25 minute run! Whew!

So today I started week 7 of the Get Running App. Today's run included a 5 minute warm up, 25 minutes of running, and a 5 minute cool down.

I decided to try some place new to run today since the weather was gorgeous out! I went to Refugio Park in Hercules. I knew they had a trail throughout the small park and leads out and down the road. So that is where I began. 

Before that though, I decided to change up my music on my iPod. I went for some merengue music. Now if you don't know what it is, it is this very up tempo spanish music. I decided it was time for a change, so merengue it was!

I started out my warm up in the park and when it was time to run, I headed out. Little did I know that the trail leading out was mostly up hill. It wasn't ultra steep, but not at all flat! With the new fast music and the uphill battle, my legs were screaming at the 5 minute mark. I was really worried when I was told I had 20 minutes of more running. Wow... fast forward 20 minutes... 

Not only did I do the run, but I did a record distance. Normally in the 35 minutes I cover about 2.2 miles. Today I did 2.6! I credit that to Mr. Elvis Crespo and his merengue music causing my pace to get faster. Not only was it uphill, but I covered more distance! Yeah...I'm a runner now! :)

Another 5K Complete

I just finished week 6 run 3 this week! One of these reasons why I wanted to use the app was to be able to run a full 5k race. I had signed up for one on February 18th and even though I know I wasn't going to be done with this my Get Running app yet, I figured it could help!

Well I did the 5k on February 18th as planned. I finished my first 5k in  56:17. After that 5k, I was sore for 3 straight days. I was sore from my lower back, hamstrings, quads, calves, and down to my shins. But nonetheless, I finished.

This past Saturday for my 5k, I turned on my iPod and ran the app. I'm pleased that I jogged 2 x 10 minutes plus another 5-10 of it. My time was 53:07. I know I could've walked it faster and got a better time, but that wasn't my goal. It was to be able to run it, so I did. Let me just say that it is 2 days later, I have NO soreness. I had a bit of calve soreness, but that was it!! I went out for my 25 minute jog today and it went great.

While my pace isn't fast and my overall time didn't get dramatically better, my body feels sooo much better. I know, thanks to this app, that I will eventually lower my time. I'm so pleased right now with myself!

2 x 8 minutes and more!

So yesterday I had my 2 x 8 minute runs! As always, I was a bit nervous with the run. I got started trying to have complete confidence that I could do it. Now I've heard people say that you have good days and bad days running. I've definitely felt bad days and ok days, but I've never had a GREAT day... that is until Friday. Wow! It was an amazing day. My legs felt super strong and had very little fatigue. I felt like I could've ran more. I even did a faster speed during my walks. I normally need to slow down significantly to allow my legs to recover for the next run. Wow... can't believe how my body  has changed. Tomorrow is my 20 minute run. I am definitely incredibly nervous for it, but I know my body always shocks me. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow!

Week 5.....EEK!

So today I started week 5. I had 3 five minute runs with 3 minute walks in between each run. I must say it went fantastic! My legs had a burn, but a good burn. I felt tension free, my breathing was great, and my legs never felt like they were about to give out. If was far from being easy, but it felt really good.

On Friday, I move to on to 2 eight minute runs. In between each run, I'll have a 5 minute walk. Not so bad. I'm not really dreading it. I'm looking forward to it. The one that gets me afraid in Sunday's run. I am going to have a 20 minute non stop run! I have so much trepidation with this run. I've been fortunate to read about others, using the same app, make it so I know I most likely will. But, I'd lie saying I wasn't really nervous about it. From there the time continues to increase..EEK.

So from here on out...I'll be blogging about each run until I reach 30 minutes straight! :)

One small step for Steph and for you

I realize that in making this blog, I've kinda put myself out there in the spotlight. My family, friends, and visitors would see my failures and successes. Well I was really afraid of not only failing this last week's challenge in running, but failing publicly.  
If you read my post No Pain...No gain...No doubt? you know that I've been doing this whole attempt at running. Last week I was plagued with fear and doubt. You see...I was heading into my 3rd week of running. Week 1 was just intervals of 1 minute jogging. Week 2 increased to 1 1/2 minutes of jogging. This last week, my jogging time doubled to 3 minutes of jogging! I really doubted I could do it. One and a half minutes was not easy at all. How was I supposed to double it?!

