lola's adventure:from couch to 1/2 marathon!!!

[momof2minnies]

WOW Lola good job for pushing through your workout!

Congrats- on almost being at your goal

Linda

 

[lolakat]

It's official! I'm a C25K graduate!!


Did 3.1 miles last night mostly at 4.4 mph with a little bit of 5.0-5.5 in the last half mile. It's feels really great to finish it. When I started I really coudn't imagine running 3 miles... or even really 1 mile. Just tack on another 10 miles and I'm for the Disney half. My plan is to start with the end of week 1 of the Hal Higdon Novice schedule tomorrow and do 4 miles of run/walk.

W9D2: 3.1miles in 41.52: 13.39 min/mile

Food yesterday:
B: Apple
S: SF/FF Cappacino
L: LC Sweedish Meatballs
S: SF/FF Cappacino, 100 calorie bag of pretzels
D: None.. (I got home to darn late and just went to bed after I ran)

 

[toystoryduo]

Congratulations on graduating, Lola!!!! I am so proud of you for finishing C25K! Congrats on approaching the 40 pounds lost mark as well!!! You are an inspiration!

 

[VernRDH]

YAY Lola

You know that a half is just a 5k with a 10 mile warmup right? (say that on a shirt somewhere). You will do just fine. The Higdon plan is a good one, it will suit you well. And if you find it doesn't, there are plenty of others to try.

Keep up the good work-proud of you girl!

 

[eyor44]

Hey Lola
You are doing awesome girl! Congrats on the weight loss and finishing the C25K. You have had a lot going on lately. Sorry work has been such a pain. Feel for you there. You will do fine at the 1/2, you are right on track.

 

[momof2minnies]

See you at the half!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! You rock!

Linda

 

[lolakat]

Thank you ladies. Your encouragement means a lot to me!!!

No run yesterday. Planning for 4 miles tonight. I think I'm going to try a 3:1 run/walk interval and see how that goes. Will try to run a little faster during the intervals than I've been doing the 3 mile runs. We'll see, I guess it will be a trial and error thing. Would like to keep my overall pace no more than 14 min/mile. I'm thinking I may start with 4.7 mph for the "run" and 3.5 mph for the walk with the goal of moving toward 5.0mph for the "run" before it's time for the half.

Food yesterday.
B: Apple
L: LC butternust squash ravioli
S: FF/SF Capaccino
D: hummus and pepper strips (another late night at work and too beat to cook)
S: Skinney cow ice cream sandwich

 

[eyor44]

Lola, I think you will reach your 5.0mph just fine. It's a process and you are figuring it out.

How was the butternut squash raviloi?

 

[lolakat]

Lisa, the Lean Cuisine butternut squash ravioli is pretty good. It is deffinetly on my top 10 LC meal list. It has a lot of veggies in it and I dont' really love all the snap peas that tend to get soggy in the microwave. Otherwise it's a good one as far as frozen food goes.


I did my 4 miles last night with a 3:1 run/walk ratio. I ran anywhere from 4.5-5.5 mph and walked at 3.5. I managed to finish in just under 54 minutes which kept pretty much the same pace as my 3 mile runs without walk breaks last week. I deffinetly still felt winded particuarly on the faster runs and as I neared the end. However, I think psychologically the walk breaks make it easier by breaking down the 4 miles into managemable segments. It didnt' feel like the easy-does-it long runs I've read about but hopefully it will feel easier as time goes on.

4miles in 53:56min: 13.5 min/mile

Food Yesterday:
B: Grapes
L: LC Chicken Carbonara
S: SF/FF cappacino
D: Grilled chicken sandwich on kaiser roll with sautaeed onions and honey mustard dressing
S: SC ice cream sandwich

After looking through all my options for the 1/2 marathon training plans I'm rethinking my options and I may do the Marathon for Mortals Run/Walk plan instead of the Hal Higgdon Novice plan. They really are pretty similar but the MfM plan does the midweek training by time and only the long run by milage where as the HH plan does the whole thing by mileage. I think it will be easier for me to fit in the midweek trianing if I know about how long it will take. Plus the MfM dials back the milage right before the race which I've heard is a good thing where as HH just takes you to a 10 mile long run the weekend before the race. I think either will really serve the purpose for me.

 

[lolakat]

Rested last night. After thinking about it I've decided to start with the Marathon for Mortals (MfM) Run/Walk plan. I'll begin with week 3 since the end of C25k looks a lot like week 1 and 2. Tonight I will do a 40 minute run. The plan calls for a 3:2 run/walk ration. I was able to do the 3:1 last run but I think I'll try the 3:2 and aim to do all my running at 5 mph. It will sort of like be like doing speed intervals if you call 5 mph "speed."

Food Yesterday:
B: Banana
S: 180 calories of grahm crackers
L: LC butternut squash
S: Strawberries
D: pork chop, grilled asparagus and baked apple
S: SC ice cream sandwich

Tonight is my WW weekly weigh in if I can get there in time after work.

