Weekly Update #1

Okay, so Week 1 is officially finished and it went well. It was not easy to get going but I did everything on the plan. I walked 3 days (2 miles each time was on the plan). Seems I walk about a 17 minute mile which is very slow.  I may add some running in over the next few weeks. Straight walking seems to be harder on my calves than running is.

I went to Yoga 3 times. I went to a few different classes as I try to figure out what makes sense for me. Ideally, since I also want to lose weight, getting cardio in during a yoga class makes sense but there are very few that are easy enough for me to actually participate in but hard enough to give me a workout.  I am lucky to have a few great yogo studios nearby and each offers something a bit different. I am spending these first few weeks figuring out what the difference classes do and which I like for which reasons.

I definitely feel better at the end of this week than I did at the beginning.  I loved the feel of a good workout in a more difficult (for me) yoga class today.  And I've been sleeping a bit better which is always good!

Starting From Scratch...Again

At the Nerdrun, I found lots of my #runteacherrun friends.  We were happy to see each other and took a few photos together. The picture above MIGHT be when I walked back to Mary Lee and others and explained who that group was. Mary Lee, honest as always, chuckled as she knows that I actually don't run. The look says, "Really? You just took a picture with your Run Teacher Run friends?  Do they know you don't run?"  It is rather amusing (pathetic, but amusing) that I have this blog with Sherry, I facilitate the #runteacherrun Facebook page, and I wear my #runteacherrun shirt often and I haven't actually run for a while...

It's been 2 years since I ran 2 5Ks.  I started a 16 week program with an online coach in January of 2012 and that May and July I ran 2 5Ks. I was very slow but I worked hard to get to the point that I could run 3 miles without stopping.    Then stuff happened that got me off track.  I've started up a few times but never got back to actually running.

I turned 50 this year and I am in the worst shape I've ever been in.  I have not made exercise a priority--going back to the classroom 2 years ago and changing grade levels took more time than I realized and I found myself working far more than I should have been. Very little work/life balance these last 2 years.

So, I am starting from scratch and thought I'd use this blog to track my progress over the next ten weeks.  I learned a lot that first round of becoming a runner in 2012 and I think I am going into this smarter.  Here is the plan:

#1--I am going to work hard to limit my work.  I tend to stretch out writing and planning so it takes all day instead of a few hours. So I am going to try to set aside a certain amount of hours on the weekend and only work during those hours (work includes schoolwork, blog posts, reading books for review committees, writing articles, etc.). Some weekends might require more work than others but I am going to set time and make sure I stick to it and make time for other things.

#2--Training for a 5K two years ago made sense but one thing I realized was that I didn't get the cardio and mileage that I needed. So instead of training to run a 5K, I am going to train to walk (fast I hope) a 15K.  I found this training plan that I plan to follow starting on Monday. It will give me more mileage and build my stamina a bit more than a 5K I think. I need to get into some kind of better cardio-health.  There is a 15K here in Columbus in mid-November. I'm not sure I can walk fast enough to do a 15 minute mile for 10 miles (which is required for the race) but it is a good maybe. We'll just have to see how it goes as I have absolutely no idea how long it takes me to walk a mile right now.

#3--The one thing I have found I love is the combination of cardio and yoga.  I did hot power yoga 2 years ago and it was far too difficult.  But I loved it and got stronger. My daughter suggested I begin a   beginner yoga class and learn HOW to do the things I am supposed to do so I found some great beginner yoga teachers and am ready to move on. I plan to do at least 2 yoga classes a week, starting out with easier classes but moving on as I build cardio and strength).

#4--Morning workouts--I'll have to fit in a few morning workouts in order to meet all of these goals.  Luckily we have a great place to work out and I have a treadmill at home.  I have some friends at school who work out every morning so I'll have some accountability:-)

#5--I have to change our eating habits at home. I am usually pretty good at breakfast and lunch if I plan ahead. We tend to eat quick at home because we are always in a hurry and we've gotten out of the habit of planning meals so we'll start that up again.  Healthier dinners.

