves since they are pretty strong. Speaking of which, I haven't done any strength training yet since I started. I think today I'm going to try.

Basically, Im feeling great about starting running so far. I know that in the next few weeks I'll accomplish more. Great feeling and I'm feeling so motivated right now. Hopefully I'll stay like this once classes start tuesday. I'm going to check back in after I get back from the gym again. Hopefully it won't be as long of a post, ha.

So far, completely unsuccessful.

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:24:00 +0000

Not exactly sure how to come up with a smooth transition into my shit, so I'll just jump right in.

I'm a first-year student in college. The past four or so months of junk food and booze have begun to take a serious toll on my body. I'm in the worst shape of my life, which still isn't horrible, but I can only see things getting worse for myself. I'm really not completely unhappy with my body, in fact, I know I should be grateful for my, up to this point, fantastic metabolism and slender figure. But I've been drastically putting on weight, not just weight, fat, from my lifestyle. So, I'm going to bite this problem in the ass before things get even worse.

I've been trying to begin running for probably a year now. I do go to the gym regularly (or I had been), but my cardio activities have been sub-par at best and I end up just pretending (seriously lying to myself) that I got a good workout when I leave the gym. Strength training had been all fine and dandy for me for the first two months, but the past two months I've been slacking. Laziness, time consumption and well, more laziness, are the culprits. But I've always wanted to run and I know I'll accomplish much more if I do. Yet, I am completely unable to do it. I've always started to "ease myself into it" but thus far have been completely unsuccessful. I have a general motivation problem in my life, so of course this is no different than with running.

The purpose of this blog is my motivation. When I started looking up running resources, especially those for beginners, I found the complete running network and started reading blogs. Not only did I feel totally useless as I am barely able to run for 9 minutes and most of these people can run for over 20 miles, I also felt like there is a chance in hell I can do it too. My immediate goal right now is to be able to run for 30 minutes straight, in the next 6 weeks. Ultimately, I'd like to prove to myself that I can stick to something. I'd like to become a running addict.

I started yesterday, woohoo! I didn't do poorly, I was on the treadmill for 23 minutes, which is long for me, felt really good. Re-reading that sentence, I feel super accomplished. I repeated this sequence twice: 90 seconds running, 90 seconds walking, 3 minutes running, 3 minutes walking. I felt damn proud, gotta start somewhere. I'm heading out to the gym right now to do it again, and do some strength training. Hopefully I don't poop out, I never go to the gym this late in the day.