say what?

so, i started a new job today. yeah, i didn't know i was looking either. i happened upon a job listing on craigslist monday afternoon, emailed about it, interviewed yesterday and started today.

say what?

i'm a 2 year old teacher at a mother's day out. it's 6 hours on tuesdays and thursdays, and jackson gets to go to school there for free. win/win/win! we started training and classroom set up today and tomorrow, and school starts on september 1st. I'm so excited! i can bring in a little extra money, and save some on school (because we were paying for him to go to a different school) and i get out of the house 2 days a week. it's funny how some things just work out.

onto the topic at hand. i skipped posting last night, but i did do yoga. i hadn't done it in a few weeks, so it was tough, but it felt great. i really enjoy yoga. i do the biggest loser weight loss yoga dvd and really makes me sweat!

today i started week 4 of the couch to 5k. and yikes. i was nervous going in, so i don't know if i just freaked myself out, but it was a tough one! this is what it looked like:

5 minute warm-up walk

3 minute run
90 second walk
5 minute run
2.5 minute walk
3 minute run
90 second walk
5 minute run

5 minute cool-down walk

FIVE MINUTES. twice. but, i totally did it! i'm still pretty slow, but i never lost my pace, and it's still on par with my past runs.

but MY SHINS. they're dead to me. they honestly hurt a lot worse when I walk. and hurt they do. ouch! again, stretching really well when I got home seemed to loosen them up, but man. those walks were tougher than the runs because of the pain! i don't stretch before i run, so next time i'll try that and see if that helps. cross your fingers!

Official stats:

Distance: 2.13 miles
Walk pace: 17:02/mile
Run pace: 13:33/mile 

I felt: nervous. and then lots of shin pain half way through.
The weather was: Hot and breezy.
Best song(s) from playlist: moves like jagger by maroon 5 and smile by lily allen

I think I may take a few days off from blogging. we have a lot going on the next week or so. I will be staying on track! catch ya on the flip.

week 3, day 3

I finished up week 3 of the couch to 5k program today. I'm really finding my stride now that I'm getting into longer chunks of running. 3 minutes isn't much, but it's double what I have ever done before, and I'm very proud of myself for that. The stopping to walk in between kind of throws me off though. It's always kind of hard for my to find my stride again after that first run, but I'm working on it. And it's feeling better every time I run.

Official stats:

Distance: 2.04 miles
Walk pace: 16:35/mile
Run pace: 13:32/mile 

I felt: Sweaty! It was so humid out tonight that I was pouring sweat most of the time. But it secretly felt awesome! Shins are still giving me trouble toward the end, mostly when I'm walking. Stretching once I'm done seems to be helping a lot though.
The weather was: Hot and humid!
Best song(s) from playlist: Stronger by Kanye West and Take On Me by a-ha

Registration for my 5k starts on September 1st! It's getting close!

Have a great Tuesday!

I'll take it

It was 90 degrees this afternoon, y'all. ninety. and cloudy. and there was a breeze that didn't feel like a blow dryer. obviously, the boy and I hit the park to take full advantage. it was so nice. we had the place to ourselves, and we went down more slides than I can count.

I'll take it.

Then, because I felt so good about my run last night, I talked myself into doing it again tonight. So glad I did. The weather was cooler, and I started right at dusk and it was great. 

I felt good. I'm learning how to control my breathing and to keep my pace. Oddly enough, I can keep a better pace when I run than when i walk. I'm kind of awkward when I try to walk fast...or maybe I'm just awkward. Who knows. Either way, I am enjoying running more every time I go. That's the goal, right?

Official stats:

Distance: 1.91 miles ( I started my app a little further into my warm-up than usual to snap a few pictures)
Walk pace: 16:43/mile (slower than yesterday)
Run pace: 13:25/mile (a littletinybit faster than yesterday!)

I felt: Really good. Proud of my pace. My shins started to hurt a bit toward the end, but otherwise it was a great run today.
The weather was: Cooler...if you can call it that. Better than 99!
Best song(s) from playlist: Lovestoned/I think she knows by Justin Timberlake & Pardon Me by Incubus

I'm in kind of a song rut. I have a very small running playlist, and even most of those feel too slow to me. I'd love to hear some of the songs that keep you guys motivated while you run or work out! 

Tomorrow is Friday! I'm hoping to do the shred during nap time, and either a run or some yoga in the evening (maybe...). Maybe I'll even throw one in this weekend!

thursday morning motivation

via

this is giving me motivation this morning.

what keeps you going?

the shins

not the band, although, they're great. but I'm talking about my shins. they're being mean to me. or maybe I'm being mean to them? I'm not sure. But either way, they're-a-hurtin'.

via

I ended up doing the shred again last night (twice in one day! I'm patting myself on the back as we speak), and after the 2nd round, I was in some P-A-I-N. There's not a huge amount of running or running type exercises, maybe 6 minutes total, but it did me in. So, no run this morning. I'm feeling kind of sad and discouraged, because I really want to focus on my running, but it hurts too bad.

