Miles to go before I sleep...

[lilouisianagal]

Intro/History

I've been thinking of keeping a journal of my journey til Jan 2007. Here's a little history of my fitness over the years. I'm a 20 year old college student who is a complete Disney junkie. I've never been the athletic sort. I took dance classes from Kindergarten through Jr. High and then took up horseback riding in 8th grade. I took JROTC in high school to get out of taking PE (among other reasons). I've always been on the short side and heavy for my height. In high school I weighed 130lbs and up to 145 lbs by senior year. Growing up I could walk and do stuff all day but not anything really high energy. I tried running a bit but then got lazy and tried to starve the weight off (what can I say?? I'm a really bad anorexic because I never even got into the "healthy bmi" for my height). I also tried SugarBusters back in those days to no avail. Enter college. I gained perhaps 8lbs freshman year curtesy off the meal plan. I worked out some during the spring at our oncampus gym. Summer after freshman year I got to go to Orlando on summer missions. Awesome summer. Horrible for my weight/fitness. I would walk/jog a couple of miles each night, but I also ate Waaaay too much. I ended up somewhere around 165lbs by the end of the summer. I started doing an Atkins-like diet to try and get the weight off. Then I tried diet pills. I did get back down to the low 150's. Spring rolls around and I start working out at the gym. Obsessively. I decided to eat only fruit. When I was eating normally I would use laxitives (they have chocolate laxitives which is neurotic in itself) to try to keep the weight off. I got down to 140lbs. Summer I go to work at a camp as a Wrangler. Since I wasn't being neurotic I put the weight back on. Probably just below 150lbs. A couple of hurricanes hit. Over the fall my weight inched back up to around 155lbs. (I would do limited calories sometimes but life was nuts during the fall) My college ministry decided to do the homecoming events for the first time ever. The first event was a 5K. I did it, enjoyed it, worked hard, got a time of 40:21. We ended up being the first non-Greek organization to ever win homecoming events. I really learned a lot about myself that week. Over the summer my parents had told me that we were going back to WDW over Christmas break. I was excited, of course! Originally, we were going to go in the week after finals but before Christmas. Because of the hurricanes the university pushed our finals back a week so we had to change our plans until after Christmas. I had been wandering around the DIS and MousePlanet and had been reading about the Marathon and Half. Somewhere around one week away from our trip I realized that we would be at Disney during the Marathon weekend and that the 5K wasn't full. I talked to my parents about doing the 5K. They looked at me like I was nuts and said sure if thats what I wanted to do then go right on ahead. So I got perhaps three good walk/jogs in before we left on our trip. Oh special bonus, I had decided around Thanksgiving to go on South Beach Diet, so I was limiting my carbs (and losing no weight may I add). I walk/jogged the Fun Run in 40:01. I was hooked. I looked at all those nutsy people doing the Marathon and Half and said "I wanna do that". At that point I was thinking, "Okay maybe next year I will do the Half, then the following year the Full, and the following year the Goofy." I had some running shoes that I had gotten the spring before, so I knew that I needed to get new shoes before I started training. I got new shoes and went on a walk/jog Jan 22, 2006. Actually, the first pair were horrible, gave me blister, so I returned them and got a pair that were like the ones I already had.

 

[lilouisianagal]

Sun: So I did a trial walk/jog around the 5K course that the Homecoming race had been run on. This was a very limited-jogging experience.
Mon: This is my busy day with classes so I took it off (and got the other pair of shoes that fit better). This was also part of me saying "I will not become a fitness Nazi and burnout". I have a tendancy to be really gung ho the first month but do too much. So this time I am being very careful not to do too much too soon.
Tues: I tried out the new pair of shoes with a walk/jog around the "small lake". Its a 4 mile course, which looking back is a good little distance. I came back and took off my shoes to find that the blister had ripped and was bleeding, though it was more just because I was wearing shoes (I'm usually a flip-flop sorta person) than the shoes that I was wearing. Again the jog that I did lasted perhaps 2 min tops. Walking I can do all day, jogging kills me.
Wed: Again a busy day with classes and I was being good so I took this day off.
Thur: A repeat of Tuesday. I jogged a little bit longer.
Fri: I only have one early class on Fridays so I decided to go on a long walk around the big loop (6.5 miles) twice (so 13 miles total). We were having a day of fasting which looking back was not a good mix with going a really long distance. My theory on going the long distance was that it was approximately the same distance as the half marathon and I wanted to see if A. I could do it and B. how long it took me so I had a baseline to work with (really I wanted to see if I was within the cutoff time). I dont think you have ever seen someone stop and stretch so many times during a work out. I also discovered a new water fountain along the way. The first 9 miles or so actually went rather well. By the last 2 miles I was getting really sore and stiff and tired. I finished in about 4 hours, which looking back wasnt too bad. I went back and took a nice hot bath that night which I have since read isnt a good idea though it didnt bother me.
Sat: I took this day as an off day. Definitely sore legged and sore footed. I think I went out to the barn and just piddled around a bit.

