though i did not post over the weekend, i did get my exercise in - and i highly doubt that this is a coincidence, but it was the nicest weekend we have had as a family in quite a while! the weather was gorgeous; mid-fifties, blustery, but lots of sun. today, in contrast, is completely overcast and drizzly.
we usually head to town on saturday, visit relatives, walk around the mall, but we decided to do that sunday, instead, and had such a nice, laid-back saturday! when H woke up, J took him out to the living room and let me get a little more time to doze - it was the first time in months that i've done that, and it really relaxed me {and put me in a good mood :) }. saturday afternoon, J & I bundled up H, put him in his stroller, and walked two miles {to Michigan St and back}. there was a man using a leafblower in his yard, and as we strolled by, H put up his little hands to cover his ears. he's such a darling. i went to kroger in the late afternoon to pick up a couple of things, and found tons of Udi's products on clearance! it totally made my day! we stopped by the library, H got to see the finches they keep in the childrens' area, and i decided to rent the first season of "The Big Bang Theory"...and I am so glad I did! after I put H to bed, J & I went into the second bedroom and watched the show on that tv - it was much cozier than in the living room. and, i have to say, that show was a huge hit with us! we managed to watch the entire first season over the weekend, and i'm planning to return it to the library today & hopefully check out part of season 2.
sunday, of course, was the end of daylight savings time, but apparently my 1-year old didn't get the message! I got up early with him, made breakfast, sorted laundry, watched a few episodes of "Shaun the Sheep."
RANT: we still don't have our own washer & dryer, instead relying on the communal ones in the apartment office's laundry room. I am so not a fan of that laundry room - many times, i open the lid to an empty washer and have to fish stray bits of animal fur out of the bin before putting our laundry in. i think most people in this apartment complex do have their own w&d - after all, each apartment has its own utility room & hookups for laundry machines! - and only use the communal washers for dog beds, rugs, and the like. YUCK. as long as we've lived here, we've discussed getting our own {craigslist always has affordable ones for sale}, but have never actually bit the bullet and done it. I think that we should, before winter is here; it's miserable, trudging through snowdrifts & against fierce winds to go to the laundry room! i'm planning to withdraw my funds from my annuity savings account from the job i used to have; with that money, i will purchase a new camera, and hopefully a washer and dryer, as well. i can't imagine how lovely it will be to just be able to walk down our hall and put in a load of clothes - and to be able to do it any time of day, not worry about anyone stealing our clothes, and knowing that it is a clean, animal-hair-free appliance!!
ahem. anyway. sunday morning, about the time H needed his nap, we put him in the stroller and headed out for my C2-5k training. J said he would run with me, which was really nice! He was in sports in high school; i was not, and he was able to give me pointers on how to improve my technique. I had told him a few days ago that I feel i need to read a book about HOW to run, what to do, how to move - silly, perhaps, but I would really like to see directions, especially if they were to come with pictures- I am such a visual learner. We did a 2-mile run/walk down along the river, and it was GORGEOUS. though i would like to have a house of our very own, where we can put paint on the walls & not worry about disturbing the neighbors, i do really love the location of our apartment. it's just across the street from the beginning of a paved walking/running/biking trail that winds down along the river, through the parks, and around down - it is fantastic, and such a perk.
we went back home, showered, and went to town; I tried on about 18 pairs of running shoes, and felt inside dozens of others with my hand, felt they had NO arch support, and dismissed them. i really grew frustrated; i have a pair of New Balance walking shoes that i've used for a couple of years now, and love the way they fit. unfortunately, the running shoes that company makes did not fit my foot well at all; they felt as though they were half a size too small, and the toebox was much narrower than i'm used to. i tried on multiple 10s, all were too small; tried an 11, and it was too big. arg! i tried on shoes by ryka, nike, ascic, saucony, and adidas, to no avail. i left empty-handed, but for a pair of yoga/running tights & super-nice sports bra i scored at TJ Maxx. it was quite disappointing, but when we got to J's grandparent's house to visit, i checked my weight on their bathroom scale, and I was down 2 pounds from last week! SCORE!
i've been contemplating getting a treadmill off craigslist, rather than joining the gym. pros: i could run whenever i want {the gym is closed sundays, open until 7 on fridays, and only 8-noon on saturdays}, getting a treadmill would be cost-equivalent to getting a 3-month membership for john & me, he could use it, too; we have room in the second bedroom, could fold it up and put it in the corner if we have guests; and we even have a tv in that bedroom. it seems like a pretty swell idea, to me!
this morning, J woke up incredibly sore from our run yesterday. he was much more sore than i've been at all on this program! i hope his muscles heal quickly, and that this won't discourage him from running with me again. speaking of which...