The plan is to get me some new shoes when we can, and just go from there. Until then, I think I'll try my older shoes and see if that helps. If it gets worse, I'll stick to the shred, yoga, and hip hop abs.

day 1, week 2

I just got back from my first run of week 2. For anyone who isn't familiar with the c25k program it looks something like this:

5 minute warm-up walk
90 second run
2 minute walk
alternate for 20 minutes
5 minute cool down walk

so, it's a total of 30 minutes.

I felt good this morning. strong. I ran with my head up and shoulders back. and I ran through!

Official stats:

Distance: 1.9 miles (not quite as far as last week)
Walk pace: 17:49/mile
Run pace: 13:41/mile (not great, not horrible)

I felt: motivated and strong
The weather was: 79 degrees with a nice breeze
Best song(s) from playlist: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk


Week 2 Weigh-in: -.5 lbs. (yes, a half of a pound, but I will take what I can get!)
Total lost: .5 lbs.

Only 88 days until the BIG DAY. I'm using this little bit of inspiration to keep me going.

Happy Monday!

day 3, week 1

Well, I heard my alarm this morning.

via

Not that I think I can consider myself a runner quite yet, this felt very true this morning. I hit the snooze once, and then finally drug my lazy bones out of bed and went for a run. I felt a little slow this morning, but surprisingly increased my run pace. Walk pace was way down, for whatever reason. But, I'll take it anyway.

Official stats:

Distance: 2.0 miles
Walk pace: 17:36/mile (way too slow)
Run pace: 13:07/mile (fastest yet!)

I felt: slow and sore.
The weather was: 86 degrees with a nice breeze
Best song(s) from playlist: SuperBass by Nicki Minaj and Call on Me by Eric Prydz


Even though the C25k program is only 3 days a week, I plan on doing day 3 again tomorrow morning, and then using Sunday as a full rest day. 


Happy Friday!

day 2, week 1

y'all. I totally did it. I did the 30-day shred when the boy went down for his nap, and after he went to bed tonight,  I did my run. I am stoked about this! two workouts in one day...a week ago I wasn't even close to getting anywhere near one workout. So, this is a step in the right direction. The first 10 minutes of my run I wasn't sure if I was up for it. It was still close to 100 degrees out and I didn't feel like my legs would go, but I pushed a little harder, and got it done. A little increase in walk pace, and a little decrease in run speed. I think I pushed too hard the first half, and was at a slow jog the 2nd half. I'll try to manage my energy better tomorrow. I'm still patting myself on the back right now...

Here's the proof...

Official stats:

Distance: 2.1 miles
Walk pace: 15:45/mile
Run pace: 14:21/mile (a little slower than yesterday, but it's only my 2nd day!)

I felt: not great at first, but so proud that I pushed through.
The weather was: HOT! 97 degrees.
Best song from playlist: Beggin' by Madcon

Now I'm off to shower, and to wind down for the evening. Hot tea & The Hunger Games. 

6:15 will come early...as long as I hear my alarm.

day 1, week 1

I just got back from my first run. I feel awesome! I ran every time I was supposed to, and never felt like I was going to die. Which is a victory in my book. I actually tried to start the C25k program a few months ago, and the first few days I couldn't run every time. So, I'm feeling great this morning!

Official stats:

Distance: 2.1 miles
Walk pace: 16:11/mile
Run pace: 13:55/mile (could use a little more speed I think)

I felt: awesome!
The weather was: 76 degrees, perfect
Best song from playlist: Encore by Jay-z

My little guy is still asleep, so I'm going to enjoy some quiet time and some coffee.

Day one: DONE!

the plan

The race: Lake Joe Pool Pumpkin Run

The date: October 8, 2011

photo via

Before I go to bed tonight I will set my alarm for 6:15 am. I am going to get up before anyone else in my house, and go for a run. Well, a run/walk, if you will. I am officially starting the Couch to 5k program and beginning my training to run my very first 5k! I'm excited and nervous. Motivated and scared. But, this has been on my to do list for far too long, and I am determined to accomplish my goal.

Along with training for the 5k, I am trying to get healthy and lose some weight. I will be doing weight watchers as well as training, and doing other forms of exercise (30 Day Shred, Hip Hop Abs, etc.) on my "rest days". I am so looking forward to feeling better about myself!

This blog is sort of a way to keep me accountable. I'll blog every day with my C25K run stats, or I'll talk about whatever form of exercise I did that day. I'll also share any health blogs or articles I come across, and maybe even a few recipes!

Thanks for following along! Please feel free to leave any tips or recipes you're loving right now in the comments!