So tomorrow I am walking (sauntering) our Dublin 5K. And on Monday, I'll begin the 15K plan. It is a busy week with our district leadership academy and a few other full days of PD but it will be a good way to start because making time for exercise is never easy.  I'll just have to work around other commitments.

I'm hoping to report back on the blog weekly. 

Still running!

Yes, I'm still running...and I hope you are too.

It was a long, cold winter.  Many of us grew to hate our treadmills.  Others took extended breaks from running.  Whatever your story, it's time to return to the #runteacherrun fold!  Spring is here and summer break is right around the corner for many.  We welcome you back to running with open arms!

Last weekend I ran in the Indy 500 Mini-Marathon.  Strangely enough, it was my first extended race since my January marathon of 2013.  (Okay, there was that Jingle Bell run in December 2013...my 5K return to running after being released by the doctor!)

runners on the Indianapolis 500 Track

I trained some for this half marathon, but not to the intensity that I have in the past.  I didn't follow a training plan.  I ran sporadically.  If I didn't feel like running, I didn't.  Guess what?  It showed in my finish time!  It was my slowest half marathon ever.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm thankful that I was able to RUN 13.1 miles after foot surgery only 8 months ago.

My 8 year old son asked me the night before the race if I was going to win.  I told him there was absolutely no way I would win the race, but I would definitely finish.  His words of wisdom:

 Every time you make it to the finish line you win.  

Out of the mouths of babes, indeed.

So, I celebrate my finish but I'm also reminded that with running (and life in general), you get out of it what you put into it.  Yes, I can embrace every single finish line as a success but if I am in search of a faster finish time, I'll have to work for it.  It won't just happen by chance.  To be a faster runner, I have to train!  I'll need to do that dreaded speed work on a regular basis.  I'll need to be consistent with my running and push myself.  Will it be uncomfortable?  Absolutely!  Will it hurt at times?  Probably!  But setting a goal and working toward it is never a bad thing.  It's time to step out of my comfort zone and get to work.  

It's time to #runTeacherrun!  

(Look out fall half marathons...I'm looking for a PR!)

RockMyRun.Com

Now that spring is right around the corner (surely it is, right?)...some of us have actually made it back outside to run.  I know some of you die-hards run outside all winter, but I get pretty friendly with my treadmill once it dips below 25 degrees!  In the winter, I binge on Netflix movies and tv shows during my running time.  When I finally head outside, I forget how wonderful it is to lose yourself in a great playlist of high-energy songs.  

But how do you make a great playlist?  Who has the time to download and put together songs in the right order?  Not me.  I'm horrible at it and usually end up pressing shuffle or fast forward quite a bit when I'm running.  But not any more!  During one of the #RunChat twitter talks (can't remember the month...), I found out about a great app for my phone called Rock My Run.  

Wait, do you know about #Runchat?  Here's a little bit of info for you:

"RunChat is the leading Twitter chat about running. It is held at 10 p.m. ET on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month and at 8 p.m. ET the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. David (@RunningBecause) and Scott (@iRunnerBlog) are co-founders and co-moderators of #RunChat." -- from http://therunchat.com/faq/)

Rock My Run is an app for smartphones "that provides The Best Running Music in the World for active people."  It's a free app and Standard Membership is also free.  Yes, there's the ability to upgrade to a paid Premium Membership, but I haven't tried that yet.  I think an advantage of upgrading to a paid membership (for me) would be to have access to downloading running mixes longer than 45 minutes.  I'm already thinking about this option for my next half-marathon.  

What do I like about Rock My Run?  I love that I can download a complete run mix to my phone without having to hook up to my computer or some other nonsense.  I also like that the mixes are already calibrated to specific BPMs.  For me, that helps me stay on track!  I respond to music innately so songs with faster bpms automatically make me pick up my pace.  I like the diversity in the music too.  Yes, sometimes it has a bit of a techno/dance club feel to it as the songs transition, but that usually depends on the DJ. 

