Good morning. I'm drinking my cup of coffee before getting ready to leave for the Flying Pig Marathon, so I thought I'd do a little pre-race update. I got to bed later than I would have liked yesterday thanks to a to-do list that seemed to keep growing and a few small non-race-related dramas that popped up Friday and Saturday. Alas, I made it to Sunday and I'm as ready as I'm going to get for 13.1 miles.
No stomach upsets ... yet.
A few sore back muscles that I think are preparing themselves for later today.
A pair of tender-soled feet that are probably in the same boat as the back muscles.
Pockets full of gear for the race (gummy bears, hair ties, lip balm...).
Devoted fans that hopefully still make it to the course despite the forecasted downpour.
A HEAP of well-wishes from my Facebook community.
An encouraging greeting card from my caring coworkers.
A probably-sleepy mother who's getting ready to pick me up and head downtown to grab Sarah and then wait for 4 hours in the rain for me to cross the finish line.
One small tube of Biofreeze, one 32-ounce pump of Biofreeze (a generous gift), a bottle of Aleve, and a container of Epsom salts waiting for me at home.
So I think that's it. The coffee is almost done, which means it's time to gear up. I'm hoping I can get a blog up rather quickly after the run, so keep your eyes peeled.
I'm already ready for a nap...
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The WCPO Big K 5K Run
Today I feel like a seasoned runner. I’m a pro. I’m ready to run a marathon and teach my own clinics on how to run. Okay, not really. But, now that I’ve completed the WCPO Big K 5K Run, I now have two notches in my proverbial running belt. Too bad that belt doesn’t have a waterproof pocket for my iPhone.
In case you don’t live in Cincinnati or you slept in past 10 this morning, I’ll fill you in – it rained. I woke up at 7 a.m. and immediately checked The Weather Channel app on my phone to see when the front would be moving in and was comforted with pictures of sunny skies until 10 a.m. Yay! No rain for the race, which was due to start at 9 a.m.
Not so much. At precisely 8:55 a.m., as race participants were lining up at the start line, the drizzles started, and by the time we got to the bridge over the Ohio (the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge), it was just plain rain. I’ll admit that I’m now grateful for the rain. It made a humid morning and only one drink station a whole lot easier to deal with. But it made it a little hard to find a place on my shirt to wipe my face and, most of all, made it a little difficult to ensure my iPhone remained functional after 45 minutes of wetness. Three cheers for my InCase cover and screen protector. Whew.
How about the running?
It was good! I only shaved 2 minutes (+/- seconds) off my Redlegs Run For Home 5K time and finished in 254th place (out of 358) at 42:16, a 13:38 per mile pace. The pace number means a bit more to me at this point, and I’m pleased.
I decided to use the interval timer app for this run and bumped up my 2:1 run/walk ratio to 3:1, and it wasn’t so bad! In fact, I think I’m going to start there and start working my way up, maybe 30 seconds a pop.
I mean, wow, I’m running 75% of the time! That’s huge!
I only varied from my intervals twice, both on hills, and I’m okay with that. Oh, and my “team” finished first; I guess I was automatically signed up as a Kroger team member/associate and we won! One more victory; I somehow managed to place 4th in my weight class. It was the only weight class for women (160+ or “Athena I”). I have a hard time believing that I was the 4th woman over 160 pounds to pass the finish line out of 358 people. I wasn’t included in my age class, though I clearly had a time that qualified. I’m not sure how they figure that all out, so if you know, please pipe up.
The best part of the run for me was at the end. It was downhill. =)
But seriously, it was a great ending for me. The Clay Wade Bailey Bridge, like most bridges I’ve encountered (which isn’t many) is a bit arched. You engineer people can pipe in as to why that’s so if you want to. So the first half of the bridge was uphill and a little rough, but as I approached the “peak” I decided that I was going to run down the other side, down the ramp, and all the way to the finish line without stopping. I also tried to increase my pace ever so slightly. I don’t know if the hill down just gave me time to relax or if I actually experienced some endorphins, but I felt totally great the whole half-mile that I ran without stopping, even on the flat half of that section (the very end). I MAY have even kicked a little to cross the finish line! Whee!
I even felt good after the run, which concerns me a little. I feel like I should have been beat. Did I push myself enough? Looking back I can see that I should have pushed a little harder than I did. I’m just not experienced enough to know how much to push, you know? Worst case scenario, I would have had to finish the race at a leisurely walking pace. Bah, I should have tried harder, but I’m still happy and I’m ready to do my next one. That’s the real victory.
Oh, and I did get an awesome compliment as I was leaving the Northern Kentucky Convention Center after the run, having just snarfed down two banana halves and half a bagel. A woman called after me as I was headed out the door—“Excuse me, miss!” I thought I dropped something, of course, but I didn’t. She stopped me to tell me that I did a great job and that she had decided early in the run that she was going to catch and pass me, but she couldn’t seem to do it because I just kept going and going. She said it seemed like I never stopped. I explained my intervals and she told me she doing Couch to 5K and was on Week 6. Week 6! I’m only kind of on Week 4, and haven’t really touched the app in a few weeks. And she couldn’t keep up with me. But I was so flattered and encouraged by our little chat and I shared my blog address with her. (Forgive the shameless self-promotion, but please say hi if you remembered to check the address I gave you!)
But that little chat really nailed home my theory about the running community. The runners I’ve encountered are such supportive people! That includes you experienced folks who offer advice and comments on here and on my Facebook. There were a few crazy-fast competitors today who turned around and ran the course backwards after they finished to presumably cool down and they made a point of encouraging the runners they passed along the way. I got a few “good jobs” during my last leg, and they mean so much.
What makes the community of runners so supportive and encouraging? My theory is that running is hard for everyone, regardless of how experienced, skilled, and/or fast those runners are. I think that shared experience of pain and exhaustion creates a bond. I was discussing this with my friend, Jeff, this afternoon after my colossal post-run nap. He thinks it has something to do with the individual nature of the sport. It’s not a team sport, but everyone’s shooting for the same goal in the end, so you kind of become a team. And what do teammates do? They slap each other on the butt and say, “Good game!” and “Wait for the good pitches,” and “Keep your eye on the ball!” Maybe those runners who turn around and encourage other runners are really saying, “It sucks, I know, but our goal is just ahead, so keep your eye on the ball!”
Do you have any stories of random running encouragement? I’d love to hear them. Also, do you have any advice on figuring out how hard to push yourself for the sake of improvement?
In case you don’t live in Cincinnati or you slept in past 10 this morning, I’ll fill you in – it rained. I woke up at 7 a.m. and immediately checked The Weather Channel app on my phone to see when the front would be moving in and was comforted with pictures of sunny skies until 10 a.m. Yay! No rain for the race, which was due to start at 9 a.m.
Not so much. At precisely 8:55 a.m., as race participants were lining up at the start line, the drizzles started, and by the time we got to the bridge over the Ohio (the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge), it was just plain rain. I’ll admit that I’m now grateful for the rain. It made a humid morning and only one drink station a whole lot easier to deal with. But it made it a little hard to find a place on my shirt to wipe my face and, most of all, made it a little difficult to ensure my iPhone remained functional after 45 minutes of wetness. Three cheers for my InCase cover and screen protector. Whew.
How about the running?
It was good! I only shaved 2 minutes (+/- seconds) off my Redlegs Run For Home 5K time and finished in 254th place (out of 358) at 42:16, a 13:38 per mile pace. The pace number means a bit more to me at this point, and I’m pleased.
I decided to use the interval timer app for this run and bumped up my 2:1 run/walk ratio to 3:1, and it wasn’t so bad! In fact, I think I’m going to start there and start working my way up, maybe 30 seconds a pop.
I mean, wow, I’m running 75% of the time! That’s huge!
I only varied from my intervals twice, both on hills, and I’m okay with that. Oh, and my “team” finished first; I guess I was automatically signed up as a Kroger team member/associate and we won! One more victory; I somehow managed to place 4th in my weight class. It was the only weight class for women (160+ or “Athena I”). I have a hard time believing that I was the 4th woman over 160 pounds to pass the finish line out of 358 people. I wasn’t included in my age class, though I clearly had a time that qualified. I’m not sure how they figure that all out, so if you know, please pipe up.
The best part of the run for me was at the end. It was downhill. =)
But seriously, it was a great ending for me. The Clay Wade Bailey Bridge, like most bridges I’ve encountered (which isn’t many) is a bit arched. You engineer people can pipe in as to why that’s so if you want to. So the first half of the bridge was uphill and a little rough, but as I approached the “peak” I decided that I was going to run down the other side, down the ramp, and all the way to the finish line without stopping. I also tried to increase my pace ever so slightly. I don’t know if the hill down just gave me time to relax or if I actually experienced some endorphins, but I felt totally great the whole half-mile that I ran without stopping, even on the flat half of that section (the very end). I MAY have even kicked a little to cross the finish line! Whee!
I even felt good after the run, which concerns me a little. I feel like I should have been beat. Did I push myself enough? Looking back I can see that I should have pushed a little harder than I did. I’m just not experienced enough to know how much to push, you know? Worst case scenario, I would have had to finish the race at a leisurely walking pace. Bah, I should have tried harder, but I’m still happy and I’m ready to do my next one. That’s the real victory.
