Running In Circles....

....it gets a little bit old. 

Sunday I ran so many circles I covered 3.54 miles. And yes, that means I didn't Run Naked and used my Nike app to track my distance. What can I say, I couldn't help it. I needed to know! But the awesome news is that just moments ago my new FitBit arrived at my house and I am like a kid on Christmas morning and cannot wait to go home and get it! 

It is just waiting for me to come home and get it!

Anyway, I ran circles Sunday and used my Tabata App to help me stay on track with the prescribed Run 2 minutes then Walk 2 min.  The plan called for 6 rounds but I had time to kill and figured 10 rounds would be fun. But I didn't want to venture out too far from where I was running since it was kind of stormy and LB was doing his CrossFit On-Ramp class there at the gym.

Oklahoma Summer Storm Sky

Timer Pro App

So I ran circles. A lot of them. 

And then this morning I found a nice street in the neighborhood behind mine that has the slightest bit of incline, hard to come by around here, and ran circles around the small block. This morning though I only had time for 6 rounds of the 2 min Run/2 min Walk and only covered 2 miles in 24 min.

I can see potential with this plan. Although the walk gets shorter and the run gets longer but I like the idea of playing with the pace and speed and getting more of a Fartlek type of workout in. It is reminding me a lot of my Run Less Run Faster plan from back in the day. Where you don't have to spend a lot of time running but when you do run you run faster, intervals and sprints. It works. 

I am enjoying getting back in the swing of things and it helps that the time spent is manageable. I can still get the kiddo on the bus, run, and get home in time to get dressed for work. I have about 20 minutes to get ready but seriously, that is enough time. So far so good....I'm still at it and adding a piece of tech equipment is only going to help! 

Off to take an early lunch and grab my new toy!

The Struggle is Real!

Making a new habit it haaaaaaaaaard.

Last night I decided I was going to get my life together and deleted all the alarms I had set on my phone. And stop snoozing 57 times.

Anyone else relate??

This is only a few of them! 

Well it was decided we’d get up at 6:05 and get around for school. As LB heads to the bus I’d head out for my run. Good plan last night but when I woke up this morning I didn’t want to. I did snooze the alarms. A few times. We ended up getting up at 6:20, still plenty of time to get around and catch the school bus. But I was tired and didn’t want to run.

I kicked around and tried to talk myself out of it while simletaneously talking myself in to it.

I got dressed about 2 min after LB walked out the door and got my run under way.

Getting started is the hardest part. Once I decided to go and got myself out the door the rest was easy! I even got to see a beautiful Oklahoma sunrise. #worthit  Are hashtags a thing in blogs?

I did another 8 cycle run of 1 min run/2 min walk for a total of 24 min. I was back home and had plenty of time to get ready for work, I was even ready early.  So no excuses. I have no reason not to do this. Once I’m up, I’m up.

Day 2 done and done!

This is the app I use for Tabata type workouts:

It's called TimerPro and you can set the intervals any way you like. It works really well, even with my music playing. I set it for 8 rounds of 1 min run and 2 minutes walk. Tomorrow I'll set it for 8 rounds of 2 min run/2 min walk. So if you're looking for a cool app to help you out, especially if you are Naked Running, it works well and you don't have to keep looking at a watch.

Tuesday my new FitBit will arrive! I am pretty excited, even though it has been really nice to just get out and run without worrying about all the details; pace, distance, speed. But... I would like to know how far I go during my workout. And I want to start hitting my step goal each day. And well, if you're not logging or keeping track then are you even walking or getting the steps? I think not.....

Also Tuesday my new barbell arrives! Its gonna be a big day around here! I love getting presents in the mail....even if I did have to pay for them myself. Ahhhh!

Isn't it the pretties barbell you've ever laid eyes on??? So even though I am trying to run more I still can't give up the CrossFit and weightlifting. I love it....

Week 1, Day 1...

Today was Day 1 and it was a success. It wasn’t hard. It was fine.

