Oh, Cigarettes

As previously mentioned, I took four days off running and visited New York for a college friend's surprise birthday party/to hang out with Boulos. There was a LOT of drinking during those four days, which led to me buying a pack of cigarettes and smoking nearly the whole thing. Obviously, my return to running on Monday was full of hacking.

I planned to run about five times around the running path on Monday, which I think I accomplished, but I had to stop and walk twice. Smoking is bad for you, kids. Today, I ran about 3.1 miles around my neighborhood (the 5k I'd mapped, though I ran farther this time and the damn map STILL tells me that I only ran 3.09 miles). With only about 6 minutes left, I had to stop and walk due to a cramp -- but I did better today. I plan to do sprints on Friday. I'm loving the sprints but I made the mistake of doing them twice in a row last week and my legs were KILLING me. However, I seem to have quickly shed a couple pounds around that time, so I'm going to keep them in the rotation.

It's really funny, but every time I take a few days off or smoke, I feel certain I am going to fail at my next run. Not, like, have to walk for awhile, but somehow wind up on the ground in agony, unable to move, halfway through. Maybe if I keep running for a year or so, I'll consider myself a runner. Ha.

Homebody

Just to make sure you all don't think I've fallen off the face of the earth, here I am. I have not run for a while now, which is unfortunate, as I'd finally jumped the hurdle that was week 4, but alas, the blizzard we had was immediately followed by a two and a half week bout with sickness, lame. I'm on antibiotics, and getting rather restless, so I decided I had to do something tonight! I did some yoga which made me feel a lot better.

I have a HUGE weekend ahead of me, since Amanda will be here, and we have all sorts of fun times plans! So, I am going to stick with the yoga to get myself moving again, and hopefully prevent me from actual injury when I head back to the gym next week. It's going to be tough to decide where to pick up, it's been so long, not sure I can jump in to week 5, but I might. I am hoping to do some more outside workouts now too, since it's getting to be SO beautiful out! So, don't worry, I haven't given up! I will keep moving, and sticking to what feels right, and what stays fun!

Update on Post-Program Activities

So on Friday, I had to run. I was planning to drink all day on Saturday so that wasn't going to happen, and I figured I'd feel like poop on Sunday. However, I had to make a few stops on the way home and I wound up not running til about 9 pm. I was kind of frazzled by this but it actually turned out really well because I did not want to run in the (rather secluded) park, so I decided to try a route that is roughly 5k and consists almost entirely of busy streets. I'd seen it suggested on a running site, though oddly it had been removed so I had to re-map it myself.

And I did it in about 34 minutes! Woo! It was a good run.

I took the weekend off for the drinking and the recovery, and today I decided to try interval training, or sprints. I downloaded a podcast that I found via Google and basically did 10 sets of a 30 second sprint followed by a 90 second recovery walk/jog (I did walks for about 1/3 of them and jogged slowly for about 2/3). It was really fun! I think I'm definitely going to be doing these often because time just passes more quickly during them, plus I really like running at a speed closer to "full speed." Unfortunately the podcasts consist of bad house music. I may have to just make up my own interval type training somehow, eventually. After the 20 minutes of intervals (plus the warm-up), I ran a bit more to make it five times around the track and thus about three miles again.

So far, so good! I haven't been slacking off. Although I plan to take off 4 days this weekend (Thursday through Sunday) because I will be in New York with Boulos, eating and drinking and being lazy. Vacation!

First Post-Program Run

So, today I set out with my sister -- who I think I will call The Machine from now on, as this was her second cardio workout of the day on apparently super-achy legs due to some moves she did yesterday, plus it was supposed to be "low-impact" and my pace kept her heart rate perfect for that. I'm sure my heart rate was a lot higher (I hope). She joined me for 20 minutes and then ran home while I completed my last ten.

First of all, it is BEAUTIFUL outside today. It was nearly 60 degrees F here! I think that's like 23 degrees higher than my last run on Monday. I don't even have appropriate clothes for this; I have to get like capri yoga pants and a long-sleeved Tshirt or two. I wore a hoodie that was probably a little too warm.