H & I went out for our morning walk today, and though i just did my C2-5k training yesterday, i really felt the desire to run. so, i did...and i really shouldn't've had. i had to ice my left what, hamstring? when we got home afterwards, and there's a spot on my left foot that's been bothering me a bit. stupid, stupid, stupid. i knew better than to do that! arg. I guess i'll just mark today as my C2-5k day, and wait a day before trying again. damn.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
11.4.11 : day five
I am so proud of myself today!
I had to get up quite early this morning; instead of waking up at seven or seven-thirty, my little one was wide awake and raring to go at SIX. I was up until nearly midnight last night, tweaking things on the blog, and besides, it's lovely - and rare - to get time to myself, and I didn't waste it by sleeping for goodness' sake!
Usually, my son is ready for a nap between eleven and noon; I put him in his stroller, we go for a long walk, he falls asleep, and I just wheel his stroller into our apartment and down to the end of the hall, by the house fan. Simple! Easy peasy! This morning, however, his schedule was all out of whack due to the early waking time...he got very fussy and clingy just after 8:30am, I held him and cuddled him for a few minutes, and he was out like a light. While he napped for just over two hours (!!!), I hunted around Netflix and found a great yoga workout video! I did half an hour of yoga, and I'm definitely feeling it tonight!
I worried that I might not get my c2-5k training in today, because I hadn't had the opportunity to take Henry on his morning walk. Seriously, I fretted about it! Was I going to fail practically at the beginning of the program?! I knew I could go at night, after my husband got home, but my toddler goes down for the night around 7pm, and I do that. I worried that I wouldn't be able to run, because our evening schedule doesn't really allow room.
But...after I made supper (red curried chicken and vegetables with jasmine rice), I put H in the jogging stroller and headed out! And I am SO GLAD I did. It was a gorgeous evening, and we would've missed it otherwise. Low fifties, gorgeous sunset, air that smelled wonderful, a crescent moon my son kept pointing at, and no wind whatsoever, which was a huge - and very welcome - change from the past few days. We were out for about half an hour, and it was fun. I never thought I would label running as "fun," but I was absolutely elated at how much stamina I've developed just over this week! This will make sense only to me, but I was able to run from the trail head all the way to halfway through the marsh! !!!! And I hit the magic spot - where suddenly, my legs feel energized, smooth, and I feel like I'm flying. It is an absolutely amazing feeling, and I'm craving it again already!
I am so happy that I pushed myself and made myself run today. I can do this - I AM doing this!
I had to get up quite early this morning; instead of waking up at seven or seven-thirty, my little one was wide awake and raring to go at SIX. I was up until nearly midnight last night, tweaking things on the blog, and besides, it's lovely - and rare - to get time to myself, and I didn't waste it by sleeping for goodness' sake!
Usually, my son is ready for a nap between eleven and noon; I put him in his stroller, we go for a long walk, he falls asleep, and I just wheel his stroller into our apartment and down to the end of the hall, by the house fan. Simple! Easy peasy! This morning, however, his schedule was all out of whack due to the early waking time...he got very fussy and clingy just after 8:30am, I held him and cuddled him for a few minutes, and he was out like a light. While he napped for just over two hours (!!!), I hunted around Netflix and found a great yoga workout video! I did half an hour of yoga, and I'm definitely feeling it tonight!
I worried that I might not get my c2-5k training in today, because I hadn't had the opportunity to take Henry on his morning walk. Seriously, I fretted about it! Was I going to fail practically at the beginning of the program?! I knew I could go at night, after my husband got home, but my toddler goes down for the night around 7pm, and I do that. I worried that I wouldn't be able to run, because our evening schedule doesn't really allow room.