Oh, and I did get an awesome compliment as I was leaving the Northern Kentucky Convention Center after the run, having just snarfed down two banana halves and half a bagel. A woman called after me as I was headed out the door—“Excuse me, miss!” I thought I dropped something, of course, but I didn’t. She stopped me to tell me that I did a great job and that she had decided early in the run that she was going to catch and pass me, but she couldn’t seem to do it because I just kept going and going. She said it seemed like I never stopped. I explained my intervals and she told me she doing Couch to 5K and was on Week 6. Week 6! I’m only kind of on Week 4, and haven’t really touched the app in a few weeks. And she couldn’t keep up with me. But I was so flattered and encouraged by our little chat and I shared my blog address with her. (Forgive the shameless self-promotion, but please say hi if you remembered to check the address I gave you!)
But that little chat really nailed home my theory about the running community. The runners I’ve encountered are such supportive people! That includes you experienced folks who offer advice and comments on here and on my Facebook. There were a few crazy-fast competitors today who turned around and ran the course backwards after they finished to presumably cool down and they made a point of encouraging the runners they passed along the way. I got a few “good jobs” during my last leg, and they mean so much.
What makes the community of runners so supportive and encouraging? My theory is that running is hard for everyone, regardless of how experienced, skilled, and/or fast those runners are. I think that shared experience of pain and exhaustion creates a bond. I was discussing this with my friend, Jeff, this afternoon after my colossal post-run nap. He thinks it has something to do with the individual nature of the sport. It’s not a team sport, but everyone’s shooting for the same goal in the end, so you kind of become a team. And what do teammates do? They slap each other on the butt and say, “Good game!” and “Wait for the good pitches,” and “Keep your eye on the ball!” Maybe those runners who turn around and encourage other runners are really saying, “It sucks, I know, but our goal is just ahead, so keep your eye on the ball!”
Do you have any stories of random running encouragement? I’d love to hear them. Also, do you have any advice on figuring out how hard to push yourself for the sake of improvement?
Thursday, August 5, 2010
OMG Shoes
Helloooooo! As promised, the shoe post is here. Well, it's about shoes and feet. Anyway, it's below.
FIRST ...
I totally just completed Day 1 of Week 4!!! WEEK 4!!!
Second, the new headphones are phenomenal. Love them. They're loud enough to drown out every bit of my breathing. Faaahhh-bulous!
Third, I registered for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters WCPO/BigK 5K today! Yay another run! Yay for getting gross and sweaty in front of work people!
Fourth, the little old man who walks faster than I run was at the park again tonight. Apparently he's been there every night for the last 11 years. How do I know? Because I got up the nerve to ask him for a picture when my workout was finished! Here he is ...
After this shot he asked me back to his truck to look at a picture of him. No joke. I, of course, accepted, like the genius I am. Don't worry, I pulled out my car key and held it firmly between my fingers like a good, safe citizen and stayed about 5 steps back from his car. Really, he wanted to show me what he looked like before he started running ... before he lost 94 pounds and kept it off for 11 years by walking and running at Veterans Memorial Park. He then showed every middle-aged woman who was finishing or starting her workout at that moment, and they all seemed to know who he was. I guess he has been exercising there for a long time. I thanked him for the photo and for sharing his story and for his encouragement (he said I could do it too, and to drink lots of water), stretched out and went home. That was awesome. Good night, I'd say. =)
*****
Okay, now onto an important topic: shoes.
Did you watch the videos? Did you love them? Or, are you now seriously worried about me? All three, probably.
I'll just dive right in ...
I have heinous feet. They are big, wide, and oddly shaped. And no, I’m not exaggerating. The prettiest part about my feet is my first tattoo, perched boldly atop my right foot, and even that’s subject to preference.
So, these feet ... how big? How wide? How oddly shaped?
My current running shoe is a men’s 4E 10.5. If I’m lucky, I can find women’s dress and casual shoes in 11 or 12 wide, but sometimes those are even too snug. I don’t think my running shoes fit perfectly, though; I’m probably better suited for a 2E because I’m starting to slide around a bit.
So yeah, long and wide feet. They’re also quite flat on top and high toward the ankle. I have a high arch, a protruding “ball,” and surprisingly no bunions or whatnot. I also have a Morton’s toe, which apparently means I’m some kind of royalty, but to me it means that it’s hard to get shoes to fit just right. All this crap, combined with the weight I’ve been carrying around since I was a wee one, means that my feet hurt a lot. Fortunately I don’t have plantar fasciitis or anything (not to my knowledge), but I’m still always considering my foot comfort.
Lastly, I have weak ankles and my feet roll outwards, or under pronate (over supination). Yay fun!
(My mother apologizes for passing along the big-and-wide-feet gene, but I think I’ll forgive her this monstrosity. I’d much rather put the blame on a more deserving party—like my old gym teachers. Yeah. Stupid gym teachers.) The moral of the story is that finding shoes is really difficult. Finding athletic shoes is a little easier, but they’re usually men’s shoes and extremely unattractive. I ruin running shoes quite quickly, too, because of the under pronation. (Rolling out + obesity = shoes that break-in to a rolled out position = sore ankles from lack of support.)
The shoes I have now are sadly dying. I’m starting to slide around in them a lot and I can tell the foam is starting to squish up on the outer edges. I like these shoes! They don’t pinch me or make my toes fall asleep or rub my heels the wrong way. I like them so much that this is my second pair of the exact same shoe. Unfortunately they don’t make these shoes anymore. It’s probably a good thing since they’re cross trainers (really light cross trainers, though).
I fully understand that I need to go to get professionally fitted for new shoes, but this is so painful, people. Shoes are expensive. Plus I realize I probably need some kind of insert and they’ll wear out soon anyway and … ugh! Stupid shoes.
Oh, AND I’ve already tried the experts. Sometime in January 2009, I dragged a friend of mine to Bob Roncker’s Running Spot in O’Bryonsville. (That was my first real itch to try running, by the way. I think that’s when I first tried C25K and gave up on it immediately.) A man there (quite possibly Mr. Roncker himself) listened to what I had to say about my feet issues (including my frustration with breaking shoes in too quickly) and my desire to start running, and sold me a pair of $120 running shoes. When I started working out at my gym that March, it was clear the shoes were not right. There were men’s 11s, I think, and normal width for men (D). They were ugly, first of all. They gave me blisters on my heels because the backs were so high. They made my toes go numb. They pinched the sides of my feet. And, of course, they broke-in really quickly and started to slant to one side. Gah!
$120, meet the toilet.
So maybe you understand my hesitation in trying this again. I just don’t want to throw that money away again.
There are a few differences this time around:
I want to know what your feet issues are and how you’ve dealt with them. Also, most importantly, have you worked with someone at Fleet Feet who is super knowledgeable and friendly and actually listens? If so, please tell me so I can make sure I deal with that person. Thanks for reading about the most disgusting topic in the word (feet), and thanks for any advice or stories you have!
FIRST ...
I totally just completed Day 1 of Week 4!!! WEEK 4!!!
- Warm up 5 minutes
- Run 3 minutes, walk 1.5 minutes
- Run 5 minutes, walk 2.5 minutes
- Repeat the run/walks
- Cool down 5 minutes
Second, the new headphones are phenomenal. Love them. They're loud enough to drown out every bit of my breathing. Faaahhh-bulous!
Third, I registered for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters WCPO/BigK 5K today! Yay another run! Yay for getting gross and sweaty in front of work people!
Fourth, the little old man who walks faster than I run was at the park again tonight. Apparently he's been there every night for the last 11 years. How do I know? Because I got up the nerve to ask him for a picture when my workout was finished! Here he is ...
After this shot he asked me back to his truck to look at a picture of him. No joke. I, of course, accepted, like the genius I am. Don't worry, I pulled out my car key and held it firmly between my fingers like a good, safe citizen and stayed about 5 steps back from his car. Really, he wanted to show me what he looked like before he started running ... before he lost 94 pounds and kept it off for 11 years by walking and running at Veterans Memorial Park. He then showed every middle-aged woman who was finishing or starting her workout at that moment, and they all seemed to know who he was. I guess he has been exercising there for a long time. I thanked him for the photo and for sharing his story and for his encouragement (he said I could do it too, and to drink lots of water), stretched out and went home. That was awesome. Good night, I'd say. =)
*****
Okay, now onto an important topic: shoes.
Did you watch the videos? Did you love them? Or, are you now seriously worried about me? All three, probably.
I'll just dive right in ...
I have heinous feet. They are big, wide, and oddly shaped. And no, I’m not exaggerating. The prettiest part about my feet is my first tattoo, perched boldly atop my right foot, and even that’s subject to preference.
So, these feet ... how big? How wide? How oddly shaped?
My current running shoe is a men’s 4E 10.5. If I’m lucky, I can find women’s dress and casual shoes in 11 or 12 wide, but sometimes those are even too snug. I don’t think my running shoes fit perfectly, though; I’m probably better suited for a 2E because I’m starting to slide around a bit.
So yeah, long and wide feet. They’re also quite flat on top and high toward the ankle. I have a high arch, a protruding “ball,” and surprisingly no bunions or whatnot. I also have a Morton’s toe, which apparently means I’m some kind of royalty, but to me it means that it’s hard to get shoes to fit just right. All this crap, combined with the weight I’ve been carrying around since I was a wee one, means that my feet hurt a lot. Fortunately I don’t have plantar fasciitis or anything (not to my knowledge), but I’m still always considering my foot comfort.
Lastly, I have weak ankles and my feet roll outwards, or under pronate (over supination). Yay fun!