My plan called for 6 rounds of 1 minute run followed by 2 minute walk. I decided to do 8 rounds. That put me at 24 min total. I spent most of my time messing around with my ear buds. Ugh! I also just enjoyed the fact that I was out for a run! It felt so good! And it was nice knowing I’d be done in 24 minutes. I’m not sure how far I went. My newest Garmin 25 flopped, won’t connect to satellites to even keep the time, much less track runs. It lasted barely two years. I am charging up my old school Garmin 405 but really it just felt nice to use my phone with an awesome timer app to tell me when to run and when to walk.

It was refreshing to not worry about pace or distance. To just go out and run until I’m supposed to walk. Tomorrow I’ll do the same thing, what we used to call a “naked run”. And I have to admit I’m kinda looking forward to it! But on the other hand I have ordered a new Fitbit and I’m pretty excited for it to arrive! So this week, week 1, will be Naked Runs, next week I’ll start with the geeky stats!

I've got my plan...

...YEP.  I've got my plan now I just need to implement it. No biggie. Right?

Starting is THE hardest part. Making the time...most people say they want to do something but then when it comes to actually doing it they never make the time, or are full of excuses. And when I say "they" I completely 107% include myself in that.

I remember when I wanted to start CrossFit and my biggest roadblock, excuse, or issue was time. WHEN? HOW? When would I do it and how would I fit it in? Well you know what? I figured it out because I wanted to! It was important to me, I tried it and liked it and wanted to keep dong it. Now it is part of my regular routine and just like waking up and going to work, I go to CrossFit.

Beginning my running routine is going to be the same. And realistically I am planning on three days a week, THREE. That's it. I can do that. I will do that. 

So I have picked a Couch to 5k then 10K plan. I realize I am not exactly starting from a ZERO fitness level but I  am starting from a zero endurance level and minimal running. I have been lifting weights and working out in short bursts for over three years. My endurance is nonexistent at this point. And it is tough to start with a C25K plan, it's hard on the ego for sure. But this isn't about ego. It is about doing something hard and making a change, taking a stand, and taking control and making a commitment. 

My plan is three days a week, starting with walk/run approach and eventually getting to an all run for 5k then 10k. So my next task: Find a 5k in the next 8 weeks then a 10k in 10 weeks (ish). 

I'm pumped!

The Plan

Most Recent Signature Pose

The Bug....

...the little bitty bug called the Running Bug has been buzzing about my head. I have seen it here and there, heard it on a beautiful evening, felt it on a quiet morning.  He’s after me. 

I’m not going to fight it. 

Now I don’t plan to get crazy but I do plan to start getting a few miles logged. And here’s the hardest part, I’m looking at C25k plans. No shame in it AT ALL. I feel like I want to start from the beginning. I am by no means out of shape. But I am for sure out of RUNNING CONDITION. I can lift 262 pounds up off the ground. I can squat 200 pounds. I can clean and jerk 142 pounds, from the ground to over head. I am strong. But if s bear, or bad guy, or rabid skunk, or mean dog, or zombie, or wasp, or parliament or raccoons were chasing me they’d have me in 400 meters. 

I’d be a goner. 

I don’t like that thought. 

I want to be able to run 15 miles no problem. 

So I think I’m ready to slowly start back getting some mileage and cardio in my life. 

Anyone have any great C25K plans they love? I’m going to be doing some research and planning and hope to have a solid plan by Wednesday. But I’d love to know any of your thoughts! 

Already Ahead....

...once I hit PUBLISH I’ll already be ahead of my 2017 blogging. Can I get a high five?

So I’m still in for Blooms to Brews! Tulips are already in full bloom here in OK so you better believe I threatened Jessica about the tulips up there in the PNW. She assured me that the tulips in fact would be in full bloom end of April. I’m pretty excited to get back up there and run a race… it’s been far too long.

Although this won’t be much of a race per say.  I’m not going for a PR. The training just hasn’t been there. I have no doubt I can cover the distance. But injury has set me back significantly. The past three years I have been busy with something called Crossfit. Ever heard of it? It has been an amazing experience and I’ll be the first to say it’s not for everyone. But for me it has been awesome. If you’re curious you should most definitely give it a try. The atmosphere and community are unlike anything you have ever experienced. Anyway, I digress… the 2018 Open brought with it, like it does every year, challenges and weaknesses are exposed. During 18.1 (1st of 5 workouts) I did a doozie on my body. Long story short over a month later and I am still slowly recovering from an injury sustained to my ribs, shoulder blade, rhomboid major, and AC joint. It sounds serious and awful. It was certainly awful and one of the most painful things I have experienced. But not serious. It just needs time to recover. And I’m not good at taking time off. Especially when I have race to train for. But overall no permanent damage has been done to my body.