 

[lilouisianagal]

Sun: I got out on the same 5K course. My feet felt well rested but my legs were still sore from walking. Oddly, this made it easier to jog the first mile of the course.
Mon:I was a good girl and took a rest day again!
Tues:I did the small lake again (4mi). Jogged a little bit further, walked a bit, ran a few intervals. At this point, I didn't realize how much I was overstriding (which is probably why I ended up with shin pain before).
Wed:Rest.
Thurs:My friend was trying to get a team together from our ministry group to walk/run in a Race for the Cure 5K on March 11. This sounded like a good time a way to prepare for it, so I signed up as a short term goal. Walked and jogged the 4mile lake. I also tried skipping some for variety. I should never try to skip.
Fri:My friend asked me to go on a walk with her around the lake. She doesnt like to walk a whole lot so I planned out walking 10 miles and then meeting up with her to walk the last 4 miles. Amazingly I walked the 10 miles in 2.5 hours which is right on a 15 mpm pace (DISNEY PACE!!!). Then I had a nice 15min break before our rather lesure walk (for me anyway) around the lake.
Sat: I decided to start doing 3 sets of 10 reps of sit ups and push ups on my off days to give me something to do. But I agreed with myself that if I started heading toward a burnout that that would be the first thing to go.

 

[lilouisianagal]

Sun:Had a nice jog/walk for 5K.
Mon: Decided to bump up the number of sets so that I was doing 50 of push ups and sit ups. Yes, I'm a type A overacheiver. It can be a strength occasionally, but I'm learning that usually its just a pain in the bum.
Tues:I didnt feel like putting in as much energy as it took to jog as far as I felt I "needed to" to go around the 4 mile lake, so instead I jogged a very little bit and then walked around the 6.5 mile trail. Looking at this written down, I feel like a neurotic freak...somehow it did seem logical at the time though. I wonder if I will be saying that during the Goofy??
Wed: 50/50 again
Thur: A lovely 4mile jog/walk around the lake.
Fri:It was misting lightly as I started on my "trek". I actually added a bit of jogging into the day and finished in a time of 3:25 min. I also ended up with some nice blisters since my feet were all wet. At this point, I decided that I was going to start counting calories and limit myself at 1500 per day. This is very generous compared to the limits I have taken in the past. Since setting it I have found that this is the best number, if I go lower I tend to get hungry and end up crashing with a binge. Since I managed to go the Half Marathon distance within the time I started contemplating that maybe, just maybe, I should bump up to the Marathon distance. In explaination: I have to find the perfect balance for my goals. If I shoot too high, then I will burnout getting there, if I shoot too low, then I will get bored and just give up. So for me, since I can already finish the Half marathon in the spring, I know it wont be a challenge in the fall.
Sat:50/50

 

[lilouisianagal]

Sun: Jog/walked 5K. Last Sunday I jogged, then walked, then jogged to the end. This time I stretched out my jogs a little bit longer.
Mon:I bought a stability ball at WalM for something to sit on while at the desk. Instead of doing the 50/50 I did the poster workout for the stability ball. Yes, that translates to "50/50 is burnout for me". Most of the exercises I could do, except there is one where you kneel and have the ball behind you and hold it up for 10 seconds. That's one I will need to work on.
Tues:Walked/jogged the 6mile trail at a nice easy pace.
Wed:Had a honest to goodness rest day! See I can rest!
Thur: Jogged the 4 mile lake with only a few short walk breaks. Keep in mind that this jog is very very very slow (I can actually walk faster).
Fri: Walked and slow jogged the 13mile trek in 3:05. Yup yup.
Sat: Added back 20 push ups to the rest day.