(My mother apologizes for passing along the big-and-wide-feet gene, but I think I’ll forgive her this monstrosity. I’d much rather put the blame on a more deserving party—like my old gym teachers. Yeah. Stupid gym teachers.) The moral of the story is that finding shoes is really difficult. Finding athletic shoes is a little easier, but they’re usually men’s shoes and extremely unattractive. I ruin running shoes quite quickly, too, because of the under pronation. (Rolling out + obesity = shoes that break-in to a rolled out position = sore ankles from lack of support.)
The shoes I have now are sadly dying. I’m starting to slide around in them a lot and I can tell the foam is starting to squish up on the outer edges. I like these shoes! They don’t pinch me or make my toes fall asleep or rub my heels the wrong way. I like them so much that this is my second pair of the exact same shoe. Unfortunately they don’t make these shoes anymore. It’s probably a good thing since they’re cross trainers (really light cross trainers, though).
I fully understand that I need to go to get professionally fitted for new shoes, but this is so painful, people. Shoes are expensive. Plus I realize I probably need some kind of insert and they’ll wear out soon anyway and … ugh! Stupid shoes.
Oh, AND I’ve already tried the experts. Sometime in January 2009, I dragged a friend of mine to Bob Roncker’s Running Spot in O’Bryonsville. (That was my first real itch to try running, by the way. I think that’s when I first tried C25K and gave up on it immediately.) A man there (quite possibly Mr. Roncker himself) listened to what I had to say about my feet issues (including my frustration with breaking shoes in too quickly) and my desire to start running, and sold me a pair of $120 running shoes. When I started working out at my gym that March, it was clear the shoes were not right. There were men’s 11s, I think, and normal width for men (D). They were ugly, first of all. They gave me blisters on my heels because the backs were so high. They made my toes go numb. They pinched the sides of my feet. And, of course, they broke-in really quickly and started to slant to one side. Gah!
$120, meet the toilet.
So maybe you understand my hesitation in trying this again. I just don’t want to throw that money away again.
There are a few differences this time around:
- I’m actually a runner now and kind of know what I'm talking about.
- I won’t leave that store until I’ve run all over the place in the shoes.
- The sales person WILL watch my gait and WILL look at my old shoes to figure out what my needs are.
- I WILL bring shoes back if they don’t do what I want them to do.
- I’m going to try Fleet Feet in Blue Ash instead of Roncker’s.
I want to know what your feet issues are and how you’ve dealt with them. Also, most importantly, have you worked with someone at Fleet Feet who is super knowledgeable and friendly and actually listens? If so, please tell me so I can make sure I deal with that person. Thanks for reading about the most disgusting topic in the word (feet), and thanks for any advice or stories you have!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Accomplished But Easily Discouraged
How could I possibly be discouraged at this point in the game? After all I've accomplished since March and all the changes in my body (whether or not they are visible to anyone but me is questionable) over the last 4 weeks, how could I think negatively of my success.
Well, I can.
I'll get to it in a bit though. First, I'll bring a bit of good news to the table.
Ta da!
ABC Linda picked me as the most improved camper at this past session of Adventure Boot Camp. One, I felt terrible because another camper was talking to me while the awards were being handed out. I didn't even get to hear what ABC Linda was saying to me. I should have asked her to zip it for a minute, but, of course, I didn't. Oh well, I think I know what she probably said, which brings me to point two: There's only one way to go from the bottom. Yeah, I improved over the four weeks (less that I would have liked because of the summer yuck and two injuries), but I think it's more about the stark contrast between my first day of camp and the remaining days. Night and day.
Anyway, I'm extremely honored to get the award and I'll be eternally grateful for the whole experience and for the guidance I got from ABC Linda. Truthfully, I almost had a girly crying moment when I heard my name and jumped up to get the certificate. It was a touching moment for me--an ending, I guess, and endings always get me a little emotional. And, like any graduation ceremony, it's a beginning as well. Now I actually have to do this on my own. Yikes!
Now it's time for a promotional message.
Do it.
If you ever have the chance to participate in Adventure Boot Camp, another boot camp, or any other kind of intense workout situation like it, DO IT. It's great. It's hard and it's sweaty and it's miserable at times, but it's so gratifying. There is no better way to start your day and no better way to kick start--well, anything. Seriously, I learned some life lessons from ABC that could be applied anywhere. I did a lot of talking with and yelling at myself during ABC, and it's similar yet different to the kind of inner conversations I have with myself when I'm running.
So yes, ABC was very much a personal experience, but there are also others there who are going through similar and drastically different things at the same time. They're a support group without being in your face. They grunt and groan along with you when you just can't hold that friggin' plank any longer. They turn around after they've finished their mile so they can cheer you on as you trudge across the finish line. They show care and concern for a camper who's thrown her knee out while completing a jog. They tease about staging a coup against the trainer who's saying "One more time, ladies!" They yell out "I need some Depends to do jumping jacks--don't forget to do your Kegels ladies!" There are no (at least not in my experience) group hugs or cheesy motivational speeches--just women working hard at the same time. Here are my fellow boot campers (though I think some might be missing):
And a little closer ...
I'm the biggun' in the middle.
If you know me at all, you know I'm not an ooey-gooey girly girl who goes on and on about inspiration and the lovey-dovey-ness of having support and inspiration and--stuff. But, it did mean a lot to have this group of women with me every morning. I guess I just really appreciated the shared struggle and triumph of it all. It's like teamwork without ever really working as a team. Strange phenomenon, really.
Changing gears a bit ... let's talk about numbers.
First, the good ones. Friday was our second timed mile and timed push-up test. I shaved a whopping 10 seconds off my mile (12:54 ... though I'm convinced that could have been better without all my stupid health hurdles this month) and doubled the number of push ups (I did 10 instead of 5). The push ups number still isn't very impressive, I know, but I have some high hopes based on how I felt doing them. While I still let myself come all the way to the ground in between reps, I brought myself lower before letting loose. I also didn't arch my back when I pushed up. I kept my core tight, as ABC Linda encouraged us to do, and was able to stay fairly straight from my knees up. Not bad, not bad. I'm a little disappointed in the mile though ... Meh.
And on to more disappointment. Saturday morning I went to get my post-evaluation with the ABC folks. I did find my measurement card from my previous gym, though I wish I hadn't. I've said it from the moment I was measured by the trainers at that gym and I'll say it again--they have NO idea what they're doing there. Every trainer measured me in different places and every one of them got different numbers. Talk about a roller coaster of results. I have complete faith in the trainers of ABC though, and their ability to do it right. That being said, the measurements they took on Saturday did not boost my morale one bit.
My weight is down. From the old gym's scale to the ABC scale (who knows if the old gym's scale was high or low), I've lost 11.2 pounds. According to my home scale, it's about 20; doctor's office #1 to doctor's office #2, 17 pounds. Work scale to work scale, about 8 pounds. Take your pick.
So, that's the most reliable number I have. Oh, and the bust measurement, because how hard is it to mess that one up, right? (Down 1 inch.) And the arm might be close to correct, too, at negative 1.25 inches. According to the measurements, I've only lost an inch in my upper leg and a half inch in my hips, but I'm so super confident those numbers are bigger. I can tell by how my clothes fit, and I can just tell. There are some things you just know.
So, the trainer that measured me on Saturday heard the whole story of the idiot gym trainers and I told her the different ways they measured and she was sympathetic. She told me to not be discouraged by the numbers because it's hard to compare the two sets. But, I'm pretty sure "Don't be discouraged" is the most discouraging sentence in the English language.
I am discouraged. And for that reason, I'm going to ignore these kinds of measurements for a good long while. I'm going to focus on the things that I can measure much more accurately.
Smokin' huh? Ha!
Three cheers for the sideways, busty pose and for Adrienne's photography skills.
Well, I can.
I'll get to it in a bit though. First, I'll bring a bit of good news to the table.
Ta da! ABC Linda picked me as the most improved camper at this past session of Adventure Boot Camp. One, I felt terrible because another camper was talking to me while the awards were being handed out. I didn't even get to hear what ABC Linda was saying to me. I should have asked her to zip it for a minute, but, of course, I didn't. Oh well, I think I know what she probably said, which brings me to point two: There's only one way to go from the bottom. Yeah, I improved over the four weeks (less that I would have liked because of the summer yuck and two injuries), but I think it's more about the stark contrast between my first day of camp and the remaining days. Night and day.
Anyway, I'm extremely honored to get the award and I'll be eternally grateful for the whole experience and for the guidance I got from ABC Linda. Truthfully, I almost had a girly crying moment when I heard my name and jumped up to get the certificate. It was a touching moment for me--an ending, I guess, and endings always get me a little emotional. And, like any graduation ceremony, it's a beginning as well. Now I actually have to do this on my own. Yikes!
Now it's time for a promotional message.
Do it.
If you ever have the chance to participate in Adventure Boot Camp, another boot camp, or any other kind of intense workout situation like it, DO IT. It's great. It's hard and it's sweaty and it's miserable at times, but it's so gratifying. There is no better way to start your day and no better way to kick start--well, anything. Seriously, I learned some life lessons from ABC that could be applied anywhere. I did a lot of talking with and yelling at myself during ABC, and it's similar yet different to the kind of inner conversations I have with myself when I'm running.
So yes, ABC was very much a personal experience, but there are also others there who are going through similar and drastically different things at the same time. They're a support group without being in your face. They grunt and groan along with you when you just can't hold that friggin' plank any longer. They turn around after they've finished their mile so they can cheer you on as you trudge across the finish line. They show care and concern for a camper who's thrown her knee out while completing a jog. They tease about staging a coup against the trainer who's saying "One more time, ladies!" They yell out "I need some Depends to do jumping jacks--don't forget to do your Kegels ladies!" There are no (at least not in my experience) group hugs or cheesy motivational speeches--just women working hard at the same time. Here are my fellow boot campers (though I think some might be missing):
And a little closer ...
