Stressed Out

The doctor visit went well today. I'm glad. The stress fracture is really hard to see, but I saw it today as the doctor pointed it out. He says to wait four more weeks to begin impact on the knee, but I want to start when I'm visiting family later this month, so that's when I'll start in approximately 2.5 weeks. I'm pretty stoked about that!

In work related things, it's getting really difficult to keep on the teachers. I don't think I would make a very good administrator and am glad I haven't committed to that level of schooling just yet. But, I'm communicating as much as I can with everyone, making sure things are done and are getting done.

Tomorrow, the outside agency is coming in to "evaluate" the program that I work for. I get an email from the person, today asking about pre observation points. What?? You've known about this visit for about 3 weeks and you're just now sending out the email asking me to ask the teachers?? Are you kidding?? I'm not asking the teachers to fill this out immediately just because you were late in sending that out. I'll fill out my portion, but the rest of it... forget it! Not when you're irresponsible.

Over Thanksgiving, I bought a big screen TV. Holy Smokes! I can't believe I bought it and got a pretty decent deal on it. I'm watching it now and I love it! I'm glad I spent the money. I also had to figure out what was going on with my escrow account with my mortgage. I figured out what I'm going to do and I'm getting it done this week! My payments went up almost $600, but the way I'm doing it, it's only going to go up $150. That's a relief!

I've been tired for the past few weeks. I'm not sure why. I'm trying to go to bed early, etc. I'm going to try to fit some exercising in pretty soon to see if that'll do anything for me.

Pretty much just a dump post this time.

Getting ready!

I'm anxiously awaiting the day that I can be cleared from the doctor and start running again. I've never felt this way about an activity before. I've always dreaded any kind of physical activity or exercise, but yet, running makes me feel good, like I've accomplished a goal when I've met my time limit or I imagine when I begin to train for the marathon. That's why I started to run, I'm training for the marathon. Or namely, the Chicago Marathon.

I've really slid down the slippery slope lately. Since the ortho doctor told me I couldn't do any weight bearing activities, I've done none, but I've continued eating like I'm exercising. I know, that's not a good thing, and I can't wait until I'm cleared to start exercising again, which should come in the next few weeks. When I start exercising again, I've found this about.website that emails me a running program which will allow me to get to my previous running goal in 3 weeks. My previous running goal was to run for 30 minutes continuously. Since I haven't been running, I know I've lost all that muscle and endurance, so I'll have to start over. I'm not able to start it just yet, but I know that when I can, I have it saved on my computer documents. I am so looking forward to being able to start again.

I know I'll be able to start again soon, because I've been able to walk continuously for about 20 minutes, sometimes running up and down stairs without any pain. :) I've been watching for any pain and I know I'm not supposed to run or do any weight bearing activity, but when you work at a school without an elevator and three flights of stairs, there is a chance that you will have to exercise a little.

In the meantime, I've kept myself extremely busy! I've gone out of town a few times, and I've kept busy in town with a few things. Fall is just so busy! Next week is Thanksgiving and although I don't have any plans yet, the break in activity is welcome. I'm ready to just sleep all day or spend some time cleaning a room in my house.

Sidelined

So, I'm sidelined for the next few months while I'm healing from a stress fracture. I already feel better but want to make sure that I am completely healed before I start trying to do too many things again, especially running. So, until I am able to get back on my feet, I'm going to be doing some video exercises working on strengthening my core. I should see if Netflix has some beginner pilates I can do while I'm recovering. It also doesn't help that I've eaten out every night this week! That needs to stop, too.

While I'm recovering, I need to get a handle on cleaning my house. I have been on the go since I got back from Las Vegas in August that I've barely had time to really do a good cleaning. I'm going to work on that slowly. Using the computer as a reward will be good for that since cleaning is not one of my favorite things to do!

Running for 4 minutes

Today was the first day that running for 4 minutes continuously did not bother me. I'm right in the middle of my training to get up to 30 minutes of consectutive running and today is really the first day that I thought I might make it! Tomorrow, I'm walk/running 3 minutes, and 5 minutes. That will be the first time that I will be hitting 5 minutes especially after having the 4 minutes run feel like nothing!