Well Wednesday the day came. I started off with a 1 1/2 minute jog and walk then it was time for the dreaded 3 minutes. I turned up my music and gave it the old college try! And guess what?!?! I DID IT! Man what a feeling! I can't explain how accomplished I felt by being able to do it! I was so excited and highly motivated. I couldn't wait for Friday to come to do it all again. Friday was just as good! 


Yesterday, I had my morning boot camp. My coach had us to an obstacle course at the local park. Part of it entailed going up and down a flight of stairs 7 times. We also had to do step ups on the stairs. Needless to say, my calves today were incredibly sore when I woke up. I did some stretching, drank water, and also put on my compression running socks for my running today. 

I headed to the park with my students (who are running the 5K with me) and did some more stretching. Off I went. The previous two sessions, my pace was slower since I was getting used to the new distance jogging. Today is shot back up to where I was in week 2. I guess my body is adjusting. 


Next week my time bumps up to 5 minutes jogging! Honestly that fear and doubt that I had last week is not with me. I am so looking forward to getting out there again Wednesday and tackling the new time! I'm also looking forward to my legs resting the next couple of days. I'm truly amazed at my progress. What was small step further in jogging, was a giant step for my confidence.


My thoughts for you: This journey to get healthy can be achieved by taking baby steps. Most people fail or stop completely when they try to do too much. Be realistic people. You can't be Superman (woman) over night. Your body is not built that way. It takes time and increased effort. Set realistic goals. Instead of saying I want to lose 50 pounds, start with a 5 pound goal. Celebrate it when you  make it and keep going. Don't make a goal of cutting out all sugar. Be realistic. Cut out a few things and then gradually increase it. Baby steps lead to a bigger distance covered. Start small and watch your confidence grow.

No Pain...No Gain...No Doubt?

Have I said already that I hated to exercise? Well I do. I wish it was easy. I wish I could walk into a workout or hit the track and not feel the burning and pulling of muscles. But I guess something has to be hard!!! Putting on this weight was enjoyable so I guess exercise has to be the hard thing. Perhaps one day, not too far off, workouts will be more enjoyable.

"Putting on this weight was enjoyable so I guess exercise has to be the hard thing."

The thing that has been toughest so far has been this running program. I just finished week 2 of the program. The first week's workout took place over 3 days. It began with a 5 minute warm up, followed by 20 minutes of interval training (1 minute of jogging, 1 1/2 minutes of walking= total of 8 runs), and then a 5 minute cool down. Doesn't seem like much does it? Well when you are carrying as much weight on your frame as me, and it all comes crashing down on your feet with every step....jogging kills. Day 1 I was pretty sure I was going to quit. I have never felt a burn in my legs ever before like I did in that first run. Oh man. I stopped 20 seconds into the first run, paused the program, and once again came to that crossroads. You know...should I continue or should I quit? As you read in my previous post, I really want to run. I stopped in that second and said a prayer. It went something like this...."Dear God...You know my desire to run. You want me healthy. You gotta give me the strength to do this because my body wants to quit, but my mind is saying to go. I'm not quitting, so you gotta do something with my body right away." With that said, I did a bit of stretching...walked..then pressed play and continued. I finished all 8 runs that day. I finished all 8 runs for the next two workouts. They were not easy at all, my legs killed me, and I counted down the finals seconds before I could walk again.

"It never ceases to amaze me how the body responds 
when you push it to its limit! " 

Fast forward to week two....Now my workout began with a 5 minute workout, interval training again but this time with 1 1/2 minutes of jogging with 2 minutes of walking. What?! Thirty more seconds?!?!? Ok I doubted myself so bad. I really believed that I was not going to be able to handle it. To top it off, I had to do this in front of my students who are running my next 5K with me. How embarrassing would it be to have to quit in front of my students?!?! So I began and guess what? It wasn't as bad as I thought! I completed all 1 1/2 minute runs!!!!! At my pace, that is like starting to run at the turn of a high school track to the next turn. That is A LOT for me! Yay me! It never ceases to amaze me how the body responds when you push it to its limit!