I'm the biggun' in the middle.If you know me at all, you know I'm not an ooey-gooey girly girl who goes on and on about inspiration and the lovey-dovey-ness of having support and inspiration and--stuff. But, it did mean a lot to have this group of women with me every morning. I guess I just really appreciated the shared struggle and triumph of it all. It's like teamwork without ever really working as a team. Strange phenomenon, really.
Changing gears a bit ... let's talk about numbers.
First, the good ones. Friday was our second timed mile and timed push-up test. I shaved a whopping 10 seconds off my mile (12:54 ... though I'm convinced that could have been better without all my stupid health hurdles this month) and doubled the number of push ups (I did 10 instead of 5). The push ups number still isn't very impressive, I know, but I have some high hopes based on how I felt doing them. While I still let myself come all the way to the ground in between reps, I brought myself lower before letting loose. I also didn't arch my back when I pushed up. I kept my core tight, as ABC Linda encouraged us to do, and was able to stay fairly straight from my knees up. Not bad, not bad. I'm a little disappointed in the mile though ... Meh.
And on to more disappointment. Saturday morning I went to get my post-evaluation with the ABC folks. I did find my measurement card from my previous gym, though I wish I hadn't. I've said it from the moment I was measured by the trainers at that gym and I'll say it again--they have NO idea what they're doing there. Every trainer measured me in different places and every one of them got different numbers. Talk about a roller coaster of results. I have complete faith in the trainers of ABC though, and their ability to do it right. That being said, the measurements they took on Saturday did not boost my morale one bit.
My weight is down. From the old gym's scale to the ABC scale (who knows if the old gym's scale was high or low), I've lost 11.2 pounds. According to my home scale, it's about 20; doctor's office #1 to doctor's office #2, 17 pounds. Work scale to work scale, about 8 pounds. Take your pick.
So, that's the most reliable number I have. Oh, and the bust measurement, because how hard is it to mess that one up, right? (Down 1 inch.) And the arm might be close to correct, too, at negative 1.25 inches. According to the measurements, I've only lost an inch in my upper leg and a half inch in my hips, but I'm so super confident those numbers are bigger. I can tell by how my clothes fit, and I can just tell. There are some things you just know.
So, the trainer that measured me on Saturday heard the whole story of the idiot gym trainers and I told her the different ways they measured and she was sympathetic. She told me to not be discouraged by the numbers because it's hard to compare the two sets. But, I'm pretty sure "Don't be discouraged" is the most discouraging sentence in the English language.
I am discouraged. And for that reason, I'm going to ignore these kinds of measurements for a good long while. I'm going to focus on the things that I can measure much more accurately.
- For example, I can measure how much better I felt about myself in this dress on the day I wore it to my friend Alison's wedding, versus the day I bought it, versus how I would have felt wearing it a year ago.
Smokin' huh? Ha! Three cheers for the sideways, busty pose and for Adrienne's photography skills.
- I can measure how quickly I'm beginning to progress through the C25K program (I'm pretty sure I'm only going to do Week 3 one more time before bumping up to Week 4).
- I can measure how much longer I can handle being out of breath.
- I can measure how long I can run before stopping.
- I can measure how I can start running after taking increasingly shorter breaks.
- I can measure how my pants keep falling down and how my muffin tops are getting a wee bit smaller.
- I can measure the diminishing rolls on my back (nice thought, no?).
- I can measure the rarity of shin splints these days.
- I can measure how many friggin' push ups I can do in a minute.
- I can measure how much I hate to miss a run, not because I feel guilty, but because I just like doing it.
- I can measure people's reactions when they see me after not seeing me for a while.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Half A Mile On A Stiff Neck And Some Inspiration
Holy stiff neck, Batman!
They happen to me ... a lot. In fact, I don't even know when the started. I feel like I've gotten them since I was little though, which means I can't blame high school track or color guard. Maybe softball (played community softball for 10 years)? Or maybe gym teachers? Yeah, gym teachers! Stupid gym teachers, giving me a stiff neck! Boooo!
So anyway, yes, I have a stiff neck. I woke up with it this morning. I'm guessing this onset had something to do with the 4 pillows I slept on last night to try to stifle my cough. (News flash, it didn't help. And yes, I'm still coughing. I've decided it's the plague and it's never going to go away. Who needs doctors?) So far I've slathered myself with Biofreeze, popped some Aleve, and did some neck rolls on the drive home (read: sitting in traffic) which lead to an AMAZING neck pop ... glorious! The stiffness has gone away a litte.
Do any of you get stiff necks? What do you do about them? Do you have any remedies? Stretches?
I went to boot camp this morning with every intention of telling ABC Linda about it right away so she'd know why I might poop out on certain exercises, but I decided to run first.
And let me tell you, I ran.
I ran around that track 3 times--WITHOUT STOPPING! That's 3 times at 0.2 miles a pop. MORE THAN A HALF-MILE! Through high school and college (track practice), my goal was to get around the track once without stopping. I met that goal maybe once a year and therefore gave up on running altogether. But 6/10 of a mile! (Yes, I know how to reduce my fractions ... 3/5.) Yay!
Please clap for me. Thank you.
Meh, but I guess I should mention that the rest of ABC this morning wasn't stellar. My lungs weren't up for the challenge of the workout after the run, and I just didn't have any stamina. I guess the running success paired with the workout mediocre-ness comes out to a cool zero. I can deal with that ... for a Monday. No go tomorrow, folks.
For you visual folks out there, here's a photo for you. Ladies and gentlemen, the site of the Anderson Adventure Boot Camp for Women.
Though I'm sure this amazing graphic work will leave you baffled by my amazing photo editing skills, I'll have you know that 1) I used my home computer and friggin' Paint to do this, and 2) Yes, actually, I can use Photoshop and Illustrator quite well, thank you (but they're on my work computer). So, forgive the crappy squiggles and just imagine professional work here. (My co-workers are free to vouch for me here ... I know you're reading.)
Speaking of co-workers, two of them told me this morning that they went running this weekend. Two non-runners, who have been listening to me gripe about it for months, felt compelled to give it a go. I AM SO PROUD OF THEM BOTH! Kudos you two! You know who you are. Keep it up and tell me all about it ... sore legs and all.
I've really seen this running (and walking) thing start to take off and it's wonderful! I can see how talking about it really gets the idea out there. I like to think that this blog is serving as a platoform for publicizing the idea of running/walking/being active. Though so many of my posts are about the negative feelings and aches and pains I go through, it's getting the topic out there. Yes, I imagine that reading about someone like me being able to do this stuff can be encouraging--"Well, if SHE can do it ..."--but I think it's about us bringing the topic to the forefront. It's like the Twilight books; if people hadn't spent so much time talking about them, would they have been such a big hit? Well ... probably ... but you know what I'm saying.
In fact, I don't know if I would have started this running mess if it weren't for my friends talking about it all the time. My friend Sarah has been running for a long time and Jeff started the C25K program before I did, and they both talked to me about it, whether it be Sarah talking about running the Half Pig (yay!) or Jeff getting to Week 87 of C25K. Then I read about Anne working out, and of course my circle of Facebook friends (from the casual runners to the habitual marathoners) posting about their running adventures. I certainly don't know how long I would have continued if it weren't for the support of my friends and the advice of my experience runner followers on here (Liz, Jan, Kristin, Zach, plus more). See, it's all about the talking.
So, are you trying to start a running/walking regimen? Talk about it! Tell your friends and family, start a blog, comment on here (or if you want to pipe in on your own post ... email me!) I imagine that's what this accountability concept is all about. Let others know what you're doing so they can help you, whether that be by yelling at you for skipping a run, or telling you that your 20-minute mile is a great first step on a long journey, because it totally is.
So get talking, people! Spread the word! Running hurts, but it's awesome!
Now, back to the Biofreeze ...
They happen to me ... a lot. In fact, I don't even know when the started. I feel like I've gotten them since I was little though, which means I can't blame high school track or color guard. Maybe softball (played community softball for 10 years)? Or maybe gym teachers? Yeah, gym teachers! Stupid gym teachers, giving me a stiff neck! Boooo!
So anyway, yes, I have a stiff neck. I woke up with it this morning. I'm guessing this onset had something to do with the 4 pillows I slept on last night to try to stifle my cough. (News flash, it didn't help. And yes, I'm still coughing. I've decided it's the plague and it's never going to go away. Who needs doctors?) So far I've slathered myself with Biofreeze, popped some Aleve, and did some neck rolls on the drive home (read: sitting in traffic) which lead to an AMAZING neck pop ... glorious! The stiffness has gone away a litte.
Do any of you get stiff necks? What do you do about them? Do you have any remedies? Stretches?
I went to boot camp this morning with every intention of telling ABC Linda about it right away so she'd know why I might poop out on certain exercises, but I decided to run first.
And let me tell you, I ran.
I ran around that track 3 times--WITHOUT STOPPING! That's 3 times at 0.2 miles a pop. MORE THAN A HALF-MILE! Through high school and college (track practice), my goal was to get around the track once without stopping. I met that goal maybe once a year and therefore gave up on running altogether. But 6/10 of a mile! (Yes, I know how to reduce my fractions ... 3/5.) Yay!