I'm not seeing much improvement in the weight department. But, I can see physical changes in my body and I always feel so energized after a run, even if I'm exhausted!

I signed up for two races. They are both 8k's which is close to 5 miles. I know that's a long time, but there weren't any races that I could sign up for that would be shorter than that coming up anytime soon. So, I decided to do the 8K even though I may not be physically ready for it, just to get an estimate on my time. Once I'm running at 30 minutes, I'm going to start working on the 8K training guide and begin working up to a half-marathon and marathon training program. I might be in the 8K training guide for a while. I'm thinking I'm going to sign up for either the 8K or half-marathon race in March for St. Louis.

10 Minutes

I've slowly worked up to running for 10 minutes. I am not yet running for the full 10 minutes as I would be completely out of breath, but I am running for 10 minutes. The next couple of days is where the big transition happens. I'm supposed to be changing to more running and reducing the amount of walking that I'm doing. These are done in sets of walk/run minutes.
I made an excel spreadsheet and chart to show my progress so far. And, so far I've enjoyed running and getting out of the house, especially when I come home from school. But, today, I had fallen asleep before going to run and it was extremely difficult to get moving again, but I did it! And then, I made dinner! One of my recent new faves: spaghetti squash topped with spinach, tomatoes and garlic.

It wasn't as bad as I thought!

Today was my first day running for 1 minute. I got up early to get outside on a day off. Walked for 9 (really 12 minutes) and then ran for a minute. I thought it was going to be harder to do the run, but one of my friends had explained that a run does not have to be moving fast. Just as long as you're doing the motion, you're running. So I kept those words in mind. I probably ran a little over a block before I looked at my time. I felt so accomplished this morning! So, the next time I run it's going to be a five minute walk then a 1 minute run done in a cycle of 2. My thought is to bring up my endurance first before I start thinking about longer distances.

Shamrock Shuffle- I may want to do something else, since my friend told me it's very popular. I'll look around on the internet to find something else around that time that will be equally as long.

Long Term Goal

So, I think I'm going to try running. I've thought about this for a while and listed it (run in a marathon, lose weight, etc) in my list of must do's before I die. Sometime before the school year ended, I had researched about half marathons and thought that I might want to train for several half marathons before I tried to run a full marathon. If, by next year, I see that I'm not ready, I'll continue doing 10K and half marathons in order to make sure that I'm ready to do a full marathon before October of the following year.

My long term goal is to run in the 8k Shamrock Shuffle at the end of March. 8k is approximately 4 miles (I looked it up). I've been researching some websites that offer beginning running programs and I'm going to start this weekend. My first week will consist of: a 10 minute walk, a 9 minute walk and a 1 minute run and getting to a 5 minute walk with a 1 minute run twice. If I make it through this week, I'm going to buy shoes. Or should I buy shoes first? I get paid next Friday, but want to start this running business soon. I'll see how my shoes hold up and if I'm uncomfortable or in pain, I'll buy some shoes. Now, if I'm not feeling up to increasing my runs the following week, I am free to continue the first week's program of 5 minute walk, 1 minute run twice for a few of those days. I just don't want to build up so fast that I'm really not able to keep up. So, first long term goal: run 4 miles for the Shamrock Shuffle by the end of March. (I'm not even worrying about how fast I'm going here, I just want to be able to do it).

Bad News

I've made the decision not to go on my Northwest Trip this summer. Too many things are happening here which made me uncomfortable leaving until August. Not only that, but I had one training lined up that I thought I could swing with my trip, but then two more got added on. Plus, my BF is having a baby and I would like to be around for her while she recovers and see the baby.
Also, another friend is having twins and may need my help on July 22, so I will stay around to make sure everything is good around here until August, and then I will travel to visit my family in Las Vegas.
Still counting down for the cruise though! I can't wait! Less than a week to go!