So, I kind of have a love/hate relationship with running.  I think running is a great form of exercise.  I totally admire people who run and train for races.  But the “hate” comes from having to do it alone.  I don’t like to run out alone, so I usually run on a treadmill, which can be quite boring sometimes.

When I first started this blog, I really wanted to get into running, so I decided to train for a 5K.  I had no idea where to start, so I looked around and found this really interesting program called the Couch to 5K.  The Couch to 5K is a program that helps you get into running a 5K by working your way up, by doing intervals of walking and running.  Even if you never ran in your life, you could start this program.   I gave it a try.  Back then, I had used a podcast by Robert Ullrey, who put together music with verbal cues.  So for example, if you started on Week 1, Day 1, you would first do a 5 minute walk, followed by alternating 1 minute runs and 1.5 minute walks for 20 minutes, followed by a 5 minute cool down walk.  That podcast series helped me train for my first 5K, which was a great experience!  The feeling you get when you work so hard for something and you complete it is an awesome feeling!

I started running again yesterday at the gym using the Couch to 5K app on my iPhone.  It’s amazing how technology advanced from the time I ran my first 5K to now.  I can now use my own music and get the cues, which is great.  In addition, I use the Nike Plus+ app, which measures the distance and logs each run, showing my progress over time.  I figure it was a great enough incentive for me to see progress and get back into running.  After all, yesterday’s run wasn’t so bad for me.  Maybe I’ll decide to run a 5K this year!  We shall see!

Anyone else use “tools” to keep track of their running?  Whether it is an iPhone app, a heart rate, monitor, or whatever else, let me know!

Pretty proud of myself today!  I was able to see my little nephew and work out!  I knew that I had to stick to my plan, and I’m pretty glad I did.  Today I started all over and am doing the Couch to 5k (aka C25K).  With my trusty iPhone I had the Nike + app and this Couch 2 5K app I got a few days ago.  The two work together and help you pretty much go through the work out.  The Nike + app tracks my distance and how fast I go per mile, and the Couch 2 5K app gives me the cues to walk/jog/cooldown.

If you’re wondering what Week 1, Day 1 of the Couch to 5K workout consists of, it starts with a 5 minute warm up, then 60 seconds of jogging, followed by 90 minutes of walking for 20 minutes.  After 20 minutes you do the 5 minute walking cooldown.  I started the app when I walked out the door of my apt to the gym, which is almost a 5 minute walk.  Got to the gym and jogged/walked on the treadmill followed by walking back home as my cooldown.  It worked out perfectly!

Here was my result from the Nike + app.  I know my mileage has yet to improve but after a long while of not training I had to start from the beginning, which I think is best for someone just getting back into working out.  You just don’t want to dive right in and eventually hurt yourself!  I could definitely handle the workout, but I didn’t want to overdo it.

I’m super excited though.  I am so happy to be back to working out.  It is true:  working out gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy!

Sorry I didn’t post yesterday. Today I’m leaving for NYC and yesterday was all about tying up things at work before I left, and doing laundry. I was able to run while the laundry was going and I was planning to do another day of the Couch to 5K, so I headed off to the gym in my community. I did my five minute walk and got to the gym, only to find out these two guys were in there smoking cigars! The gym is in a clubhouse and it was so bad I couldn’t run in there. I was better off running outside, as humid as it was. So I went to the other end of the neighborhood, running and walking until I got back home, which is at the end of the other side of the neighborhood. My total mileage was a measly 1.48. Better than nothing, I guess.

Here was my meal yesterday -

Coffee and oatmeal with Panda Puffs and some Vanilla Rice Milk

Lunch was some rotisserie chicken, potato salad and some Panda Puffs for a snack.

Dinner was some pasta with broccoli and chicken breast in alfredo sauce.

This morning I had some oatmeal with Agave Nectar, a small portion of potato salad, and a cup of coffee with creamer and Agave Nectar.

I STILL haven’t finished packing, and although I’m only going to be there until Sunday, I’m just being laggy.  I gotta leave the house by 11am to catch my 1pm flight, so I better get off the computer.  I won’t be posting until I get back since I’m not going to bring my computer.  But I’ll definitely bring my camera! Have a good weekend everyone!

Soooo today I started training for another 5K in November and since I haven’t run in a while, I decided to train with the Couch to 5K regimen, which is pretty doable for me.  I’m not a hardcore runner and I’m really doing it for my own personal goal and hopefully run a better time than the other two 5K’s I’ve ran.  I used my Nike+ iPod and will be using it with my runs.

Here’s today’s workout which started with a 5 minute walk, which was spent walking to the community gym, followed by alternating 1 minute runs and 1.5 minute walking for 20 minutes.  Then I walked all the way back home.

I don’t know about you, but I have to have music when I run. I really wanted to make my own Couch to 5k playlist with cues to run and walk but I was having a hard time with this program I used called Audacity. It just wasn’t working the way I wanted. Then I was thinking, maybe it wasn’t worth it because I’ll probably change my playlists. If you’re interested, here is the playlist of songs I ran to:

As soon as I got home I was starving! My mom made a pretty yummy dinner, which is pictured below:

I had: A baked potato with a small dollop of sour cream, grilled chicken drumstick, 2 pieces of fried tofu and a salad with red peppers and tomatoes with Tony Wu Soy Garden dressing.  This dressing is so good! Yummy dinner!

Good morning everyone!  This morning I got up earlier than usual, thanks to getting to bed earlier than my usual the night before.  I even woke up before my alarm did!  Today I decided to do something different and take pictures of what I ate and what I prepared for lunch today.

I usually have a cup of coffee with a splash of hazelnut cream and some organic cane sugar (I took the picture before putting those in so you just see black coffee).  I also had some oatmeal with some flax seeds and honey.  I really like this combo, but I wish I had some fruit on the side.

For lunch I packed some Campbell’s Tomato with Basil soup with a whole wheat pita and Barney Butter.  Barney Butter is the best, and I was lucky enough to get some samples to try (thanks!).  Barney Butter is pure almond butter and completely not made around any peanuts whatsoever.  I think it’s a better alternative to those who are allergic to peanuts. I also packed some Kashi Roasted Garlic and Thyme crackers (which I’m giving a try again, wasn’t too fond of at first bite) and Chocolate and Vanilla Soy Pudding for my in between snacks. I really need to get some fruit to snack on! I feel like this might not be enough.

Today I am going to start running again, and since I haven’t for a few months, I’m going back to the Couch to 5K training program.  I really wanted to make my own mix of songs to run to with cues and everything but Audacity, the program I was using was not being cooperative.  But then again I had just downloaded it and really new to it.  I still have the mix, so I will use it and just watch for when I have to run and walk.  I’m doing week 1, which is a 5 minute warm up walk followed by 1 minute runs and 1.5 walking for 20 minutes.

Also, I’m trying to find a good deal on a Polar Heart Rate monitor and have my sights on the F6, which is $99 on Amazon.  So I ask my readers:  Do you have a heart rate monitor?  If so please share your experience in the comments.

Off to work!  Short work week since I’m going to NYC on Thursday for the weekend! Yay!