Week 4

So far, I am not very good at this update thing...

So this week I ran half of a 5k.  And by running, I mean running until we got to a hill and then walking up a hill, then running again.  This scares me.  I have a full 5k in just over 2 weeks.  I need to get moving.  But I did the half of a 5k in 20 minutes.  That's not terrible for the first one.  If I would have done the second loop it would have been much slower.  So I feel good because I know I am getting better.  I can feel that I am getting better.  But part of me is frustrated because I am not getting better fast enough.  I need to stay focused on training and get more serious.  I am hoping that the races leading up to January will help keep me honest and moving.  I think part of me is looking at the long term and thinks that January is so far away.  It's going to get here quick and I need to take advantage of the time I have to keep it moving!

Week 1 - Check!

I was planning on starting 2 weeks ago. And technically I walked, but not according to the training plan. This week, however was much better. I missed a day, but I got in a workout on a rest day.

While I am only a week in, I have already started to see progress. By the end of the week, I started to run!! The first day I ran was Friday. I only ran for a few minutes, but I ran! My lungs felt like they actually haven't been used to their full capacity, like ever. Breathing deep for the rest of the day was followed by coughing. It was terrible.

But even with that, I felt great. While running, I loved it. It felt good. I realized that I don't know what I am doing. I don't know how to keep a pace, but why would I?? Today I ran a little more than I did the other day, and that is what I call progress.

And I have officially registered for the marathon weekend. This just got real.

Work in Progress

I have never really been happy with my appearance.  Over the holidays my daughter and I fell asleep on the couch.  My husband took a picture of us, and it should have been a sweet picture.  However, all I noticed was my size and I can't get that picture out of my head.  I am the heaviest I have ever been, besides when I was pregnant.

Before we got married, I was on Weight Watchers.  I lost over 20 pounds before my wedding, and while I wasn't skinny, I did feel a little less self conscious about being in a strapless gown in front of my friends and family.  Well this November, my little sister is getting married.  She had asked me to be her Matron of Honor, and I am thrilled.  However, I can't imagine standing in front of everyone again looking (and feeling) like this.  This time I don't have my wedding to worry about, now I'll just be the chubby chick fixing the beautiful bride's dress. 

I am not looking to be a size 4 here, I have never been skinny.  I don't even know if it's possible for me to be skinny.  I am just looking to work on myself and feel more comfortable in my own skin. 

Wait, what?

That's what I expected my husband to say when I told him.

I want to run a marathon.

Not just a marathon, one of those crazy Disney marathon weekends.

I have been on weight watchers for almost 4 months now, down 10 pounds with only about a million to go and I have done a lot of talking about what I should do for exercise. Going to the gym is my worst nightmare. The smell of it makes me want to vomit. So I have been trying things at home, looking forward to warmer weather to use the walking trail near my house. And then I found my motivation. And then I found a 26 week marathon training plan.

http://www.marathonrookie.com/marathon-training-programs.html

I have had, let's call it, a curiosity about marathons.  Working at a place that has so many people interested in fitness, I know a couple people who run marathons.  I watched documentaries about people who run 26.2 miles and they always end with people in pain, but the feeling is always the same. They have a feeling that they can do anything in the world.

So Monday starts my training. Here we go.