I decided to run to an '80s mix I made for week 8, which means that after the 5 minute warm-up, it was only 28 minutes long. I thought I'd just run for 2 minutes of the cool-down song and then segue into another song while I actually cooled down.

The thought, "Hey, I've completed the program, I don't need to run the full 30 minutes" totally crossed my mind. But luckily I was able to answer that with, "Um, how about you prove that you can do it?" I was running on the same sidewalks as I normally do in order to keep track of distance, but once my time gets a little better, I need to move on. The same run again and again is BORING. So I got near the end and was on the cool down song. Then I decided I wanted to beat my best distance, so I ran that 2.99 or so. But I still had about a minute and a half left on the song, and I decided, hey maybe I can actually run 5k tonight. I ran for the whole song and made either 3.08 or 3.1 (an actual 5k!!), this running map doesn't quite let you zoom in enough to be sure. So basically, I ran a 5k in about 32:30! YAY!!!!!!

C25K COMPLETE!!!!!!!!!

Well, I've finished the program! I managed to make it through today's run, making it a full 3-run week! Almost exactly 13 weeks after beginning this (tomorrow would be exactly 13). Haha, 9-week program. But given my struggles with week 7, I'm kind of surprised it's only been 13 weeks!

This run was not the smooth, excellent run of Saturday. My legs were useless again at the end and I made it 2.84 miles, not my best.

Oh well. I have to double check when the Cheetah Run 2010: Save Chester 5k is, but I think I have about a month. I should register for that soon. My sister suggested integrating sprints, which sounds interesting but is a concept I need to figure out (how long the sprints should be/how long the walks in between should be, blah blah). I'm thinking I'll do two 30-minute runs a week with a day of sprints in between. And I'm only using my own playlists from now on. I love Carli, but I am SO OVER the week 9 podcast. Although I want to download "Fighter" by Christina Aguilera, that song is awesome.

Well, I plan to still write here, maybe not after every run, but I'll be seeing you around here!

Watch Out, Week 9. You're Going Down!

At last, I do not feel like a decrepit, old, out of shape loser after a run! My legs feel good (well, slightly achy but nowhere NEAR Thursday) and I feel great. And I made it further than last time (well, my playlist was about 30:30, but remember that I added 30 seconds to my last run anyway).

I don't know if it was the cold, PMS/start of my period, lack of sleep, too much food/alcohol and not enough exercise last weekend, the temperature... wow, there are so many variables. All I know is that I still have a bit of a cold, but I had to blow my nose less during this run, probably because I just got back at about 8:45 and it is 37 degrees out there! I didn't have to put my hood up at all during this run, it was great. Also, I slept really late today so I caught up on some zzzzs.

The run itself was pretty fantastic. I think I worked on my pace a little better -- didn't start off too fast and paid attention, slowing down anytime I felt out of breath or like I was starting to get tired. I think the run ended up more evenly paced. I also adore the mix I ran to -- it's all lady singers and some of my favorite songs. So that helped.

I just mapped my route and it looks like I made it 2.99 miles in 30 minutes and 30 seconds. Not too shabby! Wow, if I complete this cheetah 5k in 30 minutes or less, that would be awesome. I guess that's my new goal for March -- complete week 9 on Monday (fingers crossed, but I feel really good about this) and work up to 3.1 miles in 30 minutes.

Week 9 Redux, Day 1: Feels Like the First Time, Feels Like the Very First Time

I hope the crude title offends no one (I am not talking about Week 1 Day 1 when I refer to the first time). But I just got back from starting off my second take on Week 9 and OUCH. Oh my god. I actually LIMPED half the way home. The cherry on top of that shitty sundae was the skinny bitch who ran very speedily right by me while I dragged my left leg behind me, obviously an hour into her run and moving at a pace about 5x what I manage to pull off at my fastest. I hate her. (Also she nearly killed herself darting into traffic when she got the no walk sign because she just couldn't slow down. F YOU FAST RUNNING GIRL.)

