singing the blues

Week 3 of the C25K program: jogging for 90 seconds, walking for 90 seconds, jogging for 3 minutes then walking for 3 minutes. Repeating this interval two times.

I gotta tell ya, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it was going to be. But I do have a confession, I only did it once last week. The first time I tried to do it after work, I forgot my work out pants at home. I even tried running in my oversize jeans (I also forgot my belt that day!) but it just didn't work. So the hubs, baby and I went to the track a couple nights later and I successfully completed one day of week 3. I was extremely distracted this week from all things healthy. I certainly didn't feel like a warrior this week.

Did I mention I won a weight loss challenge? True story - I did. It was held by my Zumba teacher (by the way, Monica's the best zumba teacher in KC!) and the weigh ins were weekly, and after I had my final weigh in, I had this weird mental thing happen. It was like all my accountability had gone out the window. I mean, I'm not gonna lie, I was looking forward to having some celebratory food for winning the challenge not to mention it was also my wedding anniversary last week, but a whole week's worth of eating crappy food was not what I had in mind. I've probably gained AT LEAST 10 pounds back. Kind of scared to get on the scale tomorrow. Now I have to hold accountability to myself, and nothing else. Feeling a little blue right now and in a bit of an emotional funk about life in general. There's a lot of things and circumstances that I can't change, so I wish I could just get a handle on the one thing I do have control over. I'm not going to give up, I've come way too far to do that. I hope when I wake up tomorrow my glass will be over flowing with optimism. Thank goodness it will be a new week.

WEEK TWO HAS BEGUN!

I did it! Week two, day one. That is 90 seconds of running, two minutes of brisk walking for 20 minutes. Jogged to some really fun music yesterday - one being Thao & The Get Down Stay Down , check it out! Honestly, I really struggled last week. I was worried. Maybe it was that I finally found my sunglasses, or the cool weather, or my chic new (clearance!) pink back pack, but I'm happy to report yesterday went splendidly! There were times within in my 90 second intervals that I felt like I could have kept going! And there was only one time I didn't run the full 90 seconds, only because I had to tie my adorable asics shoe!

I encountered my first running-roadkill yesterday. A poor little unfortunate frog, and a thing, I say thing because I couldn't quite tell what the animal had been. And I didn't want to stare. Its not polite. RIP mother nature. I almost got hit by a car avoiding that second 'thing.' Blech!

Also, people of Wyandotte county, thank you for your concern- but I'm out getting some much needed exercise and training to be a warrior. I had two guys in trucks stop me to ask if I needed a ride down the road. I'm in work out clothes, have a bottle of water, my iPod and earphones in - and you think I need a ride? It frankly freaked me out too. I'm going to buy some mace to make myself feel better about my run on the secluded road I travel. Someone might have to learn the hard way, but you don't mess with the Jess!

80's music doesn't lie

It's been official for about a week now, I've signed up for the Warrior Dash in Kansas City on July 30th, 2011. That means I have approximately 16 weeks to train. I'll be the first to admit I have bitten off something completely larger than I can chew right now. I'm hoping motivation & support from this blog will keep me going as I endure the grueling training leading up this daunting 5k.

I know, some of you are thinking a 5k? Isn't that only 3.1 miles lady? Yes, yes it is. PLUS 11 'obstacles from hell' says the warrior website. Honestly, I have never enjoyed running. I remember having to run a (singular, a) mile in high school. I cried by the end and didn't even finish it in the allotted time. And even though I have lost some weight, unfortunately I still have about 80 pounds of extra weight on me that doesn't exactly make running easy. This picture of me to the left is current, my new 'before' warrior dash picture. Will see how much butt I can kick and gut I can lose by the event.

I've decided to use the couch25k program - er, make that - couch 2 warrior program. I'm still on week one, which equates to 5 min warm up, then 60 seconds running, 90 seconds walking - for 20 minutes, three times a week. I've tried this program in the past and never moved beyond week one. Starting week two next week, ready or not - here I come. I can do this. Because, you see apparently - I'm the warrior. At least that's what the song (and my current ringtone) The Warrior by Scandal tells me. And 80's music doesn't lie.