Please clap for me. Thank you.
Meh, but I guess I should mention that the rest of ABC this morning wasn't stellar. My lungs weren't up for the challenge of the workout after the run, and I just didn't have any stamina. I guess the running success paired with the workout mediocre-ness comes out to a cool zero. I can deal with that ... for a Monday. No go tomorrow, folks.
For you visual folks out there, here's a photo for you. Ladies and gentlemen, the site of the Anderson Adventure Boot Camp for Women.
Though I'm sure this amazing graphic work will leave you baffled by my amazing photo editing skills, I'll have you know that 1) I used my home computer and friggin' Paint to do this, and 2) Yes, actually, I can use Photoshop and Illustrator quite well, thank you (but they're on my work computer). So, forgive the crappy squiggles and just imagine professional work here. (My co-workers are free to vouch for me here ... I know you're reading.)
Speaking of co-workers, two of them told me this morning that they went running this weekend. Two non-runners, who have been listening to me gripe about it for months, felt compelled to give it a go. I AM SO PROUD OF THEM BOTH! Kudos you two! You know who you are. Keep it up and tell me all about it ... sore legs and all.
I've really seen this running (and walking) thing start to take off and it's wonderful! I can see how talking about it really gets the idea out there. I like to think that this blog is serving as a platoform for publicizing the idea of running/walking/being active. Though so many of my posts are about the negative feelings and aches and pains I go through, it's getting the topic out there. Yes, I imagine that reading about someone like me being able to do this stuff can be encouraging--"Well, if SHE can do it ..."--but I think it's about us bringing the topic to the forefront. It's like the Twilight books; if people hadn't spent so much time talking about them, would they have been such a big hit? Well ... probably ... but you know what I'm saying.
In fact, I don't know if I would have started this running mess if it weren't for my friends talking about it all the time. My friend Sarah has been running for a long time and Jeff started the C25K program before I did, and they both talked to me about it, whether it be Sarah talking about running the Half Pig (yay!) or Jeff getting to Week 87 of C25K. Then I read about Anne working out, and of course my circle of Facebook friends (from the casual runners to the habitual marathoners) posting about their running adventures. I certainly don't know how long I would have continued if it weren't for the support of my friends and the advice of my experience runner followers on here (Liz, Jan, Kristin, Zach, plus more). See, it's all about the talking.
So, are you trying to start a running/walking regimen? Talk about it! Tell your friends and family, start a blog, comment on here (or if you want to pipe in on your own post ... email me!) I imagine that's what this accountability concept is all about. Let others know what you're doing so they can help you, whether that be by yelling at you for skipping a run, or telling you that your 20-minute mile is a great first step on a long journey, because it totally is.
So get talking, people! Spread the word! Running hurts, but it's awesome!
Now, back to the Biofreeze ...
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Short But Positive
I can't write a full blog because I have to get ready for work, but I wanted you all to know that boot camp was exponentially better this morning.
Whew.
I had a half a bottle of Odwalla juice RIGHT when I got up (about 150 calories) and a piece of whole grain toast (which I will skip from now on ... it was too much). I got to camp really early and took my time setting up. Trainer Linda remembered my name and came up to me to say she was glad I came back. I apologized for my behavior yesterday and told her I was in panic mode. She said she could tell. Geesh.
Anyway, all was well. I even got to do a little jogging, which, sadly, made me happy.
Okay, gotta go. Thanks so much for all of your encouragement, folks! You've been so wonderful!!!
Whew.
I had a half a bottle of Odwalla juice RIGHT when I got up (about 150 calories) and a piece of whole grain toast (which I will skip from now on ... it was too much). I got to camp really early and took my time setting up. Trainer Linda remembered my name and came up to me to say she was glad I came back. I apologized for my behavior yesterday and told her I was in panic mode. She said she could tell. Geesh.
Anyway, all was well. I even got to do a little jogging, which, sadly, made me happy.
Okay, gotta go. Thanks so much for all of your encouragement, folks! You've been so wonderful!!!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
External Motivation
I didn't want to run yesterday. Well, I wanted to run but I didn't feel like running. I wanted to sit on my couch. Does that make sense?
The weather was perfect for running, my body was ready for it, and I wanted to be otuside, but I wasn't mentally present. And the results made that clear. I ran at Juilfs and didn't make any changes in path or interval times. But my legs started hurting right away (maybe I started too quickly) and all I could think about whas how I'd rather be somewhere else. It's kind of hard to keep a positive attitude when that happens. I did a lot of internal yelling at myself instead of the usual internal coaxing and encouraging.
Needless to say, I finished a little behind my last two successful runs, but I'm still under my initial goal. I finished two miles in 27:30 and I didn't cut any running intervals short. I actually was still able to convince myself to run a few meters over on about half the runs, which is good. But Week 3 still seems so far away. I'm struggling to see how I'll ever be able to move on from Week 2.
So, how do I stay motivated to keep running after iffy workouts like that? There are several motivators, but today I'm going to focus on the external motivators. This blog follows this week's trip to Atlanta for work, which included two plane rides (there and back).
Let me tell you, you don't know uncomfortable until you've been a tall, fat girl wedged into an airplane seat for even the shortest flight. In fact, this unfortunate fat-girl situation is one of my top external motivators, along with not fitting on amusement park rides, and exceeding weight limits on anything intended for normal adults (e.g., trampolines). This humiliation is unbearable. Really, weight-related embarrassment is pretty much the only kind of embarrassment that gets me down. To top it all off, these three "I don't fit" situations usually happen with some sort of audience.
Now, I would never suggest that roller coaster manufacturers re-design their seats to meet the needs of the obese. (Airplanes are a different story and I address that below.) For those of you who don't know, I spent three summers working at Kings Island, a Cincinnati amusement park, and one fabulous summer at Coney Island, it's little-yet-older sister. I spent many moments explaining to guests why they couldn't ride if the "bar" didn't click, even if they thought they could hold on throughout the ride and not fall out. (Morons.) "Why can't they just make the seats bigger?" they might ask. Well, because then kids and people of a healthy weight might fall out and there's no reason to risk someone else's safety so fat people can ride.
Tall people, different story -- you didn't chose that. Weight is a choice, unless affected by some sort of extreme health ailment, in which case you shouldn't be riding rides at all. (First PKI-er to name the 5 safety restrictions in the comments wins!) I know, controversial topic, but I am both tall and fat and feel I can speak openly about this because of my experiences. But I'm open to hearing your thoughts.
Back to planes -- is anyone comfortable in an airplane seat? Really, I want to know. If no one is comfortable, then I can stop my ranting and move on. But what's the harm in creating, I don't know, two rows of seats tht have higher arm rests and deeper and wider seats, especially if you charge those people just a little more? I'm not talking about first class seats here. I don't want extra service or squishier seats or my own private bathroom for $200 extra. I want butt, hip, and knee space for $50 extra. You could even make me check my bag if you wanted to. Just a thought.
So, sorry for the rant. It's not like the seat situation is the only thing about flying that makes me uncomfortable. My ears pop constantly, I get ill on the descent (fortunately just the decent), and I'm in constant fear of how my body will react. You see, I'm not afraid of flying like most people are. There comes a point when you just have to realize that if your plane crashes, you're likely going to die. Worrying about it is not going to help. Just relax.
I, on the other hand, get motion sick in cars and some amusement rides at the drop of a hat. Literally, that fast. The smell of a car and its airflow, even when it's sitting still, will ruin my day. Right Sarah? Mom? You've both experienced this first-hand. So, every flight since my first, which was just in February 2008, I've been petrified of uncontrollable vomiting and what have you. But, so far so good. Either my body doesn't react to plane rides that way, or my ritual cranberry-vodka OR Dramamine really helps (not both at once, I promise). Praise be to Dramamine.
So, on that note, a few slightly unrelated photos:
Here's a picture of me waiting for departure at the Atlanta airport from a previous trip.
Atlanta airport, again from a previous trip.
Okay, so what have I learned. I've learned that my exercise efforts between Februrary 2009 (my last flight) and this past week's flight have not made airplane seats any more comfortable. In fact, I should have known that because I haven't lost more about 8 pounds in the last year's worth of working out. Tell me how it's possible, at my weight, to go from stagnant to working out and not see any results? I'll most definitely address this in a later post. Oh, and running when you don't want to is not fun and I'm not likely to get results when doing so.
So yes, I'm ending on a negative note. Boohoo. Please come again! =)
The weather was perfect for running, my body was ready for it, and I wanted to be otuside, but I wasn't mentally present. And the results made that clear. I ran at Juilfs and didn't make any changes in path or interval times. But my legs started hurting right away (maybe I started too quickly) and all I could think about whas how I'd rather be somewhere else. It's kind of hard to keep a positive attitude when that happens. I did a lot of internal yelling at myself instead of the usual internal coaxing and encouraging.
Needless to say, I finished a little behind my last two successful runs, but I'm still under my initial goal. I finished two miles in 27:30 and I didn't cut any running intervals short. I actually was still able to convince myself to run a few meters over on about half the runs, which is good. But Week 3 still seems so far away. I'm struggling to see how I'll ever be able to move on from Week 2.
So, how do I stay motivated to keep running after iffy workouts like that? There are several motivators, but today I'm going to focus on the external motivators. This blog follows this week's trip to Atlanta for work, which included two plane rides (there and back).