Okay. I'm not actually in that shitty a mood, but seriously my legs hurt so badly. I extended my cool down walk by an extra four minutes so that I could sit down without collapsing, crying, giving up on life and begging my dog to end it all for me. My calves, my shins, my left foot and my hamstrings all ache. My left side hurts about ten times worse than my right -- which is usual for me and probably an indication that my form is bad, I'd guess. However, I would like to point out that my quads do not hurt, and that I was babysitting and wearing leggings yesterday and the kid decided he wanted to lay on my lower legs so I could raise them and make him "fly," you know -- that move. And when I lifted my legs with him on my calves, I could see my quads clearly defined through my leggings. I am officially hot shit. Maybe not as hot as running girl whose dust I ate, but still pretty hot.

Tonight, I decided to run to my own mix. I love Carli, but one week of the Week 9 podcast has been enough for me. Plus I had this intense plan to psych myself out -- new music with no clearly defined midpoint, and I began my running route kind of backwards so I couldn't keep such intense track of how much distance I still had.

This worked, kind of. Still, at about the same point I had to walk during my last run -- I could vaguely keep track of about where I was -- I got stomach cramps, leg aches, etc. I had to slow down to probably my slowest "running" pace yet. I looked like the old folks who speedwalk in malls before the stores open, but with a tiny extra hop to each step. Frankly, it was embarrassing. However, I never actually slowed to a walk. When the cramps disappeared and my breathing felt more under control, I forced myself to speed up gradually. Then one of my favorite upbeat songs came on (I timed that one incredibly -- btw it was "This Modern Love" by Bloc Party) and I knew I could make it to the end. At 30 minutes, I wound up with one short block left to match my distance from 2 runs ago. I ran an extra 52 seconds to meet the distance. Given the way my legs feel, on Saturday I will be stopping at exactly 30 minutes regardless of distance.

I hope that walking my dog later helps work out this soreness. I need a personal masseuse if I am going to keep with running. At least until I'm in better shape. Is getting in shape worth this? Are the cheetahs worth this? I honestly don't know. I'm gonna guess that not feeling like an out of shape asshole is worth this.

On demand exercise

After two days of being home sick, it felt as though my muscles were starting to atrophy. Although, due to the nature of the sickness being mainly a head cold, running still didn't feel like a good idea, so I decided to check out the trusty on demand workouts brought to me by cable TV. I was psyched to discover a cardio yoga, so it was actually quite a good workout, and rather rigorous for yoga. I feel SO much better already, I'm happy that I seem to have reached a point in life where my body actually does want me to be physically active. Although I'm pissed to have hit yet ANOTHER hurdle in the program, I'm happy to at least have made enough progress to realize that being a lazy lump is not good times. So, I will probably not be attempting another run for another couple of days, but getting back to working out in any capacity will help ease my transition once again.

Week Nine, Take One -- Fail!

Well, my first attempt at Week Nine did not pan out. Unsurprisingly. I mean, did I really think that after three days off, including a weekend full of fatty dips and chips and frozen pizzas and cookies and bourbon and beer and shopping while other people took part in physical activity and very little sleep, followed by a Sunday night of booze and cigarettes and very little sleep even though I could already feel myself getting a cold, followed by a Monday during which the actual cold developed, with intense sinus grossness, and my eye became wonky (totally bloodshot -- retina cut from my contacts, or conjunctivitis? Who knows), and I got my period... I mean basically yesterday I felt like I was falling apart. Today didn't feel much better, but I knew if I did not lace up those shoes and get out there, I might never complete Week Nine. So I headed out after some intense procrastination, around 7:30.

It's been nice here, highs of like 36, and it was 32 when I headed out, but I'm a baby and felt really cold. Need I even say that I did not have a very "can-do" attitude? So I ran, and could not stop thinking about how much time I had left/how much farther I had. During the rare times I let go of those thoughts, running was much easier. But my head wasn't in it today and I gave into a walk at about 16 minutes. I probably walked for a minute or two, rounded a corner and began running again. I tacked on an extra minute or so of running to the end, and managed to make it as far (distance-wise) as I had on Friday.

