Running Progress Report

For those of you who have been following my running career escapades, I thought I'd bring you a little progress report.  This week I achieved another goal.  I have run two full laps around the park with one walking break.  That makes for 1.4 miles ran.  I did it not only once, but twice this week.  Isn't this exciting?

Oh, all you non-runners out there, you don't know what you're missing!  Believe me, I know your type.  You say the only reason you'll run is if you're running AWAY from something, like a bear...or if you're running TO something, like an ice cream truck.  I used to be one of you, but I've changed.

And if I can change, you can change.  Really.

Oh, The Places I'll Go

So how many miles do you think I'll get out of these babies?

This picture was taken right after I finished my big run yesterday.  (Go ahead.  Click on that link and see what you missed yesterday.)

The Challenge!

This was a scheduled running day for me.  And since running has sort of become an obsession with me, I put out a challenge for myself.  I decided to throw out the training schedule for today and set a goal...something I've been dreaming about since December 2007. 

I knew I could not take all of you out for this exciting excursion, so I decided to bring it to you via video.  (Amy Beth, the princess of video blogging, is my inspiration for this media presentation.)

This is so exciting!  Take a look at what happened...

 

Unbelievable!

Oh, you guys!  I just had to post my little blog this afternoon to let y'all know.  I've been talking to myself this afternoon.  Just kept saying to myself for half an hour the word Unbelievable.  Over and over again.  Do you know what was so unbelievable?  That I ran for 5 minutes today...and did it 4 times.  That's 20 minutes of running!

You have no idea how that thrills me.  I didn't even feel motivated to run today.  I just sort of pushed myself to throw on my running clothes and drive to the park.  I had every intention of only running 3-minute intervals.  But then I got there, and I told myself I was gonna do 5.  And I did.  Almost as if someone else took over my body.  It sure didn't feel like me.

Do you know what this means to a girl who stunk at sports, was always picked last in gym class, was last to finish running laps around the soccer field, and was told to run faster or we'll lose?  I tell ya, it means A LOT. 

I AM an athlete.  I CAN run.  Just watch me...

Pressing Forward

I've been wanting to tell you about something, but since I'm not very good at following through on exercise commitments, I decided not to tell anybody about it until I had a few days under my belt.  I am off to a good start, so I guess now is as good a time as any.

I started a new training schedule for my running last week.  I've been reading The Complete Book of Running for Women, and there is a training schedule in it that was taken from Runner's World magazine.  Since I can already walk several laps and can run at short intervals, it looked like something I could jump into.  It's a 30-minute walk/run plan that will eventually get me to a level of 30 minutes of straight running.

I started off the first week with four days of running for 2 minutes and walking for 4 minutes.  I did that five times, which equaled 30 minutes.  I did get some extra walking time in there for warming up and cooling down.  I have been surprised by how quickly my body adapted to it.  Today was my last day at that level.  On Wednesday, I will increase to five sets of 3 minutes running and 3 minutes walking. 

Don't you love it when you are so close to reaching a goal, you can almost taste it?  There was a day when it took every ounce of sweat (and tears) to be able to run for 1 minute.  Just ONE MINUTE.  I walked away depressed and defeated, yet I just kept going out running, setting aside the sports watch for the time-being.  But now a new goal is within my reach, and I can truly see myself completing 3 minutes of running.  The very first time I run for 3 minutes straight will be one of the most exciting achievements in my brief athletic history.  I can't wait! 

I Am a Runner

Well, it's after 10:00 p.m., and I just realized I didn't prepare a blog post for today.  So here we are, and I'm too tired to be entertaining.  That would probably be because I did a walk/run today for 35 minutes. 

I've walked a couple times since the weather started warming up, but this is the first time I did 3 laps around the park and added some running.  I didn't do too badly for the first day.  A really good sign is that I didn't ask myself, Now why am I doing this again?  Yep, that's a really good sign.  I think maybe that means I'm really a runner now.  Granted I'm a slow and sporadic runner, but a runner none the less.  I didn't entertain any thoughts of quitting, so I'd say I'm on pretty firm ground here. 

I can't begin to tell you how significant this is in my life and what a milestone I have just passed.  About a year ago I heard two Starbucks employees conversing behind the counter about running.  The one told the other the only way she would ever run was if she was running AWAY from something, and they laughed about it.  In my head I laughed to myself and thought, I hear ya, sister!  I wouldn't run either, unless I was running away from something...ya know, like if there was a rabid bat in my house or something. 

Anyway, I hardly recognize myself today.  I run to be healthy.  I run to lose weight.  I run because sometimes I just want to scream and I need an emotional release.  I run because I just want to.

Hi. I'm Liz, and I am a runner.

Random Events of the Day

This is yet again another post that is not about a Christmas memory. Sorry about that. I guess I'm memory-ed out these last couple of days. I know I have some other stories to share in days to come. Today I'm just going to tell you about my day, if that's alright. I knew you would feel okay with that.

I went to First Place this morning. I was dreading it, just the weigh-in. This is the 3rd week into the program, and I didn't get serious about it until last Saturday. The diet plan, that is. This week I wrote everything down on my little food record, sticking to it the way I should, and it resulted in a loss. Hooray!

Immediately following First Place there was a dress rehearsal for our children's Christmas program, which is tomorrow night. I have a small part in playing the piano, what I'd call transitional music. I play music while the children march down the center aisle to the front, where they deliver the lines of their little poems. I also play for a soloist. That was a 3-hour practice. The biggest challenge was dodging all the food, though. Krispy Kreme donuts and many, many, MANY cookies were available at the snack break. I took a handful of pretzels and put all those lovely baked goods out of my mind.