Let me tell you, you don't know uncomfortable until you've been a tall, fat girl wedged into an airplane seat for even the shortest flight. In fact, this unfortunate fat-girl situation is one of my top external motivators, along with not fitting on amusement park rides, and exceeding weight limits on anything intended for normal adults (e.g., trampolines). This humiliation is unbearable. Really, weight-related embarrassment is pretty much the only kind of embarrassment that gets me down. To top it all off, these three "I don't fit" situations usually happen with some sort of audience.
Now, I would never suggest that roller coaster manufacturers re-design their seats to meet the needs of the obese. (Airplanes are a different story and I address that below.) For those of you who don't know, I spent three summers working at Kings Island, a Cincinnati amusement park, and one fabulous summer at Coney Island, it's little-yet-older sister. I spent many moments explaining to guests why they couldn't ride if the "bar" didn't click, even if they thought they could hold on throughout the ride and not fall out. (Morons.) "Why can't they just make the seats bigger?" they might ask. Well, because then kids and people of a healthy weight might fall out and there's no reason to risk someone else's safety so fat people can ride.
Tall people, different story -- you didn't chose that. Weight is a choice, unless affected by some sort of extreme health ailment, in which case you shouldn't be riding rides at all. (First PKI-er to name the 5 safety restrictions in the comments wins!) I know, controversial topic, but I am both tall and fat and feel I can speak openly about this because of my experiences. But I'm open to hearing your thoughts.
Back to planes -- is anyone comfortable in an airplane seat? Really, I want to know. If no one is comfortable, then I can stop my ranting and move on. But what's the harm in creating, I don't know, two rows of seats tht have higher arm rests and deeper and wider seats, especially if you charge those people just a little more? I'm not talking about first class seats here. I don't want extra service or squishier seats or my own private bathroom for $200 extra. I want butt, hip, and knee space for $50 extra. You could even make me check my bag if you wanted to. Just a thought.
So, sorry for the rant. It's not like the seat situation is the only thing about flying that makes me uncomfortable. My ears pop constantly, I get ill on the descent (fortunately just the decent), and I'm in constant fear of how my body will react. You see, I'm not afraid of flying like most people are. There comes a point when you just have to realize that if your plane crashes, you're likely going to die. Worrying about it is not going to help. Just relax.
I, on the other hand, get motion sick in cars and some amusement rides at the drop of a hat. Literally, that fast. The smell of a car and its airflow, even when it's sitting still, will ruin my day. Right Sarah? Mom? You've both experienced this first-hand. So, every flight since my first, which was just in February 2008, I've been petrified of uncontrollable vomiting and what have you. But, so far so good. Either my body doesn't react to plane rides that way, or my ritual cranberry-vodka OR Dramamine really helps (not both at once, I promise). Praise be to Dramamine.
So, on that note, a few slightly unrelated photos:
Here's a picture of me waiting for departure at the Atlanta airport from a previous trip.
My fearful expression is a dramatic reinactment of my first ever flight.
Oh, and this was from my trip to DC to see New Kids on the Block, October 2008.
Be jealous.
Oh, and this was from my trip to DC to see New Kids on the Block, October 2008.
Be jealous.
Atlanta airport, again from a previous trip.
Okay, so what have I learned. I've learned that my exercise efforts between Februrary 2009 (my last flight) and this past week's flight have not made airplane seats any more comfortable. In fact, I should have known that because I haven't lost more about 8 pounds in the last year's worth of working out. Tell me how it's possible, at my weight, to go from stagnant to working out and not see any results? I'll most definitely address this in a later post. Oh, and running when you don't want to is not fun and I'm not likely to get results when doing so.
So yes, I'm ending on a negative note. Boohoo. Please come again! =)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Me? Running Expert? HA!
I cannot believe it. Someone has asked me for running advice. Shut the front door. Do you have any idea how strange that is for me? If you've known me for a long while, I bet you have some clue.
Well, I responded to my friend's request for advice and I thought some of it might be valid enough to post here for the world (aka my 8 followers) to see. So, brace yourself for the sage advice of an experienced (2 months experience) runner.
***The Request***
How do you like C25K? I've been thinking about giving it a try. I actually tried it last winter and gave up after a week and a half. It was around the holidays and I didn't have enough time to really give it a fair shot. And I'm not a big fan of running on a treadmill. Now that the weather is nice and I can run outside, I'd like to try it again. Any advice?
***My Advice***
First of all, you have no idea how strange it is to me that someone's asking my advice about running. Bizarre-o! =)
Second of all, yay for trying it again! I totally tried Week 1 at some point and quit after my second run. I actually think it's a requirement of the program that you poop out at least once.
Let's see, my advice...
First of all, don't plan on sticking to the timeline of the program. The only people who can pull that off are already runners. Even my BFF Jeff, who is a friggin dancer, had to repeat a week or two. Let your body decide when it's time to move on. If at the end of Week 1, you find that you're still dying at the end of the 60-second run, do it again ... and again, and again. I think I did it 3 or 4 times before I bumped up. I'm on my 3rd or 4th go-round with Week 2 right now
If you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch, get the app. It's AMAZING. You can play your music while the app is running and Mr. C25K (or Ms if you prefer) gently interrupts to say "Walk now" or "Run now." The first time I tried (and I've heard this from other friends too) I used a timer and it was a bitch. It's so nice to be able to jog along and not worry about what the clock says.
Which brings me to my next point: keep your head up. No, not like "Cheer up Charlie," but literally keep your head up. I tell myself "Look at me, I'm just running along, no big deal." That way I'm not staring at the ground. That makes your shoulders slump and cramps your windpipe (I think). Also, you can't feel the breeze or look at your surroundings if you're staring at the ground. Plus, keeping your head up is just good for morale. =)
Next point: run somewhere pretty and flat. If you can trust that the ground under your feet is flat, you don't have to look down. If the surroundings are pretty, you can enjoy them while you're wheezing.
Ignore distance for now. I didn't start paying attention to my distance until I knew I was comfortable running. Paying attention to distance made me get frustrated if I wasn't hitting my mark every run. And that's discouraging. Just run to run. Who cares where you end up or how far you go? That's not the point.
Next, don't stop running until your time is up. Seriously. Don't do it. Who cares if you're tired or if your legs hurt; it's nothing you can't recover from, right? Don't be a wuss. (That's what I tell myself when I want to stop.)
Be careful with your "brisk" opening walk. If your prone to shin splints like I am, you'll shoot yourself in the foot by warming up too vigorously and then being in pain for the rest of the workout. I didn't pick up my warm-up pace for quite a while. Oh, and don't get too excited and start running fast. Take little bitty steps and run slow.
Don't worry about what you look like. I was worried for a while that I didn't LOOK like a runner running. I thought I just looked like I was blobbing along clumsily (and I was). So instead of concentrating on looking like a runner, I concentrated on keeping a strong core and paying attention to which muscles were working. Not only was this distracting, but it helped me figure out how to use a bunch of muscles to do the hard work.
Oh, and I'm always super stressed about how loud I'm breathing. I solved that problem by turning my headphones up so I couldn't hear myself. HUGE HELP!
Finally, try some sort of accountability system. That's what my blog is for. It's really helping to know that there are at least a few people who wait to read what I have to say.
As far as running in the summer, I don't have much advice. I'm kind of worried about it myself. The one run I've done so far in humidity didn't go well so I'm not encouraged. I may try a treadmill, I may try morning runs...who knows.
Okay, I think that's all I've got for now. If I think of anything else, I'll pass it along. Oh, and if you're up for a buddy run for encouragement, let me know. I'm happy to meet you somewhere.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
Well, I responded to my friend's request for advice and I thought some of it might be valid enough to post here for the world (aka my 8 followers) to see. So, brace yourself for the sage advice of an experienced (2 months experience) runner.
***The Request***
How do you like C25K? I've been thinking about giving it a try. I actually tried it last winter and gave up after a week and a half. It was around the holidays and I didn't have enough time to really give it a fair shot. And I'm not a big fan of running on a treadmill. Now that the weather is nice and I can run outside, I'd like to try it again. Any advice?
***My Advice***
First of all, you have no idea how strange it is to me that someone's asking my advice about running. Bizarre-o! =)
Second of all, yay for trying it again! I totally tried Week 1 at some point and quit after my second run. I actually think it's a requirement of the program that you poop out at least once.
Let's see, my advice...
First of all, don't plan on sticking to the timeline of the program. The only people who can pull that off are already runners. Even my BFF Jeff, who is a friggin dancer, had to repeat a week or two. Let your body decide when it's time to move on. If at the end of Week 1, you find that you're still dying at the end of the 60-second run, do it again ... and again, and again. I think I did it 3 or 4 times before I bumped up. I'm on my 3rd or 4th go-round with Week 2 right now
If you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch, get the app. It's AMAZING. You can play your music while the app is running and Mr. C25K (or Ms if you prefer) gently interrupts to say "Walk now" or "Run now." The first time I tried (and I've heard this from other friends too) I used a timer and it was a bitch. It's so nice to be able to jog along and not worry about what the clock says.
Which brings me to my next point: keep your head up. No, not like "Cheer up Charlie," but literally keep your head up. I tell myself "Look at me, I'm just running along, no big deal." That way I'm not staring at the ground. That makes your shoulders slump and cramps your windpipe (I think). Also, you can't feel the breeze or look at your surroundings if you're staring at the ground. Plus, keeping your head up is just good for morale. =)
Next point: run somewhere pretty and flat. If you can trust that the ground under your feet is flat, you don't have to look down. If the surroundings are pretty, you can enjoy them while you're wheezing.
