take that week one! [Ash]

Well, I'm a day late, but I finished week one of the program! I've decided that with the hectic life I lead, I really can't beat myself up too badly if I miss a day, as long as I make it up the first chance that I get and don't stop.

I ran today and actually pushed myself a bit (not too hard but enough to hurt a little at the end) and made some progress I think. I made it further before I wanted to die, I didn't have to pep talk myself quite as much (and not even out loud this time!), and when I hit halfway through my time to turn back around, I was further through my neighborhood than I had been thus far!

I'm not getting cocky, I know it does get harder, but tonight, I'm feeling good. Monday... I may cry. Or not, I reserve the right to shed some tears though.

I think it helps that I was being seranaded by my little boy. His nonsensical little songs kept me smiling the whole way, and when I'd look down to check my time, he'd be staring up at me through the peep hole in the top of the stroller. I could run to the end of the earth and back with that little running buddy. As long as there are no hills. Cause when we hit a hill, I contemplate how hurt he would really get if I just let go. Haha no one ever said I'd win mommy of the year here people.

30 second miracle [Ash]

Well I woke up this morning to pouring rain... I was not about to take my sweet sack of potatoes out in the stroller in that crap weather. So I waited til right before the baby's bedtime and then headed out with a friend of mine.

I got my 60-90 second time switch right this time, and I feel like that made absolutely all the difference in the world. I actually felt like I could have gone longer with the run times a couple times. I didn't, though, cause I was working on controlling my breathing and lengthening my stride and pacing myself better.

At any rate, after this run I felt a lot better and less "out of breath deathy" than I did the first time.

Oh, PS, my recovery day after workout #1 SUCKED. My hip flexors were killing me I could barely jump the baby gates! I hope tomorrow is better. I stretched a lot better before and after this run, I have hope that will make a difference.

What am I thinking? [Bee]

Let me just say..ouch!!! My abs are killing me, they hurt a little before I started my workout but I just sneezed let out a little whimper. And today I got the 60 sec to 90 sec right, go me. I can't say it wasn't AS bad as Monday (save that for the next paragraph) but it made the actual running part...shorter?

So last night I had a couple drinks with the husband which resulted in a massive headache and a spinning room until about 9 am, I like to workout in the morning because the weather is so nice but that didn't happen. So it was a little warmer than usual but whatever. After about 15 minutes I was this close (holds fingers realllllly close together) to calling it quits, those last 5 minutes were hellish. It'll be worth it in the end..right?

I hear my soup calling my name.

bassackwards already? [Ash]

I was really NOT feeling this whole running thing, but I was sort of committed-- I DID sleep in my sports bra, after all. So I put on my running shoes, grabbed my cranky baby and stuck him in the dusty jogging stroller (good mommy moment, I did check for spiders first). I grabbed my watch and a water bottle and headed out.

I almost died a few times, had to pep talk myself out loud and actually had a couple of altercations with myself starting around minute 13, but I did make it without cheating (okay, once, I walked 30 extra seconds). The running trail around my neighborhood is asphalt, and I avoided streets that only had concrete, so hopefully I won't injure the hell out of myself any time soon, but the down side of the running trail is that it's all adventurous and outdoorsy and shit-- lots of hills and twists. Fine and good when you're on your own, but pushing a 25 lb sack of lead... er, I mean my sweet adorable son up and down those hills was probably amusing to watch to say the least. I definitely recall growling a few times on my way up the hill and then, "oh shit, oh shit, oh shit"-ing my way down trying not to let the stroller go careening off into the crossroad, as much as I wanted to ditch the stroller and just finish the damn run on my own. Precious cargo and all that jazz.

I get home after my cool down, all sweaty and hot and triumphant, sit on my couch, then realize the hot and sweaty would just not do (my couch and I do have a love affair going, duh, how else could I be a couch potato?), so I flopped onto the floor with a huge sigh. My 10 month old took this as a clear sign to start crawling all over me, as if my tshirt wasn't stuck to me enough.

OH, AND, I realized, hours later, that I had my walk-run times BACKWARDS. I was supposed to jog for 60 seconds, walk 90 and, well, I flipped it. That may explain why I was so pathetic. But at any rate, now I feel at least mildly hardcore for getting through more than I was supposed to. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Note to self, drink more water. I could feel the Coke coming out of my pores. At least that could have made me look tannish, instead of pale and pasty as per usual.

Home Sweet Couch. [Bee]

Here marks Week 1 Day 1 of "Couch to 5k" (insert evil laugh). Let me just say for the record..I despise running, hence you won't find a track record in my background. But I've always been one for trying new things, and lets face it I live in California the weather is too nice to sit inside all day. Poor Ashley and her New York winters. And I need to tone these muscles.

I started my first workout with a 5 min warm up, 60 second walk and 90 second run for 20 minutes and 5 minute cool down but guess what my friends..it was a 90 second walk and 60 second run. That brought a whole new meaning to those read the directions lectures your teachers gave you right? Those extra 30 seconds is the difference between "that was a good workout" and "what the hell am I doing".

After the first ohh lets say 10 minutes I was looking for the nearest couch and can of coke(which I will not be giving up). I have no real plans to diet I just want to work out, I have no weight that needs to be gone, just some toning to do. So onto the workout..I was cool as a cucumber for awhile, breezing my way up and down my neighborhood like I was in the Triathlon. Now I knew that there some hills around here but those hills are mountains when your running up them out of shape. At the end I was just trying to find my house and get my shoes off.

I think I did good today, for the most part. After I got home and cooled off I was feeling good about myself and I am excited to start my 5k training, and even more excited Ash is in it with me. Stay tuned for later posts when I am hating life.

Background

The couch to 5k program is designed to turn anyone (namely a couch potato with no experience) into a runner. Read about it here.

Bee and Ashley both have strong dance and physical activity backgrounds, but since they've gotten married, well, that has definitely changed.

Ashley was a ballet dancer for 7 years, then shortly after high school, joined the Army (and got out after 8 months). She hasn't worked out since October of 2007 (planning a wedding, a cross country move, and then getting pregnant just really didn't leave much time), but now that her son is 10 months old and her husband will be home from Afghanistan soon, she's ready to stop making excuses.

Bee was involved with cheer and dance for 5 years and used to work out every day above and beyond that. She took a break to deal with her husband's deployment and their cross country move, but is ready to get back in the swing of things again.

Noticing some parallels already? Get used to it. Bee and Ash have noticed uncanny similarities since their very first conversation, from major to minor incidents. They met about a year ago through a mutual (at the time) friend, but haven't gotten super close until the past 6 months or so. Ash sent Bee a text last week, asking for advice on a work out, and they realized that they were both ready to end their days of squishiness! So began the Couch to 5k idea, and although Bee is in California and Ashley is in New York, they're holding each other accountable, working out, and blogging their adventures jointly. Here we go!