 If you’ve ever popped ribs out of place or cracked or injured your ribs in any way you understand just how hard it is to even breath. Forget sneezing, coughing, or laughing. Breathing is so difficult that small shallow breaths are all you can handle, which over time causes a feeling of almost hyperventilating. Not. Fun.

So how the heck can you run when you can’t breath or stand unassisted for more than a couple of minutes? You can’t. Nope. Not at all.

But here I am, 5 weeks later, and I’m hoping to start running Thursday! The Dr. on Thursday threatened to put put me in a sling if I don’t hang on one more week and take it easy.... so I am taking it easy. A few more days. Then I have three weeks to get some fitness in.

So Blooms to Brews won’t be pretty but it’ll be fun!!

And on a final note I need a challenge for the next 365 days.... I turned 39 in March and the next one is gonna be....er..... different than any other birthday I’ve had. I’m working on an epic 40th birthday trip, but until then I need something to keep me going. Back in the day I need a distraction and a goal so I ran a half marathon every month during a tough deployment. I think a half a month is a bit too ambitious given OK doesn’t exactly have the race scene that the PNW afforded me with. But maybe a 5k a month, or a mile a day, or yoga every day, or some kind of registered even a month.... something. And I need to figure it out fast! So give me some ideas!!

Epic BDay cake made by Summer

Ace was super impressed by the bday flowers!

Well HELLO 2018....

Weird....it's been so long. Actually, strangely enough it has been ONE year and ONE day since my last post. That is really weird. I had no idea unit I sat down to actually write this post. I have no idea why I didn't really blog much last year. Maybe I'll do more this year. Maybe.

So what have I been up to the last year? A lot. And well not much at the same time. I guess you could say I've been up to a lot of the same things. Cross Fit mostly. That takes up a lot of my time and attention. I'm definitely hooked. And so my blog title 5 Miles Past Empty doesn't seem to fit anymore. But changing it is pretty overwhelming. It's something I'll be putting a lot of thought in to the next month or so.

So this morning I drug myself out of bed for a run.  I was supposed to do that last weekend but it was 18 degrees and the windchill was just stupid, much worse than that. So why on earth would I purposely go out and run in that kind of weather??? I wouldn't. But this morning it was 54 degrees at 6:15 AM. So I had no excuse...other than wanting to go to Cross Fit at 9 AM. And my friend promised me breakfast afterwards. So of course I was in. And I missed the CrossFit class.

During my 5 mile run I was thinking about all sorts of things, you know, the way you do while on a good run. I was thinking about breakfast, running, Cross Fit, what happened to my love for running, how did I get so out of running shape?? How was I able to run miles and miles and miles and now its so hard? How long will it take to get back in running shape? And the biggest question......

HOW!?  How do I balance my love for Cross Fit and attending classes 3-5 times a week and running any sort of significant mileage? The short and honest answer is I don't know. But I am gonna try.

For the past couple of weeks I have been getting in shorter treadmill runs during the week at home on days I don't go to the gym or "box". Cross Fit is so intense, at least for me because I am not a young spry  whippersnapper anymore, and it takes a toll on my body, so I find it very hard to do both in one day, unless I were to run in the AM and hit Cross Fit in the evening. But even then I am exhausted and my body retaliates. Recovery doesn't come as easy as it used to. And lets be honest, I hate getting up any earlier than I have to.

Now more than ever I am trying to focus on nutrition and recovery as well as injury prevention. After all I wanna keep on doing what I'm doing. for a long time.  And well I have a 13.1 to run in April, Blooms to Brews in Washington. And the best part I'll be running with lots of friends I haven't run with or even seen in so long! And secondly I'll be running past fields of tulips.....my absolute favorite! So with a plan on paper, a goal in my eye,  and motivation in my heart I am off to a good start in 2018!

So here I am....Cross Fitting, Running, and trying to get back to my blog!

It feels good to be back!