Week 4, Day 2

Easy day today. I walked about a mile with the dogs, but first I went to the gym and worked out on the Cybex machines.

Week 4, Day 1

Wow! I have much to tell today!

First and foremost, I ran today! The hills have been killing me, so I changed my route to be about 90% flat instead of a long slow incline and a short fast incline with a smaller one in between. Today I did 2 minutes of running and 1 minute of walking, except uphill, and I am fine with that. I am so happy that I have progressed to this point. And the most interesting part of it all is that I didn't want to run today because it has been raining and was gloomy, I was tired, and I didn't want to go to the gym. But, it stopped raining for a short period of time and I went out and ran. Oh yes, and I saw no dogs on my new route.

Yesterday I went to Fleet Feet Sports to get fit for running shoes. My feet are so wide that they are going to special order the shoes in a 8 4E width. Unfortunately, it will take 1 to 2 weeks to get them in. I believe the new shoes are Asics GT 2130s. Thankfully, my wife found the extra new pair of sneakers in my closet. These are the same as I've been wearing but are new.

Week 3, Day 6

Today I'm a little bummed. You see, last week my wife said that jogging was different than running. To which I rebutted that I am supposed to start slow and speed will come, and that I wasn't going to listen to anything negative that she or her mother, who was also in the car, had to say. I felt like saying, "at least I'm not sitting on the 'couch of doom' all the time. Then yesterday my mother-in-law said, "I saw you out running this morning." She then turned to my wife and said, "He's not running, he's jogging." To her credit, my wife came to my defense and said that I'm supposed to be starting slow. I felt like saying, "At least I'm not buying a dozen doughnuts every other day." What depressing negativity. How is one supposed to work through that? I dunno. Dave Ramsey says, "If your broke friends are making fun of you, you're doing something right." The same can probably be translated into exercise. I'm glad tomorrow is a rest day.

Today I tried to mix things up to push myself forward because two weeks at 2 & 2 is enough right? I first walked 2 minutes then ran for two. Then I tried walking 1 running for 2; I don't know why it is so hard. Maybe it's because I don't having running shoes, maybe there are too many hills in my neighborhood. I'm now going up the long, low incline and down the steep hill. I changed it up so that I would walk 1 minute when going down the big incline and walk 2 when going up the long incline, and I still don't feel like I could do it and ended up walking 3 and then 4 minutes up hill. Maybe I'll chalk it up to making slower-than-wanting progress and change my route to a more flat one.

Week 3, Day 5

Today felt like a bad day. I had to get up early (for me) to run before I was gone all day. I got maybe 7 hours of sleep, and my back has been hurting since yesterday's extra outdoor activities.

Anyway, I did run my 2 / 2 walk / run. Once, I just couldn't catch my breath so I ended up walking 3 minutes, which I just took out of my last walk. Overall I guess it was OK today, but I just didn't feel up to it. But you know what? I RAN today! I could have slept in or sat on the couch of doom. Great job B.Ginning Torun!

Week 3, Day 4

Today I got up and headed for the gym after a quick bowl of cereal. As I'm walking towards the treadmill for my warm up, I think to myself, "I don't really want to be here." I quickly put that thought out of my head and do my 5 minute warm up. After working out on the Cybex machines I came home and walked my dogs. Once I finished with them, I mowed the lawn. I'm sure I mowed it just a couple of weeks ago, but much of the grass was 2 feet tall, and higher in some places! Mowing the lawn took over an hour since I had to keep cleaning out the lawnmower... yes it is a push mower. As the lawnmower ran out of gas I took a water break and finished the yard. Since hurricane season is around the corner and I've been slack, I pulled out the generator and let it run for about 10 minutes as I made my lunch. After lunch I put up the generator and lawnmower, and turned the water back on to the hose bibs. Man, what a day of labor. :)

Week 3, Day 3

Today I started out by going to a line dancing class for an hour. I'm starting to follow about 80% of the steps which is a lot better than last week. I then came home and took one of my dogs for my run. Again, walk 2 mins / run 2 mins. I think I was running a little faster today so I kept trying to make myself slow down. When I started to run, I initially thought I could drop down to only walking 1 minute on Friday, but that uphill was killing me. I did push myself for the last minute of the last 2 minute run to run just a little faster than I wanted to, and I ended up pulling the dog along for the ride. I guess he was tired. :)

Week 3, Day 2

Today I worked out on the Cybex machines at the gym, and stopped at Moe's for lunch. After I came home I walked for 1/2 hour... first I took one dog, then the other. Tomorrow is line dancing and running. Have a great day!