 

[lolakat]

Ran for 40 minutes last night for W3D1 of the MfM program. Did 3:2 Run:Walk ratio. I walked at 3.6 mph. I tried to really push myself during the runs. I did 1 minute at 5.2 mph, 1 min at 5.4, 30 sec at 5.6 then ran at 6 mph for the last 60 sec. That probably doesn't sound very fast to most people but to me it felt like I would just about die. Anyway, I felt like I worked hard and that's a good thing! I made my fastest min/mile pace ever even though I was walking a good part of the time. Psychologically I really like the intervals b/c I feel like I can push a lot harder knowing that I have a walk break to look forward to.

W3D1: 3.07miles in 40 min: 13:03min/mile

Food Yesterday:
B: Apple
S: 3 graham crackers
L: LC sweedish meetballs
D: caeser salad with shrimp
S: SC ice cream sandwich

WW weigh in was last night. I lost 2.2 lbs

Current weight: 202.8
Starting weight: 244 (WW starting 230)
Net loss: 41.2 (WW net loss 27.8)

 

[eyor44]

Awesome! You are doing just awesome! Great work on the treadmill and congrats on the time and weight.

 

[lolakat]

Thanks Lisa. I feel like I'm really making some progress now.

Last night was supposed to be 30 minutes of cross training. For now I walked some hills on the tredmill. Ended up doing about 2 miles at the 7/10 incline. I need to get some other cross training options set up while being trapped in my house like my Wii or an exercise video or something. I think I will be board to tears of the treadmill otherwise.

I'm trying to deceide between doing a 40min run or a rest night tonight. usually I would have a rest night but I am one night behind this week b/c I did my long run on the wrong night. I think I will try to do the 40 min run if I can manage it so I will be back on schedule.

Food Yesterday:
B: Banana
S: SF/CF capaccino
L: hummus and pepper strips
D: chicken and roasted acorn squash with pine nuts
S: SC ice cream sandwich.

 

[momof2minnies]

Lola you continue to do so well.The weight is just melting off you- great job

Linda

 

[lolakat]

Thanks Linda

I did the 40 minute run last night with 3:2 run/walk intervals. I walked at 3.7 mph and ramped up the run from 5.2-6mph. I jogged the last 2 min walk interval at 4.3 mph b/c I wanted to beat my best pace from last time.

3.18 miles in 40 minutes: 12.58 min/mile.... I broke 13 min/mile for the first time

Tonight is supposed to be 30 minutes of cross training. I guess it will be walking hills again. I really have to get the Wii set up!

Food Yesterday:
B: Apple
S: Graham crackers
L: hummus and peppers
S: SF/FF Cappino
D: Ham steak and broccolli
S: SC Skinney cow ice cream sandwich

I trying to find time to completely turn over my closet. I've packed up most of my size 18W clothes already and I'm ready to get rid of all the 18 misses too. I'm a good size 16 now which is great b/c I can shop in regular stores again. I'm a little bummed b/c I got rid of so much great size 12 and 14 clothes right before I moved. I figured I hadn't been in them in 5 years and would never get there again. Now it looks like I may have a lot of shopping in my future if I can stay on track.... it's a good and bad thing I guess.

 

[toystoryduo]

Congrats on breaking the 13 minute mile and on the smaller clothes as well!!! Lots to celebrate!!!

Hope you have a nice weekend!

 

[eyor44]

on being under 13 minutes! That is really awesome. You are really sticking with it and doing great. Keep up the good work. Definitly take the time to get the WII set up. I love using it for cross training.

 

[lolakat]

Thanks guys! It feels good to be moving a little bit faster.

I did a little over 30 minutes of walking hills last night on the tredmill. I did about 2 miles at a 3.7 mph pace and varied the hills between the 5-10 setting. Tonight is my 4 mile long run. I wish I didn't have to work so I could run outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Oh well, I'm getting pretty used to staring at the wall in front of my tredmill.

Food yesterday:
B: apple
S: SF/FF Cappacino
L: LC Chicken carbonara
S: 3 graham crackers
D: pecan crusted chicken and asparagus

 

[momof2minnies]

Lola,
Don't worry too much about tossing the clothes just tell yourself the styles have changed anyway and it is time for new ones.A great reward too for all the hard work.

Linda

 

[lolakat]

That's true Linda. I do love to shop!!

I ran 4 miles last night in 3:2 run walk intervals. Not too shabby. I walked at 3.7 mph and ran mostly at 5.0-5.3 mph. I deffinetly felt like I was working by the end of each interval but not quite as intense as my mid week runs. Tonight is a rest night and I feel like I need it because my right leg is a little sore.

Week 3: 4 miles in 52.04min: 13.01 min/mile pace.

Food yesterday:
B: Pear
S: Graham crackers
L: LC BBQ chicken pizza
S: SF/FF Cappacino
D: Tilapia and brocolli
S: SC ice cream sandwich