The good news is that most of the ice on the sidewalks has melted. I ran into a few deceptive spots of thin black ice, but I can run without the Yak Trax. Of course, the running track is still under a ton of snow because for whatever reason, that stuff just doesn't melt over there. I can't wait to get back to the track and see how that affects my run. Will it bore the shit out of me? Will my pacing be better? Pray for sunshine and warmth!

Good news though -- my legs are not unbearably sore. They feel pretty okay! Three days off was good for something.

Starting Week Nine over again Thursday -- I will not count this program complete until I can run for 30 minutes three times consecutively! p.s. I really need some spring running clothes...

30 Minutes: 2 Minutes Too Long, According to My Legs

I just completed Day 2 of Week 9, and I made it through the run again (though, again, I did not reach 3.1 miles). OH MY GOD, MY LEGS. I almost sat down and cried on the walk home. Then I sat down to take off my Yak Trax, and I almost stayed there and cried. Then I audibly whined while stretching, and almost cried again. It's worn off a bit and really only warrants a sad face now, but it was definitely worth giving up and crying during the cool-down walk.

I find this amusing because, though I think my legs have been achy since beginning this, I feel like this ache is so much more intense than week 8's aches (haha, say that five times fast). Would my legs implode if I tried for 32 minutes? Gee whiz, muscles. Quit your complaining.

So now I'm trying to decide whether to finish week 9 in six days, as I'd planned -- I have a friend's birthday on Monday, so I can't run that night -- or whether I should give my legs a rest and finish it Tuesday, taking eight days to finish this week. I might opt for the latter. Besides, I'm about to hop in the shower and then go to Wisconsin, and I'm reading at a sex show on Sunday night and cannot guarantee I'll be back in time to cram a run in there.

Have a lovely weekend! I will be sitting indoors reading while my more adventurous friends go snowboarding and skiing.

Quick Note

Ok, so here's the rundown. Wednesday= me falling asleep on the couch, and therefore missing my window to head to the gym. Since then, I have been buried under roughly 16" of snow, closing the rinky-dink gym (although I love it's tiny size, blizzards causing it to close is becoming way more of an issue than originally anticipated), and causing a delay in my progress. I'm confident by tomorrow I should be able to make it there without issue.

I will now have to assess if the time lapse will cause me to do one more week 4 workout, or just soldier on, and try out my W5 D1 with such a long break. I guess we'll see! I'm pissed b/c I'd finally gotten on a good schedule, but I've recovered from longer breaks before, so I'm not discouraged. One day I"ll be posting about my 30 minute run as well, even if it takes an f-ing year. Haha.

Happy Snow Day, ALL!!!!!!!!

I Can Run For THIRTY MINUTES!!!!!!!!!

Week 9, Day 1 complete, and I ran for 30 minutes. Yay!! My left calf feels like it's gonna fall off, but hey, such is the price of accomplishment.

It's cold out there! In the 20s (the temperature has been rising and I'm becoming a baby about anything less than freezing). However, I think we're past ninja mask weather (knock on wood). Carli's mix is funny. First of all, personally I would put "Song 2" by Blur toward the end -- it's fantastic, but it's also about two minutes long, so you feel like you've accomplished a lot by running to one song, and really you have not. Then comes Daft Punk's "Better Faster Stronger," which is a great song to run to, but about halfway through I started to have a strange sensation, like I was a running robot. It was weird. And I have to disagree with having the Eminem song on there. The one from 8 Mile was fine, it's somewhat inspirational. This one is very angry-sounding. I do not like angry-sounding when I run.

Oh, and the WEIRDEST part -- "Eye of the Tiger" is on there, but it is not the vocal version, it's a weird muzac-ish version in which the music is the normal Survivor music, but the melody is electronic. It's a bad instrumental, and it makes me sad.

Anyway, it's still pretty decent, despite all this weirdness. Or at least, it's runnable. And I ran, and it was okay. I felt good for awhile, around 20 minutes I wanted to quit and had to slow down a lot. I had to ask a guy and his friend to let me through around 28 minutes, and the guy was all, "Oh, have a great night! Be careful!" and it was really cute, so that helped me pick up my pace a bit at that point.