Week 3, Day 1

Yay! Today I ran! Instead of following the old routine, this week I'm running 2 mins / walk 2 mins. At first my lungs weren't happy, but they kicked in. Walking the 2 minutes gave me time to catch my breath in between runs. I really feel like I made progress today, which is awesome.

My knee has been tingling since Friday but felt pretty good this morning and still feels OK. At one point I think I was trying to go too fast since my ankle and knee were starting to hurt. I also started feeling shin splits. Oh yes, today I had my first side stitch! LOL

All in all, it was a great run!

Week 2, Day 6

Today was a good day, and I ran. I was tired when I got up, but I ran anyway. I ran 1 min / walk 2 for 30 minutes. At one point I was going a little too fast and my left ankle started to hurt. I slowed down and all was well. For the record, I don't like running my neighborhood on Saturdays. There are too many people out/around and too many vehicles parked in driveways that are blocking the sidewalk. Next week, I think I'll try to run 2 mins / walk 2.

Week 2, Day 5

Last night my wife was in the ER for pain and I was very tired. I went to bed around 2am which used to be normal for me, but now it is a little late.

Today, I didn't feel awake, nor did I feel like running. So, I ran anyway. I went back to the first stage... run 1 minute, walk 2. I did that for half an hour and felt great. Today I am a runner. While I was running a met a friendly lady walking her dog, twice. I also met another woman who said hi, and asked how far I was running. I told her two miles, and said, "wow, that's great". It made me feel really good. Perhaps mid next week I'll switch to running 2 minutes.. we'll see. I'm going to go slow.

Week 2, Day 4

Today I walked for 1/2 hr and took my dogs. I took one, had to run an errand, and took the other. We were almost attacked by another dog. This dog always barks and jumps around when we pass, and is usually restrained by his chain. This time, the chain didn't stop him. I put my dog behind me and started yelling at the oncoming dog. This dog stopped at the edge of his lawn, and after I stared him down, he started slinking away. After we moved on the dog realized that he was free and started wandering around. I was going to tell these neighbors that their dog was loose but, as usual, they weren't home. Maybe the dog will find a new home. Maybe I need to invest in some pepper spray.

Anyway, after the walk, I went to the gym and worked out on the Cybex machines.


After talking to some other runners, I have also decided to not follow the training schedule completely. I am going to listen to my body, and it is saying that this schedule is too accelerated. Instead, I plan to run 2 minutes / walk 1 until it is easy for me. Then I will increase my runs by a minute, a week at a time.

Week 2, Day 3

Today kind of sucked. If I'm supposed to be running according to this guide, then I'm failing. I was supposed to run for 3 minute intervals and walk for 1 and it just wasn't happening. I changed my route so that I now run down the big hill instead of up, and I'm sure that helped. If I'm lucky, I ran for 3 minutes once or twice. Another time I know I only ran for 2.5 minutes. It doesn't feel like I'm going to be able to keep up with this 8-week schedule. Maybe I'm asking too much of my body; I don't know.

Enough of the depressing talk... I ran with my dog today, but earlier, I took a line dancing class for about an hour. I used it as a warm up. When I was running, I did make sure that I stayed out and moving for just about the whole 1/2 hour.

Afterwards, I took my wife out to lunch and walked the other dog about a 1/2 mile.

Week 2, Day 2

Today I walked for 30 mins and took the dogs. Afterwards, I worked out on the Cybex machines at the gym for about an hour. Tomorrow is my first day learning how to line dance. Wish me luck.

