CP25K--TroyBradford Has a Mean Streak

My "friend" over at troybradfordphotos commented that I have pictures for every blog except this thread of CP25K. He challenged me to post one, so here you go Troy!

(photo courtesy of mrpotatohead.net)

When I started this Couch (Potato) to 5K thing with Elizabeth, I had no intention of blogging about it in such detail. I'm sure as time goes by, either 1) I will become accustomed to exercise and decide it's really not such an accomplishment to exert oneself for 30 minutes 3 times a week; or 2) I will wimp out and quit the program. Then I'll stop boring you with such trivial details. Right now though, everything is a milestone!

Elizabeth is off "frolicking" on the beach, so Nancy and I ran last night. I'm sure she slowed her pace considerably, but I also had a much better workout than when last I whined. I must say though, I'm already beginning to dread next week when we jog for 90 second intervals instead of 60. We still have one more workout in Week 1. I hope it's a good one.

CP25K--The Weakest Link

What's that saying about a chain being only as strong as its weakest link?

Didn't have a good run last night.

Calves were killing me.

Balance was off.

Couldn't keep up with the group...which has grown to include myself, Elizabeth, Nancy, HannahKate and Hallie (on her scooter).

Had to walk some of the jogging rotations.

We're supposed to take today off, but I may try to walk anyway. We'll see.

This is normal, right?

CP25K--Week 1

We finished week one of the Couch to 5K training! Actually, a "week" is only 3 days, which I think is an excellent idea for not only exercise, but work in general. (Who wouldn't love a 3 day week with a four day weekend?) But I digress...

Anyway, the program is designed to last 9 weeks, running 3 times each week. While I'm pleased that I managed to complete the first week, I've been "on the couch" for a reaaaallllly long time, so Elizabeth has agreed to repeat Week 1.

Here is what I've noticed in the first week.

1. I'm drinking/craving more water throughout the day.

2. I find myself looking forward to running each night.

3. The workout is over before I know it and I feel like I've accomplished something.

Our friend Nancy joined us last night and asked, "Is there a particular 5K you're training for?" Pshh! Only if there's one that's run late at night under the cover of darkness...I've had a great first week, but let's not get crazy.

Anyways, thanks so much for the words of encouragement. From my neighbors theMil10s who could look out their window around 10:00 p.m. and get quite a giggle to my uber-healthy, granola-snacking, running-maniac friend Jamie--its nice to know there are people pulling for me at the finish line. =)

Couch (Potato) to 5K

So Elizabeth and I have started a "Couch to 5K" program. This is a plan designed to get non-athletic types such as myself, out the door and running. If you know anything at all about me, you've probably already figured out that this was Elizabeth's idea...not mine. I've always considered running something one does only when being chased by a viscous animal.

This week's workout involves a brisk 5 minute walk, then alternating 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for the next 20 minutes, then cooling down with 5 more minutes of slower walking.

We began yesterday, and right out of the blocks I knew I was in trouble. Elizabeth is "vertically challenged" just like me, however, she can walk faster than a person with legs twice as long. I was already puffing by the time we neared the end of our 5 minute warm-up walk. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by how "easily" (relatively speaking) I made it through the first 60 minute jog. But lest I become overconfident, the second jogging segment was more challenging, and by the third time I was pretty sure that Elizabeth had misread the the stopwatch forcing us to run at least twice as long as we were supposed to ... After that, I think I stopped "jogging" and instead I just leaned forward and walked faster. Probably not the best form, but ya' gotta start somewhere, right?

So, I will try to keep you posted on my progress over the next few weeks. Hopefully there will be lots to report.

Weekly Pic--You Can Call Me Sandy

HannahKate took great pleasure, perhaps a bit toooooo much pleasure, in burying her sister in the beautiful white sands of Gulf Shores.

Weekly Pic--Sunset Palms

Sunset at the Beach Club

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Ignorance is Bliss

Driving through Louisiana, one sees lots of strange things...like this sign. It made me wonder what exactly is a Baptist Pumpkin Center? How does a pumpkin become Baptist? Are there Methodist and Presbyterian pumpkins also? Do they celebrate Halloween at the Center?

However, when I googled Baptist Pumpkin Center to find out more about this religious movement among gourds, I learned that "Baptist' and "Pumpkin Center" are merely two separate towns in Louisiana (which is not nearly as interesting as the prospect of protestant pumpkins). Sometimes knowing too much takes all the fun out of things. *sigh*