 

[lilouisianagal]

Sun:Jogged (at an insanely slow pace) the 5K in 38min. But I did it. No breaks.
Mon:30/30
Tues:6mile walk/jog
Wed:30/30
Thur:Jogged the 4mile lake. No breaks. I started really really slow but I actually worked up to a really nice jog at the end.
Fri:Walked/jogged the 13 mile trek. Oddly, I thought that I was 20 minutes longer than the week before, but when I got back to record it, I was dead on the same at 3:05. The past couple of weeks I would eat good for a day and then pig for a couple. So I commited to the 100 day challenge. I would eat 1000 to 1500 calories Monday through Saturday and 1000 to 2200 on Sunday. Sunday is when we have a free homecooked meal after worship at our college ministry so I wanted to allow more (though still within reason) on that day.
Sat:30/30

 

[lilouisianagal]

Sun:Had a nice slow jog on the 5K course. Time of 30 min. My throat started getting a little sore today.
Mon:30/30 Went on a 3 hour trail ride (horseback). In the evenings and in the mornings my throat is super sore.
Tues:Insanely slow jog for 6 miles. I JOGGED 6 MILES!!!!!
Wed:30/30
Thur:Jogged 4 miles in 55 minutes. Told you my jog was slow. Cold moved from my throat to my nose. Still have a mild cough.
Fri:All this jogging is taking its toll along with my cold. The 13 mile trek took 3:23.
Sat:30/30

 

[AmyBeth68]

Hey Claire!!!! Nice to see you posting in a journal!!!! You are doing so great girl!

I'm on this journey with you!

 

[Cruise04]

WELCOME

It looks like you have down what you need to do to get exercise. How are you doing on counting the calories? I'm hoping too that you are getting lots of water, which I'm sure you will and that will help with the combination of stuff you are doing. You are doing great!!!! Keep up the good work.

Keep on and
Chris

 

[lilouisianagal]

Sun:This is the final week before the 5K and I am still fighting off my cold, so I purposely told myself to jog slow for my training this week. I jogged the practice in 35min. Also this starts a very bad eating week. I stayed within my calorie limit, but there was salad and cookie galore (for free) at my college ministry building (left over from a youth rally). So I literally ate cookies and salad all week. Also I was too lazy to go to the grocery. During week 6, I had cooked a lasagna (first time ever!) and ate that all week. But that was during Mardi Gras holiday so I actually had time. This week I didn't have time, I was running out of food, and there was free food to be had (and I love cookies and salads).
Mon:30/30
Tues: 6mile walk/jog
Wed: 30/30
Thur: 4 mile walk/jog
Fri: 13 mile walk. I wish I could say that I purposely was tapering down for the 5K, but in truth I think my energy was zapped because of what I had been eating all week. I felt as sore and lethargic during workouts as I did during week 1. I did realize all of this during my nearly 4 hour walk (I was trying to take it easy, but it didn't take much effort). I just love these great chunks of time when I get to think and self reflect (only mild sarcasm there b/c I really do enjoy it). So I realized that I needed to be fueling my body rather than eating what tastes good. I figured out a good eating plan that was about 1500 calories that is based on the food pyramid. I realized that I need to be disiplined in what I eat not controlling. I need to treat eating the way that I have been treating my workouts (of course I will workout today, how hard or easy may be modified though) and that I need to look at what I'm eating at each meal and make good choices rather than just trying to eat as much as I can within 1500 cals. It might not be mind blowing, but it was a bit of a revelation for me. I knew it and I could sprout off how you "should" eat, but I didn't really understand it or have it as part of me.
Sat: (pulled from Runners/Walkers Club thread) Sooo instead of a rest day today I got to do my 5K. I ended up finishing in 35:40, which is slower than I wanted (and than I have running in training before) but still within my goal. The course started out going uphill rather steeply before turning and heading toward the capitol building. It had that odd forced perspective look that the castle had, so naturally that got me thinking about WDW . Then the course turned and when downhill steeply. My thought here was, "oh crud that means that there is an uphill further on" I ran the first mile in just a tick over 10 min which was dead on what I had planned. It was nasty hot and humid so I walked the water station (I still ended up with more water on me than in me, but I was rather happy about that hehe). The second mile was rather flat but it was in the sun and all of a sudden there was NO breeze. It was nastiness. Then the course took an extra little turn toward the river that I was SOO not expecting. Mentally this kicked my bum. I ended up walking for approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of the second mile. I had just gotten up the energy to jog down the train hill (I had just walked up it) and had a nice little pace going when I got to the next water station. Now I'm a college student, and as such it is instinctual for me to accept anything that is free, so of course I just had to walk and splash down some more water. This was at the 2 mile mark and I reached it at 23 minutes. A bit slower than I would have liked (and I could have done without that walk), but okay. Then the course goes back uphill (told you so ). I found a nice jog pace just after the water station so it was all good. By this point we had finally sorted out into pretty steady groups. There was one guy who was dead on the same pace as me. We went around the bend and started up a series of "gentle" hills. So we had a nice conversation about the hills and the breezes. It was really nice to have someone to talk to. The course takes the final turn and starts down a nice shady Downhill road. There was a cop at the turn cheering us on and telling us it was the last turn. I swear I could have hugged him! I kicked up the pace a little here and started running with two other people. We had a nice little rejoicing over the downhill. There was one final lovely DOWN hill to the finish. I love whoever thought that out. I ran down that hill and into the chutes. I know I finished top 1000. They handed us "ice water" (a bottle of room temp water). There were tents with a little free food (Sun Chips, Yogurt, Cereal). Man, I miss the Mouse's treatment. I decided to grab a bottle of water and catch my friends who were still walking the 5K. Overall it kicked my bum. The heat, humidity, and hills were not good. But I was talking to my friend who had planned to run it in 19min (and he certainly can and has run 5K in that time) and he also found it a tough course (he ended up with something over 20min, 22 or 23?). And I finally picked up a copy of Marathoning for Morals! I can't wait to soak in a nice hot bath and read up.

