Week 2 End

I did it. I made it through week 2. yay me.

Last night was the first night in a LONG time that I felt rested and comfortable the whole night. I don't know if it was sheer exhaustion (I was really tired), the clean sheets (nothing quite like crawling in bed with clean sheets. Love it!) or that I had surrounded myself in my pillow nest. Whatever the reason it was wonderful to feel like I didn't want to get out of bed - not because I was so tired but because it felt so good to be in bed.

Anyway, between being rested and the walk yesterday, I feel like I started off my strongest yet. I did some stretching and walked for about 5 minutes before starting the clock. My first run is usually really hard but I was quite impressed with how good it felt. I began to think that I may make the 2 min run just fine. hahahaha. Anyway, I'll get to that. I was able to judge my time/distance better today so that I wasn't looking at the clock just as it hit the one minute mark. Instead I could get to the 15 seconds or even the 20 seconds before I checked how much longer. I had an idea how far the time would take me so I would set a goal to reach some landmark before checking. My first two runs were really comfortable and a good pace. It could easily have been at 4mph.  By the fourth set I was slowing down and still had three to go though I wouldn't say it was brutal like the rest of the week. Runs 6 & 7 were hard. I am pretty proud to report though that I really pushed through set 7. I was hoping for a runners' high but I think I still have a way to go before I hit that option. My last run put me through the last two long streets and I set a goal to make it to the tree at the end of it. I wanted to stop before I got there, but I pushed myself on. Time check - 1 min 45 seconds. woohoo!! Of course the idea that I would have to continue running for another 15 sec on Monday is not a happy one, but I think I can do it. I will make the best effort at least.

My legs are pretty sore at this point, and I am grateful for the two days off. I was looking at the schedule though and the two days off are supposed to precede the 7 set day (presumably to make it easier to add the extra time on). Oh well.

Today's start time: 8:52 end time 9:36 (44 min total), 2.46 miles. I still need to add another half mile to my route to get to 5K.

Walk Around

It is cross-training/rest day so I walked my route. Oh ChiMax did not like having to only walk, but he got his fill when we stopped at the field and he got to run around for 5 minutes. I was surprised at my own body's desire to run but I kept it at a brisk walk until the very end and I decided to go ahead and run and see how far I could go. It wasn't very far - basically from the F culdesac half-way to CC (maybe the 1 1/2 minutes but probably not). It took us 50 minutes for the 2.4 miles which is only 10 min more than when I have the jogging intervals.

I ended up on the sparkpeople 5k forum and someone had started a thread about how hard the week 2 day 2 was and wondering if they'd be ready for week 3 (basically the same musings I have had) but she stuck with it and discovered she was fine. She just took it one day at a time. I like that :)

Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken

Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken

Hillbilly housewife

Ingredients:

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 10 oz. can cream of chicken soup
2 T. margarine or butter
1 envelope spaghetti sauce seasoning
8 oz. cream cheese (can use 1/3 less fat Neufchatel)

Place chicken in bottom of crockpot and add remaining ingredients except cream cheese. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Shred chicken with fork, add cream cheese, and stir. Let stand in crockpot until heated through. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes. (serves 4 to 6)

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I did not have cream cheese on hand so I used plain yogurt. I don't know what difference it would have made but it was still good. Reminded me of stroganoff. I had to put together my own spaghetti seasoning mix so  I linked the recipe I used and only put in about 1/4 cup of it. It smelled so good while it was cooking!! I served it over brown rice with a spring salad and fruit.

Week 2 Day 3

Yesterday I took a complete rest day because I had an appointment at 9am with a sister in the ward for breakfast. I really appreciate her reaching out to me in friendship. She took me to a restaurant and the food was absolutely DELICIOUS! I ate a lot of calories yesterday between my veggie omelet with bacon and cheese and home fries and Aaron making dinner last night (hamburgers, fruit kebobs and banana choc pops for dessert). I could feel it by the end of the day but it was some good eats!!

Today was brutal. I tried to warmup a little better before starting out. I did the best I could remember of the cardioX warmup and then walked a few minutes before starting the timer. I was still sluggish on the run. Set 4 was down on my usual route and it seemed easier at that point. I don't know if it is the terrain (flatter), the timing (being really warmed up), or the familiarity of the area that is making the difference. The 1 1/2 minutes of jogging is really hard. Friday I have to do seven sets which I can do, but I dread the extra 30 sec that will be added on Monday. I'm wondering if I should do repeat this week's training or go ahead and try to stay to the schedulee. I am not sure how I can be ready for the 5K at the end of the month when I am struggling with this extra 30 sec already. I think I will try the schedule for Monday (walk 3 jog 2) and see what happens.

 I still need to get new shoes, but I wore Matthew's old NB running shoes that I'd use on the treadmill to see how it would effect my legs. I could feel my left leg wanting to cramp up on the walk back :/ They did have nice padding though. I couldn't feel every branch and pebble I was trampling.

I was thinking about what happens after I've made my goal. I don't want to just stop and lose everything I've worked for the last few weeks. I am thinking about just continuing the 5K day schedule or trying the run the 5K in 5 weeks schedule. We're heading into the winter months though and it is raining more often and getting colder which will really put a damper on my wanting to be out walking/running. I am aware of the Lord's tender mercies in the weather though. For my day off it was cold and raining and today the sun is out and comfortably cool.

Week 2 Day 1

Walk 3 min, run 1.5 min 6 times.

Since I had to do 6 sets I went all the way down our street cut through a yard and up M. which left me with 4 sets for my normal route. It was nice to be done by the time I got back to F and could walk back home. The starting was brutal and I had to really push to get that additional 30 sec of running but by the third set I had a better groove. My total mileage today was 2.41 though the training portion was just over 2. I think if I'd gone up CC I would be almost to 3 miles. I thought about it, but decided to just go on home. If I had 7 sets it would have put me at the run on CC (Friday's task).

 Man my actual 'run' was like a slow crawl jog. It was really hard today. I need to get some new shoes and some more sleep :p I was up at 5 am (helping the boys get back to sleep and printing the routes for the day) and hoped to get my training done or at least out the door by 6:30 but opted to talk to Caleb and finish getting breakfast and lunches prepared. By then it was 7 am and figured I wouldn't be able to make it back soon enough to get the boys ready for school on time. I was right based on my time. It'd warmed up by the time I went though which was nice. Tomorrow I have a 9 am appt so I will need to be done and dressed for the day by the time the boys leave for the bus. eeks.