But...after I made supper (red curried chicken and vegetables with jasmine rice), I put H in the jogging stroller and headed out! And I am SO GLAD I did. It was a gorgeous evening, and we would've missed it otherwise. Low fifties, gorgeous sunset, air that smelled wonderful, a crescent moon my son kept pointing at, and no wind whatsoever, which was a huge - and very welcome - change from the past few days. We were out for about half an hour, and it was fun. I never thought I would label running as "fun," but I was absolutely elated at how much stamina I've developed just over this week! This will make sense only to me, but I was able to run from the trail head all the way to halfway through the marsh! !!!! And I hit the magic spot - where suddenly, my legs feel energized, smooth, and I feel like I'm flying. It is an absolutely amazing feeling, and I'm craving it again already!
I am so happy that I pushed myself and made myself run today. I can do this - I AM doing this!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
11.3.11 : day four
I began the c2-5k running training program this past Monday, which fell on Halloween. Generally, I would want to begin a new endeavor on the first of the month, but for some reason, I felt the if I waited until Tuesday, I might lose my steam.
Today was utterly a November day; cold, windy, rainy, miserable. My one-year old and I did not get out today except to go to kroger. Today in the schedule was a rest day, in my training schedule, but although I had taken long, brisk walks on my other rest days, I felt emotionally drained all day long, following an early-morning discussion with my husband, and couldn't bear the thought of walking outside with rain pelting my face, and harsh winds making the outdoors feel even colder than they actually were (47, today). Instead, my little man and I stayed indoors, played, watched a few shows on netflix, and I consumed enough food by 4pm to preclude any nighttime meal for myself. Emotinal eating, how I loathe you.
Let me take a moment to be transparent in my efforts: I am not counting calories, thinking that running will be a quick fix, or a quick slim-down, and I really don't have much weight to lose. My focus will be more on building stamina and strength; choosing good, whole foods; and consuming healthy portions.
Today's weather made me realize that, unfortunately, winter will be here far too soon, bringing with it incredibly frigid days, stiff winds that make your bones feel as though they will shatter, and too-short amounts of sunlight. I will need a place to run that will be well-lit, safe, and comfortable. If I run in the morning before my husband leaves for work, it will be dark out; if I wait to run until he gets home, it will be dark out. We live on the outskirts of our small town, and there are not enough streetlights for me to feel comfortable running in the dark. There is a small gym not even a mile from our apartment, and I checked it out tonight; the dues are $100 for three months. At just about a dollar a day, I think this is incredibly reasonable, and will be signing up as soon as the weather gets consistently bad (the next few days are supposed to be quite nice).
I want to
Today was utterly a November day; cold, windy, rainy, miserable. My one-year old and I did not get out today except to go to kroger. Today in the schedule was a rest day, in my training schedule, but although I had taken long, brisk walks on my other rest days, I felt emotionally drained all day long, following an early-morning discussion with my husband, and couldn't bear the thought of walking outside with rain pelting my face, and harsh winds making the outdoors feel even colder than they actually were (47, today). Instead, my little man and I stayed indoors, played, watched a few shows on netflix, and I consumed enough food by 4pm to preclude any nighttime meal for myself. Emotinal eating, how I loathe you.
Let me take a moment to be transparent in my efforts: I am not counting calories, thinking that running will be a quick fix, or a quick slim-down, and I really don't have much weight to lose. My focus will be more on building stamina and strength; choosing good, whole foods; and consuming healthy portions.
Today's weather made me realize that, unfortunately, winter will be here far too soon, bringing with it incredibly frigid days, stiff winds that make your bones feel as though they will shatter, and too-short amounts of sunlight. I will need a place to run that will be well-lit, safe, and comfortable. If I run in the morning before my husband leaves for work, it will be dark out; if I wait to run until he gets home, it will be dark out. We live on the outskirts of our small town, and there are not enough streetlights for me to feel comfortable running in the dark. There is a small gym not even a mile from our apartment, and I checked it out tonight; the dues are $100 for three months. At just about a dollar a day, I think this is incredibly reasonable, and will be signing up as soon as the weather gets consistently bad (the next few days are supposed to be quite nice).
I want to
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