5 am

On Friday I was up at 5 again and went to the gym and used their eliptical trainer. It was much harder! I went forwards for the first 15 minutes and backwards for the last 15. I kind of thought I wasn't going to make it. I only sporadically read for the first 15 minutes and then gave up entirely for the second 15. This workout took a lot more concentration than the bike did.

The other thing that was different was that some guy came in around 5:30 or 5:45 to use the treadmill. I was no longer all alone. I kind of liked being there by myself. Anyway, the eliptical machine claimed that I burned twice as many calories as on the bike - and I was on level 3. So maybe it really was harder. It really made me think I need to get in better shape, that's for sure!

It was really hot on Friday. I didn't go running that night. I was also in a meeting all day and didn't get home until around 4 and quite honestly didn't feel like doing anything.

On Saturday I went out to practice and ran for an hour. We had run about 5 miles or so. I think. Then I walked - getting in a total of about 8. I also ran a bit more, but it was pretty negligible. Just running with participants for a brief distance. Anyway, I felt good. It's been a long time since I've run for an hour - even if my pace wasn't so great. I still ran for an hour.

Later that day - my AC broke. They're fixing it today. In the meantime I have a little portable AC unit.

Sunday I took the day off. Today I got up at 5 again and did the bike. This time a half hour at level 8. I don't feel any more sore. Then I lifted some weights before coming back here for my physical therapy. The plan is to go for a run tonight. Though it's still really hot. (supposed to get to 87 today) And it's been really humid. So I'm not expecting a lot out of this run. But I want to get out there and run at least a little bit!

Starting to Train Again

So for the past few weeks I have been waking up to do my physical therapy and sit ups and a few other miscellaneous exercises. It has been going well. Brant left for Malaysia last night, and I am stepping up my training. They aren't really related, but that's what's going on.

This morning I woke up at 5 and went to our apartment gym. There is no one there at that time. It was kind of nice - but next time I'll remember to bring a book - because watching commercials just isn't fun.

I rode the bike for 30 minutes at level 6 on their "fat burning" program. My legs felt a little jelly-ish by the end, but next time I might try level 7. Though my bum is already starting to be sore. Then I came back here and did the rest of my exercises.

I'm a little bummed because I have a meeting tonight and so I can't go for a run like I had planned. Guess I'll just have to go tomorrow.

I know, I know

So recently a couple people have been pointing out that this is ridiculously out of date. I know.

And I really did mean to keep this updated! And somehow it still didn't happen.

So here's a rough view of our running over the last few months....

We are being mentors this season. This worked okay for the first few weeks - we did the 3 mile run with them (were out of town for the 4 - we went home and found a location for our wedding) did the 6, but by the fourth week - doing the 8 - was way too much. Because we really hadn't been doing any of the runs during the week!

So now we've been doing a few of the weekday runs, some of the weeks. :)

Really we are no where near where we would like to be in our running. We both get tired after a max of about 3 miles. And Brant leaves for a month (to Malaysia) on Wednesday. Which I'm pretty sure will put a cramp in his running - though he may be ambitious and actually take his running stuff with him - I think he'll be more interested in actually seeing things while he's there than in running.

But my goal while he is gone is to do more running! It's getting a lot harder because it's been really hot! Today it's supposed to be 93 or something gross like that. We are so incredibly happy that we trained for Alaska last year where it stayed relatively cool pretty much all through April.

I have some secret motivation besides just wanting to be a better runner...I would actually like to be in a bit better shape for my wedding! (Okay, I suppose that's not really secret motivation, but still.)

The plan is that I would like to get to where running for an hour 3-4 times during the week for an hour is normal. And to where I can go out and do 8-12 miles on the weekend. This would make training for half marathons a complete breeze. I would like to switch to half marathons at least for a while - I think I could actually work on getting faster and things like that. I think I will do a few more full marathons, but doing the half just sounds much more reasonable.

Suzuko (my sister) and I were going to sign up for the Nike Women's Half Marathon this October - but they sold out in a few weeks - and we didn't know that. So, we're going to look for a different race. Eventually, we will do a full marathon together as well. I'm working hard to spread my crazy.

Okay, so here's the deal - for this next month, I am going to be running again - and updating this. I can't really make promises - since last time that really didn't pan out, but I really believe I'll keep this updated this time!