Ignore distance for now. I didn't start paying attention to my distance until I knew I was comfortable running. Paying attention to distance made me get frustrated if I wasn't hitting my mark every run. And that's discouraging. Just run to run. Who cares where you end up or how far you go? That's not the point.
Next, don't stop running until your time is up. Seriously. Don't do it. Who cares if you're tired or if your legs hurt; it's nothing you can't recover from, right? Don't be a wuss. (That's what I tell myself when I want to stop.)
Be careful with your "brisk" opening walk. If your prone to shin splints like I am, you'll shoot yourself in the foot by warming up too vigorously and then being in pain for the rest of the workout. I didn't pick up my warm-up pace for quite a while. Oh, and don't get too excited and start running fast. Take little bitty steps and run slow.
Don't worry about what you look like. I was worried for a while that I didn't LOOK like a runner running. I thought I just looked like I was blobbing along clumsily (and I was). So instead of concentrating on looking like a runner, I concentrated on keeping a strong core and paying attention to which muscles were working. Not only was this distracting, but it helped me figure out how to use a bunch of muscles to do the hard work.
Oh, and I'm always super stressed about how loud I'm breathing. I solved that problem by turning my headphones up so I couldn't hear myself. HUGE HELP!
Finally, try some sort of accountability system. That's what my blog is for. It's really helping to know that there are at least a few people who wait to read what I have to say.
As far as running in the summer, I don't have much advice. I'm kind of worried about it myself. The one run I've done so far in humidity didn't go well so I'm not encouraged. I may try a treadmill, I may try morning runs...who knows.
Okay, I think that's all I've got for now. If I think of anything else, I'll pass it along. Oh, and if you're up for a buddy run for encouragement, let me know. I'm happy to meet you somewhere.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Blunders and Burdens of Being a Bouncing BBW
I have made a conscious decision to skip my run tomorrow evening.
[Ducks and covers to avoid thrown shoes]
Excuse me, but I still have to clean out the old apartment and I've been delaying too much already. Some things can wait (running). Some things cannot (cleaning to avoid extra expense). And who throws a shoe? Honestly?
Anyway, since I'm skipping my workout, I figured I'd punish myself by writing one of my "I'll tell you about that later" blog entries.
Today's topic? Boobs.
Do I have your attention now?
As I've mentioned before, I'm a BBW -- a big-breasted woman, as I believe we called it in my high school color guard.
(Yes, color guard. I know. Later. Now, focus. Don't make me type, italicize, bold, and enlarge the "B" word again.)
We're talking big. Like, break-your-own-nose-if-you-run-without-proper-support big. It's relatively hard to tell when you look at me because my stomach and fat rolls #1a through #4c, combined with my chest, make my torso look like a lumpy box instead of a top-heavy light bulb. Which speaks to the size of my stomach and rolls, because I have really broad shoulders too. (I'm painting a really pretty picture of myself, aren't I?)
This is all relevant, I swear.
Back in February, my friend Anne wrote about the challenges of finding a good, supportive sports bra if your chesty and active. (Feel free to check out the entry over at thefitbridesmaid.) And it is challenging! I remember being very young and being frustrated with the beating my chest would take from running the bases at softball or up and down the basketball court or in gym class. It didn't help that I developed at an extremely young age (one of the side effects of being an overweight child) and was surrounded by girls my age who had chests flatter than Clay Aiken's. My mom did buy me sports bras, but not great ones -- just whatever was cheapest and they didn't help much. Not her fault. The bouncing still hurt and looked ridiculous.
I think it was at the end of high school when I finally decided to start wearing two of them at once to try to tame the beasts. That helped, but I was embarassed when someone asked me why I wore two. At that time I didn't have the attitude I have now and didn't think to say, "Because I'm a whole 'lotta woman, little girl! I bet you don't have to wear one at all, do you?" Ha! Nah, I don't even have the guts to say that out loud now. In my head, it's a different story.
But the day finally came when I discovered the miracle bra. I wish I could remember how I found it. I don't know if it was a friend's recommendation or Oprah that pointed me to Enell . These are full-coverage, fugly bras for BBWs and beyond. (Okay, I think I just invented a future lingere shop name, right there. Copyrighted ... you can't steal it now!)
No, they aren't one bit attractive; they cover your front from your collar bone to your belly button practically. They're only moderately comfortable; they're made to be really, really tight to batten down the hatches. And they're expensive! Well, expensive as far as sports bras go, anyway.
But I couldn't care less. When I put that puppy on, not only am I fully secured and virtually bounceless when I run, but I'm very nearly Clay Aiken flat, which I haven't been since second grade.
So why am I telling you all this? Because everyone likes to read about boobs, right? Riiiight.
[Cue the inspirational music and wind machine while I step up on my podium]
Actually, it's because I want you all to know. I want you to know, in case you don't experience it first hand, that there are some additional challenges involved with being an active BBW. I want you to know about Enell bras so that you can spread the word. I want you to be able to console the next struggling, burgeoning little girl you come across and I want you to tell her that there's hope. She can do whatever she wants to do and she doesn't have to be embarassed by her bouncing bosoms.
[Crescendo music, shots of hopeful BBWs.]
She can run, she can jump, she can lock 'em and load 'em and reach for the stars. I want you to help me empower her!
[Wide shot of cheering crowd. And, scene.]
Are you crying yet, because I just welled up a little. Sniff.
Do you feel more educated? Or more violated? Do you have experience in this area? If so, I'd love to hear your words of wisdom, as I'm sure other readers will.
Okay, so, future run TBD. Moving madness should decrease significantly after this weekend, but will not be complete until April 30. Maybe I'll try to run before cleanup on Friday, or Saturday morning? Bah!
[Ducks and covers to avoid thrown shoes]
Excuse me, but I still have to clean out the old apartment and I've been delaying too much already. Some things can wait (running). Some things cannot (cleaning to avoid extra expense). And who throws a shoe? Honestly?
Anyway, since I'm skipping my workout, I figured I'd punish myself by writing one of my "I'll tell you about that later" blog entries.
Today's topic? Boobs.
Do I have your attention now?
As I've mentioned before, I'm a BBW -- a big-breasted woman, as I believe we called it in my high school color guard.
(Yes, color guard. I know. Later. Now, focus. Don't make me type, italicize, bold, and enlarge the "B" word again.)
We're talking big. Like, break-your-own-nose-if-you-run-without-proper-support big. It's relatively hard to tell when you look at me because my stomach and fat rolls #1a through #4c, combined with my chest, make my torso look like a lumpy box instead of a top-heavy light bulb. Which speaks to the size of my stomach and rolls, because I have really broad shoulders too. (I'm painting a really pretty picture of myself, aren't I?)
This is all relevant, I swear.
Back in February, my friend Anne wrote about the challenges of finding a good, supportive sports bra if your chesty and active. (Feel free to check out the entry over at thefitbridesmaid.) And it is challenging! I remember being very young and being frustrated with the beating my chest would take from running the bases at softball or up and down the basketball court or in gym class. It didn't help that I developed at an extremely young age (one of the side effects of being an overweight child) and was surrounded by girls my age who had chests flatter than Clay Aiken's. My mom did buy me sports bras, but not great ones -- just whatever was cheapest and they didn't help much. Not her fault. The bouncing still hurt and looked ridiculous.
I think it was at the end of high school when I finally decided to start wearing two of them at once to try to tame the beasts. That helped, but I was embarassed when someone asked me why I wore two. At that time I didn't have the attitude I have now and didn't think to say, "Because I'm a whole 'lotta woman, little girl! I bet you don't have to wear one at all, do you?" Ha! Nah, I don't even have the guts to say that out loud now. In my head, it's a different story.
But the day finally came when I discovered the miracle bra. I wish I could remember how I found it. I don't know if it was a friend's recommendation or Oprah that pointed me to Enell . These are full-coverage, fugly bras for BBWs and beyond. (Okay, I think I just invented a future lingere shop name, right there. Copyrighted ... you can't steal it now!)
No, they aren't one bit attractive; they cover your front from your collar bone to your belly button practically. They're only moderately comfortable; they're made to be really, really tight to batten down the hatches. And they're expensive! Well, expensive as far as sports bras go, anyway.
But I couldn't care less. When I put that puppy on, not only am I fully secured and virtually bounceless when I run, but I'm very nearly Clay Aiken flat, which I haven't been since second grade.
So why am I telling you all this? Because everyone likes to read about boobs, right? Riiiight.
[Cue the inspirational music and wind machine while I step up on my podium]
Actually, it's because I want you all to know. I want you to know, in case you don't experience it first hand, that there are some additional challenges involved with being an active BBW. I want you to know about Enell bras so that you can spread the word. I want you to be able to console the next struggling, burgeoning little girl you come across and I want you to tell her that there's hope. She can do whatever she wants to do and she doesn't have to be embarassed by her bouncing bosoms.
[Crescendo music, shots of hopeful BBWs.]
She can run, she can jump, she can lock 'em and load 'em and reach for the stars. I want you to help me empower her!
[Wide shot of cheering crowd. And, scene.]
Are you crying yet, because I just welled up a little. Sniff.
Do you feel more educated? Or more violated? Do you have experience in this area? If so, I'd love to hear your words of wisdom, as I'm sure other readers will.
Okay, so, future run TBD. Moving madness should decrease significantly after this weekend, but will not be complete until April 30. Maybe I'll try to run before cleanup on Friday, or Saturday morning? Bah!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Moving Backwards?