As far as food goes I had an omlett for breakfast (normal) and then had a banana in the mid morning after the race. I had a nice salad (with spinach!) and a lasagna and reduced fat fudgsicle for lunch. In the afternoon I had a nice snack of an apple and triscuits. For supper I had another salad, red beans, and a veggie dog. Pat on the back for good eating habits.

And by this point (dont ask me exactly when I'm too lazy to go find the post), I decided to do Goofy. Actually, I decided a few weeks ago, but during the race was the first time I voiced that to anyone outside of the virtual realm. I think it will be a good challenge that will keep me on course fitness-wise during the summer and fall.

And just a random other point: I had decided when I started all of this that I would not check my weight until I went home or went to my grandparents house. This way I will not be obsessing over my weight and will be able to focus on training. The first time I will check it will be at the end of week 8. I would like to lose about 50 pounds over the course of getting ready for the race. This should be realistic since its about 1 lb per week, though realistically it will be about 1.5 lbs while I am training to train and then 1/2 lb during the fall. This is not my main objective during training, but I think by carrying less weight it will be easier to run and to train.

 

[Cruise04]

You answered my questions and must have been typing when I was typing. Good job on the run and sorry that it was a tough one. You are doing great and your food choices sound good!!!!! Keep up the good work!

Keep on and
Chris

 

[lilouisianagal]

Sun: Took a very leisurely 4 mile walk. Yes, I probably could have taken the day completely off, but mentally that would be torture when I came back. I've found I'm better to get out and go through the motions than to skip. I kept having to slow myself down because I like to walk fast fast fast. As far as food goes I got up early and had some wheat thins so that I won't be exercising on an empty stomach. This was something in the MfM book. I hadn't really thought about the fact that I was exercising every morning with no carbs to get me going. So I got up ate a tiny bit, slept for a nice 20 min nap, then got up and walked. I think this will work, plus it will get my stomach used to eating before exercising which is good. Followed the same menu-type as yesterday except for supper. We had a communion supper for Encounter (campus ministry worship). Had green beans, bread, and shredded potato thing (ick). For dessert they had brownies, homemade ice cream, and lemon squares. In the future, I will ask for a half brownie and half lemon square b/c one of each was definitely too much. They gave us take home plates of the desserts. I made a decision to give mine to the people who work at the dorm front desk so that it would not be sitting in my room calling my name--good decision!

Mon:Got in the pool for the first time since last summer. I didnt feel like getting my hair wet and dealing with that, so I just piddled around with the kickboard for about 15 min. During our class break, I went up and down the stairs for a little while, because A. I was bored and B. I was cold. My legs were definitely sore tues from it though. I did the exercises with the stability ball while I watched the Disney Vacation Club DVD. Food was normal.