So now I have 2 days off. Wednesday starts my week 3 of this running program. I am incredibly nervous and once again am doubting myself. Why? I got from running 1 1/2 minute intervals to 3 minute intervals. My time is doubling. Holy. Crap. I really don't see myself being able to complete it...Not after how my run felt today. But alas, I know I need to change my thinking. I've been communicating with people on the Get Running app forum, and lots of people have said that they went through what I went through at the same stage and are now up to 30 minutes running. I know I have to take it on faith that this too shall pass, and I must believe that I will do it.

Thoughts for you: Your journey to get fit will not be super easy. It's work. Hard work. You'll constantly doubt yourself. You'll constantly be at that crossroad. But, quitting and starting over down the line will be a lot harder than pushing through now. Keep keeping on. WE can do this.

I am a runner? Are you crazy?!

If you read my previous post, you know that I've been in a boot camp for the past 7 months. This process has been insane. Let me first start off by saying that I really do hate exercising. Yeah I know I encouraged you to start, but I really do hate doing it. I'm not one of those people that has a smile on their face or asks their coach for more. Sorry it's just not me. I hate being sweaty. I hate having ultra sore muscles. I hate being out of breath..still. I hate when my coach announces the next exercise. I complain....in a humorous way, but nonetheless I never go a session without complaining. And for some amazingly STRANGE reason...I still show up. But I DO love what I see in my body. I do love the muscles I now feel. I do love my clothes loosening up.

"You can't cross a finish line if you stand at the starting line and refusing to move. 

Take a step, even if it is small, even if it's slow. Take the step."

Seeing yourself progress over time and getting stronger and stronger, strange things start to happen!!! About 2 months into starting boot camp, something birthed inside of me. I believe God put it there. I had this desire to run birth in me! I see myself go on long jobs to unwind. I see myself an athlete competing. I see myself with the wind in my hair, my earphones on, and losing track of time...running. My mind and spirit has this desire, but my body was not ready. You see...just walking half a mile left me with TERRIBLE shin splints. If you've never had them, pray you don't. It's this excruciating pain on the front of the legs. I got these from just walking. What usually causes them is a few things....really tight calf muscles (yup still got those), really weak tendons and ligaments in your lower legs, and the arch of your foot collapsing (from excess weight). Well I had all of these.

Running was not possible. But I didn't give up. I knew I needed to build them up. So I started walking. A little bit at first.

I'd show up early to my boot camp (which took place at a park) and got 2-3 laps around the park in. And then increased it. After months, a few laps turned into a mile...You get the picture.

Well one night on the Facebook, my cousin posted a link for a 5k race (3.1 miles). I felt my spirit stir. I needed to do this, even if I walked the entire thing. So I signed up. On Thanksgiving Day 2011, I completed my first 5K. I walked almost all of it, with a tiny bit of jogging. I mean, really...a tiny bit.

I finished my race in 56 minutes 17 seconds. I didn't finish in last place (yay!). But it was my baseline. I was now an athlete...wow did I just say that? Yup...I am now an athlete. I want to beat that time. What better way to do that? Sign up for another 5K!!!

So I signed up for a 5K set for February 18th. But this time, I want to work on eventually running the whole 3.1 miles. So I looked around for a way of training. My hubby got me a new iPod for Christmas and in my playing around with it, I found this fabulous app called "Get Running." How does it work you say? Well you get your music going, open up the app, and a trainer's voice comes on. The app starts you in increments. You start off with a 5 minute warm up. Then over the course of 20 minutes, you begin with a 1 minute run, followed by 1 1/2 minute walk, and back and forth. After the 20 minutes, you have a 5 minute cool down walk. Each week, then increase your running time. Eventually after 9 weeks, you should be able to run an entire 30 minutes without stopping! After that, you can work on speed. I started it last week and I'll share my experience more in detail later.

Here is my pitch to you: The Bible says that you will be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Which means this, you must think it, believe it, and start stepping out in faith knowing it will come. I am a runner. I thought it last summer. I believe it. I'm stepping out. It will happen.

Do you see yourself healthy and fit? Do you see yourself free of the ailments that come with being overweight? Do you really see it? Yes??? Then believe it and step out. You can't cross a finish line if you stand at the starting line and refusing to move. Take a step, even if it is small, even if it's slow. Take the step.