Week 2, Day 1

Today I ran, and I took a dog. Let me tell you that running for 2 minutes straight is a lot different than 1 minute at a time. By the 3rd time around my block I refused to even try to run up that big hill. I really think I need to go "backwards" around the block. I don't really feel like a failure, but it does make me wonder how I'm going to run 3 or 4 minutes at a time. And let me tell you, those steps get closer and closer together as you wear out. Once or twice I just couldn't catch my breath enough to start running again after only a minute break walking, so I took two. My dog was happy when I stopped running, as well. After I finished and started resting, my lungs began to spasm. Near the end of the half hour, my calves were really tight. A couple of times after resting, my legs were wobbly.

Week 2's schedule

I am really nervous about my success of week 2. They seem to be ramping up awfully quick.

Mon: Run 2 mins, walk 1 min; for 30 mins.
Tue: Walk 30 mins
Wed: Run 3 mins, walk 1 min; for 27 mins. Run 2 mins.
Thu: Walk 30 mins
Fri: Run 4 mins, walk 1 min; for 30 mins.
Sat: Run 4 mins, walk 1 min; for 30 mins.
Sun: rest

Week 1, Day 6

Today I ran. I really hate running uphill. I think I may go "backwards" around my block. That way I have a long less-steep incline, which is the way I started walking last year.

I am scared about next week's schedule.

Week 1, Day 5

Today I ran. Still hate going uphill, but at night I can't wait to run the next day. Once as I was going downhill my left ankle started to hurt. I skipped that minute of running and walked for 3 minutes. After that it was fine.

Today I was "trained" on how to use the cybex machines at the gym. I went to the gym right after my run. We are to have a cold snap next week, and I may utilize the gym more. It was suggested by my trainer that I use the cybex machines on my "walk" days.

Week 1, Day 4

Walking again. Simple, no problems. Took the dogs.

Week 1, Day 3

Today was the fitness exam. I've lost 2 pounds already. Is that good or just a fluctuation? My BMI "needs work" (duh). Everything else was either "Fair", "Fit", or "Excellent". I'm better off than I thought I was.

Today I ran. No lung spasms this time!

Week 1, Day 2

Today was walking. Simple and easy as usual. I took my dogs with me as they're used to me walking.

Week 1, Day 1

Today, all 240 pounds of me ran (or jogged, who knows).

As I started, my lungs started spasming.. they weren't happy. Uphill, I couldn't run an entire minute. I'm glad I lasted the 1/2 hour, and am glad it is over.

Downhill and level are easy, uphill sucks.

I also joined a gym last week. Wednesday is my "fitness exam".

Making a game plan, week 1.

I've decided to start running. I found a run/walk plan on the Runner's World web site and am listening to a couple of running podcasts... Confessions of a Runner and Phedippidations. The Week 1 running plan is..
Mon: Run 1 minute, Walk 2. Repeat for 30 minutes.
Tue: Walk for 30 mins.
Wed: Run 1 minute, Walk 2. Repeat for 30 minutes.
Thu: Walk for 30 mins.
Fri: Run 1 minute, Walk 2. Repeat for 30 minutes.
Sat: Run 1 minute, Walk 2. Repeat for 30 minutes.
Sun: Rest

I Want To Run

I think I've always wanted to run, but never felt I could. I've been heavy since high school. I hated running track in gym class, but I could walk it. Any time I would attempt to go faster than a walk, my lungs would spasm.

Last year, after a physical (and seeing my weight), I started walking for my health to help lose weight and help my cholesterol levels. I started out slow and ended up walking 3 miles a day, even in 90+ degrees F... then the winter came and it was "too cold" to be outside for an extended amount of time.

I did miss walking and was depressed that my weight plateaued even with walking 3 miles daily. What to do? Can I run? I couldn't in high school, or could I? Many things seemed to be pointing me to running...

• I seemed to be envious of other runners
• Runner's World magazine kept drawing my eye
• My wife's nurse is a runner
• Dave Ramsey is a runner
• I have a friend, in Italy, that is a runner
• The problem with me is the person I shave with
  

Running seems to be the next logical progression from walking. I hope I can do it.