Tues: I decided to try out one of the MfM training plans. Since I already do the half marathon in plenty of time I flipped through the marathon ones. I think I'd be bored with the walking one, and the walk/run wouldn't be a challenge. Sooo I picked the run/walk, since there's no way I can do the run marathon plan right now. I looked through it, and I actually picked to start in week 9 (this will change). So I went on the 4 mile trail and jogged/walked at a 3:1 interval for 44 min then walked the last bit home. At the begining I was like...I don't need to walk (but I did anyway), but by the end I was glad for those walk breaks. I think I'm gonna like the interval training plan. Went to a luncheon to hear a speaker (a lady who spend two months with Mother Theresa--neat!). They served salad, rolls, lasagna, steamed green beans with almonds, and pecan cake for dessert. Yum! I skipped dessert at supper though, since the cake was rather rich.

Wed: Went swimming for about 15 min. I actually go all the way wet this time. I really don't like getting water near my nose or eyes, and they took away the scuba mask that used to be there, so I may have to go buy one (yes, I'm weird). Again, I climbed stairs (though not as long) during class break. My friend threw out her back so I went and fed the horses for her and did the barn chores, which is a workout in itself! Food was normal.

Thur: Happy Birthday to ME!!! Went on the 4 mi loop again. It took 54 min total. 40 of that was 3:1 jog/walk training and the rest was walking. I signed up for the Cresent City Classic (10K) that is the day before Easter (April 15). It will be a nice short term goal, and I have grown up hearing about it (I always thought it was a marathon though!) so I am psyched to get to run in it. I plan on treating it as a training run though. In the afternoon I went and helped at our charity center in town, helping to sort through stuff still backlogged from the hurricanes (there were a LOT of donations). Got a nice workout from that! Went to Olive Garden for supper yum yum yum. Salad: mmmm. Breadsticks: only had one and I enjoyed every minute of it! Baked Ziti: delicious, ate perhaps a third of it (if that), mostly ate the cheese off the top hehe. Dessert: got the choc lasagna to go. Ate a few bites later. Had some chocolates at a girls' get together. Probably shouldn't have but oh well its my birthday and I wanna splurge.

Fri: My teacher brought in cupcakes for St. P's day so I had my sugar fix. I remember why I like eating healthy. After I ate it I felt bleh. I looked at the Training schedule and realized it would be wiser to start further back in the schedule so I looked back and saw that what I had done so far matched week 7 also. I'm having to do the workouts slightly out of order so that the Thurday workout listed ends up being my Sunday workout. I had intended to have this week be a light week post-5K. Week 7 actually has the long run being only 6 miles so that worked out very well. I actually went 6.5 miles in 1:22. I put in 1:10 as my time for CCC so looks like that is do-able. I had some of my leftovers from OG for lunch (though I still have more). My parents came into town to celebrate my birthday at my grandparents' house. Had a nice salad, green bean casserole, and lasagna (I love Italian food!). Mom baked a choc cake and my aunt brought a strawberry pie for dessert. I have to say I was very proud of my portion control! I finally got to weigh myself. My rule was that I would not weigh myself unless I went home or to my grandparents house so I haven't weighed myself since I came up to school. I know I weighed right at about 155lbs then. I weighed in at 145!!!!!!!!! even with all of my oopsies.
I got a Garmin 201 for my B-day! It wasnt a complete surprise but I'm still super excited. After reading MfM I was thinking that it would be quite nice if they surprised me with a 301 since it has a heart rate monitor on it (I asked for a 201 or 301). Actually, I think I'm better off not obsessing over my heart rate and just guesstimating (kinda like being disciplined in food rather than counting every calorie). Any I finally got to seriously talk with my mom about the WDW marathon. I said either I'm going to use what I make this summer to pay for it or they can do it as a Christmas gift, but this is a very imporant goal for me so I am going to do it. She was very supportive, and I think I know what my Christmas gift will be (though obviously I will know what it is long before Christmas hehe).
Sat:Rather lazy sort of day. Ended up getting a little stir crazy so I rode my bike around the 4 mi loop. I think I have found my new favorite cross training activity!!! And I ended up having girl scout cookies in the evening. Two samoas, three thin mints. Sooo not fair because my friend had the rest of both packs-- and he is a stick!

 

[goldcupmom]

Just catching up on journals. You've come a long way, Claire!

You're doing really awesome!

Hope you're having a good week!