Currently I have 7 different mixes from RockMyRun:  3 are 45 minutes long and the other 4 are 30-36 minutes long.  

 

My current favorite mix is the RunChat Fan Mix.  With tracks from Lorde, Train, Adele, Jay Z, Daft Punk, Bruno Mars, Robin Thicke, Mumford & Sons, Run DMC (It's Tricky!), and more... it is a great smash up of current and past pop songs.  

I suggest you give RockMyRun a try!  No, I don't receive anything if you do and no, I didn't receive anything to promote the app here on our RunTeacherRun site.  RockMyRun is just my newest favorite running tool and I think you'll love it too!

Happy Running!

My Running Story by Danielle

Three years ago when I was visiting my parents (who live out of state) as I do every summer. My father, who is diabetic, is never without a diet Pepsi in his hand (going through about 20 a day) now has to give himself shots for a disease that just a few years ago his doctors told him could be controlled with diet and exercise. Was this my future? I knew then something had to change. I scheduled a physical the week I returned. My doctor told me I could stand to lose a few pounds (she was being gracious) and was concerned that some of my other issues, like insomnia, lack of energy, and depression were exacerbated by my lack of activity.Things had to change.

This isn’t the story of a girl who grew up active and fell off the bandwagon after college. I wasn’t ever an athletic kid. I didn’t grow up in an athletic family. I really had no idea where too start. Team sports were daunting and I joined a gym with good intentions, but never got up the guts to go. What I did have in my favor is location. I live within walking distance of two state parks and the Appalachian trail is just a quick drive from my house. So I started hiking. My dogs were especially happy with this new routine. I loved it.

Something inside me just sort of clicked after several weeks of hiking. If I can walk and hike, I thought, I can run. So, like Forrest Gump, I started running. Well, it wasn’t quite that epic. The first time out I ran about a tenth of a mile and walked another four. But I kept going. We had a treadmill in the basement that I dusted off. I started making deals with myself while watching shows on the DVR. Walk during the show, run through the commercials. Soon, I was running through the show and walking during commercials. Finally, without really realizing it, I broke a personal record and ran six miles in 1 hour. SIX MILES! The girl who never thought of herself as athletic was running.

Now I was confident enough to try out some 5Ks. There was a zombie run and a few mud runs. Then I got the crazy idea to run a half marathon -- not an actual organized event, I wasn’t ready for that. Instead, I mapped out a route locally and after about two months of training, got out there to tackle those 13.1 miles. There was some walking, there was lots of sweat, and it wasn’t pretty, but I did it. Such an amazing feeling to know that my body, the one I had spent most of my life feeling uncomfortable in, was now strong -- strong enough to tackle some pretty incredible challenges.

But pride (and a smaller waistline) weren’t the only benefits I’d noticed. I was sleeping better, I had more energy, and I’d found an alternative to eating my feelings. There is nothing like coming home from an especially stressful day and running until I can’t run anymore. My last physical turned up great numbers - all the numbers that used to be of concern are now well in the normal range. I am not the fastest or the most graceful runner. Any sort of physical activity seems to turn my face a lovely shade of tomato red and I sweat like it’s my job. Somedays I walk more than I run, but I still get out there. Judging myself against the progress of others is something I let go of long ago, instead I focus on how far I’ve come. I am strong and I am a runner. Something I couldn’t have imagined three years ago is now something I can’t imagine ever being without.

Bio:

Danielle has been a high school English teacher 14 years and a geek her whole life.  When she’s not out  running or hiking, she can usually be found lost in a book. You can follow her literary and school related adventures and misadventures on twitter (@MyMercurialMuse) or on her blog (www.MyMercurialMusings.com).