The only annoying thing is that I only ran 2.84 miles, but I have at least a month to better my time if I am doing the Cheetah Run 2010: Save the Cheetahs! (I plan to add a bit to the name of this run every time I talk about it). So, whatevs! Now time to take a hot shower in hopes that my damn muscles will stop aching quite so much.

Seriously. The cool-down walk was painful and I was a floppy weirdo with little control over my body. Ouch.

Update: "Skinny Jeans"

I have two pairs of jeans I have been unable to wear for... quite awhile. I just tried them on; I'm wearing one pair (which is from Old Navy and is actually really unflattering, but hey, they fit). The other pair juuuuuuuuust fits -- I was able to button them! I probably haven't been able to do that in about a year. So, yay!

Bye Bye Week 4!!!

Last night, I finally COMPLETED WEEK 4!! It's a miracle! Week 4 was (up to this point) my Everest. I really think that it has been a really good experience to break down what was causing me to stagnate, and now I feel like I might actually be able to get to week 9 at some point! Now my only issue for the week is scheduling. I plan on starting week 5 tomorrow, but then I will not be able to run until Saturday. I'm hoping that I will be ok with a two day break. I've done it in the past, but with the variable schedule that week 5 brings, I hope that it doesn't cause me any trouble. I am FINALLY planning on heading to yoga on Thursday, for real this time. I haven't been in two months, and after starting week 5 tomorrow, and with the return to weight lifting, I think it will be a fantastic way to recover!

So, crazy treadmill girl was there again, and someone has requested I take a video of her, but she was like 6 machines to my left, so it just wasn't possible. If I can ever manage to do so, I'll be sure to post it, haha. The one thing that really bothered me last night was the kickboxing class! The crazy drill sargent lady that runs the class pumps the music up SO high, that it was hard to hear my cues, forcing me to keep an eye on the time. I do much better when I am not exactly sure of the time that has elapsed, so that's something I'll have to keep in mind for Monday night runs. I'm very happy to have tonight off, but my calf is feeling a bunch better! It didn't hurt while I was running, and although is still a bit achy, it's not at all debilitating or anything, so onward and upward!

Completing Week Eight

I would be lying if I told you that my run today was fun or easy. It was a struggle the whole time and I was tempted to take a walking break several times. But, I made it through, at times running at a near crawl, but running nonetheless.

We got our snow last night and a bit today -- luckily not the 12 inches they tried to scare us with, maybe 3 or 4 inches? It's really hard to say because it was 36 degrees when it began snowing and I don't think it's gone below freezing since. So it took forever to stick and it's pretty much been a melty, slushy mess. Which, btw, is the most annoying type of snowy crap to run through. Yak Trax work but you can still slip and slide, and puddles abound. My feet were wet before my warm-up walk was through.

Speaking of Yak Trax, I think mine might make it through the season but I need new ones soon! The rubber broke on both of them in a rather unimportant-seeming place, but when I took one off after my run, it had slid up too far in the front. They have served me well, though, and with the changes in temperature they've been through, I'm surprised the rubber did not get brittle and break before now!

As I told Boulos earlier today, I've smoked three cigarettes since my last run. Now, it wasn't so much that my lungs were achy or anything, but I was really, really phlegmy. This made it hard to breathe and just kind of made the run difficult. Plus I'm a baby who doesn't like running in daylight. PLUS, I was at the very end of my run and really wanted to make it as far as I had last time. But this total dumbass decided to park her car in an alley, completely blocking the sidewalk, in the snow. So I had to stop running and walk carefully around her car because of snow piles. I HATE HER. It was my last minute and I wanted to run full stop! Believe me, I shook my head and gave her a very dirty look. You can't back up your car a little when you see someone running at you? Man, she is really lucky I didn't knock on her window and then slap her.

Um, as you can see, I wasn't in the best mood by the end of my run. But I'm in a better mood now (just still really mad at that dumb... well, insert whichever word you think I would use here. Hint: it rhymes with bunt p.s. there is a street in Chicago called Lunt and myself and other natives discuss how it's our favorite street).

On to week Nine! This one might take more than a week to complete, but I've got time! If I sign up for Cheetah Run 2010 (that's what I'm gonna call it), I have over a month to prepare. Rawr!