I came home for lunch and visited with my husband, who had to spend his day off work alone, without me. Then I headed for the computer and read up on my favorite blogs.

I was ready to run by 1:00...either that or take a nap. No, I knew I wanted the run because I haven't been able to in over a week, and I've got all this energy just waiting to be burned off. I've been feeling so stifled because we got snow several days this week, and it just wouldn't be easy (or wise) to run on ice...or fall on ice, which is the part that I'm really concerned about.

So I got myself all layered up to go out into the cold... 2 pairs of pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt, and two pairs of socks... and I headed to the park. Thank goodness there was no wind. I don't know what the temperature was, but I know I've been out there on colder days than this. After the first lap, the cold is manageable. It was good for me to get back out there.

I made a great dinner - shake 'n bake pork chops. We love those! (Okay, I love those. They're a no-brainer to prepare.)

I think we're gonna watch a Christmas movie tonight. We've been into those since Thanksgiving. Rich had to go upstairs and look through the boxes to try and find the rest of our movies. We still don't know where everything is after our move in May '06. He did manage to find the Christmas movies that were missing, so we're all set for tonight.

Well, that's my day in a nutshell. (Where did that term come from, anyway?) Hope yours has been a good one.

Praising the Lord...

I did it! I DID IT! Did you hear me say, I DID IT!!!

I set a running goal today, and I nailed it. I decided to run one whole side of the park, and I was able to accomplish that. I was absolutely amazed as my little legs continued to carry me farther and farther down the road. One whole side of the park! I've never been able to do that before. I pretty much doubled my previous distance. I walked around the curve, and then I ran the other side of the park. Not the entire way because it's a lot longer distance than the other one. But I did it. Three laps!

I wish you knew how incredible I felt. I was praising the Lord all the way. I even threw in an extra walking lap out of sheer joy. To think I was going to quit two weeks ago. I've come a long way in such a short time. The only thing I can figure is that I pushed myself enough on Friday that I was able to break through a threshold. It all felt different today.

I'm just so excited!!! Can't wait for Wednesday now.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly...But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection"

Still Running

So this is what I did today. It's Friday, so I kept another commitment to a day I've chosen to run. I thought I'd just give an update on how things are going.

It has still been tough. I'm working on starting to run at the same spot at different intervals around the park. On my second and third laps I like to see if I can push past the set landmark to increase my distance. Sometimes I make it, and other times I don't. But it's a matter of perseverance. I just keep going now, instead of asking myself things like, "Why am I doing this anyway?" I feel like I'm in training. Not for a marathon. Not to beat some time record. Not to be the best runner ever. I'm training for life...spiritual life. It's that self-discipline thing that God has been trying to drive home with me for months. This is such a practical way for it to play out in my life.

Looking at running with spiritual eyes gives great perspective. It's so comparable to our spiritual battle. Sometimes I feel like I could run hard because I feel physically strong. Other days I feel lonely and couldn't hardly go on. At times I'd rather be alone, and there are times when I couldn't make it without a friend beside me. Isn't that how it is spiritually? We have mountain-top experiences with the Lord and feel like we could take on anything because we're so zealous. Then there are those days where we feel heavy oppression and cry because everything feels so hard. We go through alone times where God is the only one with us. And sometimes he sends a friend to walk alongside to keep us accountable and remind us that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. I enjoy considering the comparisons.

Today seemed to be a day to push hard. I could feel it. My legs wanted to give out many times, but I just kept pushing. Now I'm feeling it, though. My calves hurt within an hour of arriving home, to the point it was uncomfortable to walk. So I have to share this funny moment...

I emailed my best buddy and told her my legs were really sore, and she gave me some suggestions. It was pretty hysterical when I read them. Not that SHE was funny, but how I read it was funny. The first bit of advice she gave me was "ice cream". What?!? I read it again. "ice cream will help..." Huh? Finally, after the third time of reading it I saw what was really written - "ice THEM" Duuuuh!!! Yes, of course. Ice my calves, and it will help with the discomfort. That makes total sense. Ice cream? That does not make sense at all. Just goes to show you what I dwell on - FOOD. But I still think ice cream couldn't hurt...

Reason Enough to Run

It's no secret that I've struggled to embrace my running program. I have whined and complained and skipped out on days I just didn't feel like going, only because I wasn't progressing the way I wanted to or thought I should be. I'm very good at comparing myself to others, which is the number one contributor to discouragement.

I was so ready to quit last Monday, but I came across an article on the internet that changed my mind. It was dealing with self-discipline. I thought hard about this, and I must say I felt that familiar stab of guilt to my heart.

I began to consider that even if I don't lose weight, I still need to learn self-discipline. What is the Christian life about? Daily dying to self. I need to learn to do hard things, just so as to condition myself to be disciplined in other areas. Hey, I'm a pretty disciplined person when it comes to devotional time, but my eating habits are attrocious. This shouldn't be.

I looked up some verses dealing with self-discipline. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 says,

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Just as I would discipline myself to be godly, I recognize I need to physically discipline my body. I need to push through when I just don't feel like it. Somehow the physical carries over into the spiritual. I think bringing my body into submission is all part of developing godliness.

So as I'm out there running and want to give up because it seems too hard, I will remember that this is a picture of what it is to deny my flesh of all its desires and to live in the Spirit.

And I think that's reason enough to run...

Another Day...Another Run

Ugh! Why is this choice to run so hard? I'm gonna do it today, more out of need than anything. The back of my legs feel tight, so I'm feeling the need to get out there. I know why it's a hard choice...it's DISCIPLINE. Not one of my favorite words. Anyway, I'm gonna do it...today. I'm gonna put on my headphones and hope the music just carries me away.