Don't worry. The title of this post doesn't mean I'm regressing in my running abilities. In fact, I ran at Juilfs today and finished my two miles with precisely two minutes left of C25K Week 2; I am still holding steady at a 14-minute mile pace.
Give me a moment -- it still blows my mind that I can actually "run" two miles. Clearly the founders of my athletic self-esteem -- my elementary and high school gym teachers -- were "you can do whatever you set your mind to" kind of guys. Thank you, Mr. B and Mr. Jamoke (alias).
*I do want to explore how to and how not to encourage children to physically push themselves and to stay fit. I'll tell you now that letting them get away with whining, walking instead of running, and sitting out of gym class is not effective. Prime example, right here.*
Anyway, while I didn't lose any ground in my progress today, I didn't move forward, and that's frustrating to me. I like to see improvements. That's the best motivator, right there. Unfortunately improvements take work, and work takes motivation, and motivation takes improvements.
Poop.
So, my first set of questions: How do you stay motivated? Do you exercise simply for the joy of it? How do you get through those days or weeks of zero progress? What about setbacks?
Back to the backwards thing. Like I said, I ran at Juilfs today, my tried-and-true favorite childhood park. But, to test things out a bit and to shake up a routine, I ran it backwards.
Now isn't that a fun mental image? I'll let you sit with it for a while before ruining it. Fat girl ... breathing like a freight train ... red, red face ... stumbling backwards down a hill. Go ahead and laugh. I would!
Okay, time to focus again. Today, I ran the opposite direction on the path. I figured the Beast Hill is a long, slow incline and it's counterpart is a steeper, shorter incline. Why not run/walk down the long one and run/walk up the short one? Well folks, it was nice. It didn't improve my time at all (again, discouraging), and it didn't make the 90 second run feel any easier, but it kept me from trying to drag my butt up Beast Hill. And I got to run downhill, which is way fun -- kind of like Phoebe running on Friends.
I don't know the moral of today's experience. I changed my path to avoid a challenge and finished in the same time anyway.
Question set #2: Do you avoid challenging courses or do you take them head on? How's that working out for you?
Next run should be Thursday. Venue undecided. Let me know if you'd like to join!
Give me a moment -- it still blows my mind that I can actually "run" two miles. Clearly the founders of my athletic self-esteem -- my elementary and high school gym teachers -- were "you can do whatever you set your mind to" kind of guys. Thank you, Mr. B and Mr. Jamoke (alias).
*I do want to explore how to and how not to encourage children to physically push themselves and to stay fit. I'll tell you now that letting them get away with whining, walking instead of running, and sitting out of gym class is not effective. Prime example, right here.*
Anyway, while I didn't lose any ground in my progress today, I didn't move forward, and that's frustrating to me. I like to see improvements. That's the best motivator, right there. Unfortunately improvements take work, and work takes motivation, and motivation takes improvements.
Poop.
So, my first set of questions: How do you stay motivated? Do you exercise simply for the joy of it? How do you get through those days or weeks of zero progress? What about setbacks?
Back to the backwards thing. Like I said, I ran at Juilfs today, my tried-and-true favorite childhood park. But, to test things out a bit and to shake up a routine, I ran it backwards.
Now isn't that a fun mental image? I'll let you sit with it for a while before ruining it. Fat girl ... breathing like a freight train ... red, red face ... stumbling backwards down a hill. Go ahead and laugh. I would!
Okay, time to focus again. Today, I ran the opposite direction on the path. I figured the Beast Hill is a long, slow incline and it's counterpart is a steeper, shorter incline. Why not run/walk down the long one and run/walk up the short one? Well folks, it was nice. It didn't improve my time at all (again, discouraging), and it didn't make the 90 second run feel any easier, but it kept me from trying to drag my butt up Beast Hill. And I got to run downhill, which is way fun -- kind of like Phoebe running on Friends.
I don't know the moral of today's experience. I changed my path to avoid a challenge and finished in the same time anyway.
Question set #2: Do you avoid challenging courses or do you take them head on? How's that working out for you?
Next run should be Thursday. Venue undecided. Let me know if you'd like to join!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Repetition is Good. So are Running Buddies.
There is some value to repeating the same intervals and venturing down the same path every time you run. I've learned that over the last few workouts. One, it's easy to see how your stamina changes -- how out of breath was I today compared to yesterday? Two, it's quite gratifying to notice yourself finishing laps quicker than you did before. That,to me, is the best motivation.
Holy crap! I'm actually getting better?!
I took it easy on my run today. I'm happy with that decision. Coming off a weekend full of nasty back pain, stepping back to Week 1 intervals felt like a safe, cushiony rest. That being said ... wow! The Week 1 workout was EASY! I barely broke a sweat! I cannot believe it. I even picked up my pace at one point to run briefly up and down a hill/dip. YAY!
Me? Running faster? Eh? Confused.
"Running" wasn't even part of my vocabulary until recently, let alone "faster."
Excuse me while I pat myself on the back (a tough feat for a BBW*). Sigh.
On that note, I would like to take a minute to thank my running buddy for today. This was a new experience to me. You see, my history of running with anyone else stopped when I graduated from high school. Something about spending 13 years being the fat girl in class who can't run with the rest of her classmates, and who was often left on the track as the rest of the kids made their way back to the gymnasium, and then being teased about it later, leaves a deep scar. Bullies suck, y'all!
Anyway, boohoo, it's over and past. Now I read and hear constantly about how running and working out with a buddy is beneficial. And I got to experience just a taste of that when I joined a gym with my co-workers. The accountability is one thing, but the chance to talk about the experience before and after the workout is another added perk. (And, of course, being able to make fun of the crazies in your step class is even better.)
Pardon the tangent. As I was saying, I ran with a buddy today. My buddy seemed to experience some of the same challenges I had two months ago when this whole running nonsense started. To her I say, speaking from recent experience, it gets worse. Ha! Not what you expect to hear, right? What I mean is the first run is the hardest, which might make you feel like stopping, but don't. Finish. Press on. Realize that you're not as bad as you think you are. You and I are already doing more than so, so many people do, and that counts for a lot.
Aside from keeping myself on track and counting on my readers to call me out on any signs of slacking, I hope that this blog can serve as encouragement for people like me. I hear it a lot, but it's true in this case: If I can do it, anyone can!
And with that, I have officially lost my writing mojo for the night. Hmm.
OH! One other thing. I've been thinking about running a 5K and I'd like your feedback on the topic. When should I try one? If I can comfortably do two miles of walk/run, can I manage the third? The thought of unexpected hills and bumpy streets is scary to me. Should I give it a try first? How will I know I'm okay to try the race? Again, your expertise is appreciated.
Well, I'll be running again on Thursday morning (two vacation days to move) so check back to make sure I did it. Okay? Thanks!
Comment, people. What are your experiences with running or just working out with a buddy?
* For those of you unfamiliar with this term, to me, BBW is "big-breasted woman." I will be exploring the challenges of being a BBW and being active at a later date.
Holy crap! I'm actually getting better?!
I took it easy on my run today. I'm happy with that decision. Coming off a weekend full of nasty back pain, stepping back to Week 1 intervals felt like a safe, cushiony rest. That being said ... wow! The Week 1 workout was EASY! I barely broke a sweat! I cannot believe it. I even picked up my pace at one point to run briefly up and down a hill/dip. YAY!
Me? Running faster? Eh? Confused.
"Running" wasn't even part of my vocabulary until recently, let alone "faster."
Excuse me while I pat myself on the back (a tough feat for a BBW*). Sigh.
On that note, I would like to take a minute to thank my running buddy for today. This was a new experience to me. You see, my history of running with anyone else stopped when I graduated from high school. Something about spending 13 years being the fat girl in class who can't run with the rest of her classmates, and who was often left on the track as the rest of the kids made their way back to the gymnasium, and then being teased about it later, leaves a deep scar. Bullies suck, y'all!
Anyway, boohoo, it's over and past. Now I read and hear constantly about how running and working out with a buddy is beneficial. And I got to experience just a taste of that when I joined a gym with my co-workers. The accountability is one thing, but the chance to talk about the experience before and after the workout is another added perk. (And, of course, being able to make fun of the crazies in your step class is even better.)
Pardon the tangent. As I was saying, I ran with a buddy today. My buddy seemed to experience some of the same challenges I had two months ago when this whole running nonsense started. To her I say, speaking from recent experience, it gets worse. Ha! Not what you expect to hear, right? What I mean is the first run is the hardest, which might make you feel like stopping, but don't. Finish. Press on. Realize that you're not as bad as you think you are. You and I are already doing more than so, so many people do, and that counts for a lot.
Aside from keeping myself on track and counting on my readers to call me out on any signs of slacking, I hope that this blog can serve as encouragement for people like me. I hear it a lot, but it's true in this case: If I can do it, anyone can!
And with that, I have officially lost my writing mojo for the night. Hmm.
OH! One other thing. I've been thinking about running a 5K and I'd like your feedback on the topic. When should I try one? If I can comfortably do two miles of walk/run, can I manage the third? The thought of unexpected hills and bumpy streets is scary to me. Should I give it a try first? How will I know I'm okay to try the race? Again, your expertise is appreciated.
Well, I'll be running again on Thursday morning (two vacation days to move) so check back to make sure I did it. Okay? Thanks!
Comment, people. What are your experiences with running or just working out with a buddy?
* For those of you unfamiliar with this term, to me, BBW is "big-breasted woman." I will be exploring the challenges of being a BBW and being active at a later date.
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