Mini Update

Today my right calf is SO SORE. I think that it might have something to do with my potassium levels. I usually have a banana every day, and I haven't had one since Wednesday or so. I guess I'll have to get back on it tomorrow, because I am supposed to complete week 4 tomorrow night, and now that I'm finally getting onto a good schedule, I do not want to be derailed by pain! I believe Amanda went through this a few weeks back, so I don't think it's uncommon, it's just something to keep my eye on.

Alright, happy Sunday night, everyone!

Week Eight, Day Two

Today was a lovely day for a run -- 36 degrees when I left. That's just about the perfect temperature to run in a fleece-lined sweatshirt and I actually came home pretty sweaty. I wore my Yak Trax because I had not been out today, but all that accomplished was running with a clicking sound -- almost all of the ice and snow on the sidewalks had melted. The park, however, is still covered in a mix of snow and giant puddles -- still running on the sidewalks.

I have to admit, I had a cigarette on Wednesday. After over two weeks without one! So I was a little concerned that I wouldn't make it through the run today. Also, I had no running partner. I felt like I hit a good pace around the halfway point; I didn't feel out of breath and felt like I was running, not fast walking with a little bounce (um, sometimes that is pretty much my speed). Then when I had around 8 or so minutes left, I felt like I needed to quit or die. But, I just slowed down and didn't let myself quit or die.

So I ran 28 minutes again! Woo! And I got a bit farther on this run -- just measured it and I ran 2.74 miles, which is .01 miles less than I should have according to the program. Yay!

Does this mean I will actually be starting Week Nine next week? omg. Well, let me tell you that I have been downloading TONS of fun running songs this week in an effort to create a bunch of playlists so that when I finish the program, I can just continue 30 minute runs three times a week, and a million different playlists might keep me from getting bored with that.

Day Three of Week Eight is scheduled for Monday. I hope that works out -- we're supposed to get a bunch of snow starting Sunday night and the bulk of that should arrive on Monday. But I like running in the snow, so it should be fine.

Movie Montage

Today was a great day for a run. Although the weather was up to nearly 40 and sunny, I chose to run at the gym because the massive snow piles throughout town are melting everywhere, and I had no desire to ruin my lovely running shoes, or have annoyingly wet feet when I'm trying to get through the week that has proved too hard for me in the past. Because I knew the weather was warmer, I was able to wear capri length workout pants, knowing I wouldn't freeze my butt off on my walk to the gym. Wow, what a wonderful difference some breeze on my legs made! I was still sweating like a pig, as my Mom would say, but I didn't feel overheated.

Saturday might be my new favorite gym day. There was only one other person there for most of the time, and then some girl showed up 20 minutes before closing, and did the most pathetic attempt at a workout ever, making me feel far superior, and spurning me to finish that final five minute run. I had fun today trying to compose mental movie montages that coordinate with the MJ songs playing on my podcast. Too bad I don't have nearly enough video clips of my life to make these possible, because they were quite entertaining.

So, week 4D2 is officially complete! I decided to take a day off the strength training though, to give my muscles a bit of a breather, but with plans to head back on Monday, they won't have long to rest. I'm so proud to be back on track, and feeling great about it. The feelings of impending death are severely reducing as I progress, so that's nice, haha. Alright ladies, enjoy the rest of your weekend, time to munch, and then head out to a friend's bday party later. Woo!

The Way You Make Me Feel!

So tonight was a big one for me, as far as the program goes. I returned to W4D1, in hopes that my regression had prepared me for week 4 again, and it did!!! First of all, I did some research to try and find a different podcast for week 4, since although I love Carli, the week 4 from her site makes me want to stab myself in the ear with a fork. So, after a lot of reviews on c25k.com, and the c25k Facebook page, I found a podcast by someone named Suz, and it's awesome!

Apparently Suz is known for having a super dirty week 4 mix, which included several songs with explicit lyrics. This actually sounded good, because I figured it would be a good distraction, but upon further review, I had read enough reviews to learn that the dirty mix was missing a run. Just when I was going to give up, I saw that she'd made a tribute Michael Jackson week 4 workout, which got me so psyched!!!!! I love MJ anyway, and the prospect of a new approach to the week that has been my biggest challenge really made my day!

I forgot how intense week 4 really does feel as compared to week 3. I think it's so funny how week 3 can seem so easy now, but I think that mentally I made some great strides today in regards to week 4. Basically, when I was ready to just quit (which happened as early as the first five minute run), I just decided that I wouldn't. I kept pushing to end of each song, and that is really a phenomenal strategy. I realized that when I stopped thinking about when I could stop running, that I really physically didn't feel like I needed to stop. My body kept going, and feels like it could've possibly, even after the final five minute run, which gives me hope for the weeks to come. I did do my strength training once again, and I am pretty sore. Unfortunately, yoga was tonight at 8, but I had to get myself home for the Olympics! Alas, I will head back to it soon, it was always a nice way to ease the pain from running.

So, I think that getting back to a regular schedule will really be the key to my advancement. I have got to get myself back out to run on Saturday. Also, I decided to slow my pace down a bit, which helped a TON. I think that I was overdoing it before, which also caused me to get fatigued way too quickly. I will build speed after I conquer the timed runs!

Oh, and finally... crazy treadmill death-grip girl was back. I seriously do not know what is up with her! I can't imagine running in her crazy up and down manner, with the shortest of strides, hanging on for dear life. It is beyond bizarre, but continues to entertain me. I am completely exhausted, btw, so I apologize for what seems like an endless ramble.

Love you all, thanks for sticking with our crazy blog!!

28 Minutes! My Running Partner Helped Me Do It.

I don't know what I was thinking last post, but Week Eight (Finally! Finally!) is 28 minutes, not 28.5 minutes. And I did it! Woooooooooo!

My sister joined me for my run -- embarrassingly, this was her second workout on a 2-a-day day, the lighter one -- and she let me set the pace since she's a fast runner and former marathoner and stuff. I think my pace is a bit slow -- I didn't make it far enough past where I ended up on my 25 minute run to feel like my pace was really appropriate -- but I'm just happy I don't fall down and die during these runs. My shin hurts, too, so there's that. I mean, if I wind up running a 5k (I am on the fence -- I really don't like the idea of a crowded group run), and it takes me over 3o minutes, I will really be fine with that.

Anyway, it was uneventful but a good time. No hecklers, no falls, it's like 33 degrees out and that is nice. The one thing I want to say is that Carli's Week 8 podcast is pretty great. There's a Black Eyed Peas song on there that I actually like, as well as the theme from Rocky (not Eye of the Tiger -- the other song), which is seriously dramatic and awesome to finish up a run to.

Cross Training Realization

So, I did another week 3 workout last night (yes, a full week after my last workout), and the running went very well, but then I did something monumental... strength training! For the first time since October, I was accompanied by my old gym buddy, which did help with motivation. Although due to spinal issues, she must remain on the elliptical machine while I rock the treadmill, we always followed up our cardio with weights. I think that getting back into a regular schedule of both will really help me build my endurance. I usually get my groove going the second running block into a workout, but by the end I really struggle. I think that getting myself into more overall shape can only help me continue to progress further in the program, while also helping me to prevent injury.

Thankfully, the upcoming weeks are relatively uneventful for me, which will really help me to get back on schedule. Although I'm incredibly impressed with Amanda's participation in a public event, I do not believe that is in the cards for me any time soon, and I'm ok with that. I mean, I am obviously further behind in the program, but I'm really into my own pace, and with the addition of the weights, I think that I'm on the right track.

Finally, I would like to point out, that although I miss out on sweet heckling by running inside, I did witness some excellent craziness last night at the gym. First, it was Tuesday night Zumba, which is always amusing and a fantastic distraction. I seriously want to try it some day, it looks ridiculous fun! Secondly, I saw some treadmill behavior that made me realize that no matter how silly I may feel, I look normal compared to some. The girl on the machine in front of me looked like she was holding on to the treadmill for dear life. The girl, who weighs no more than 90lbs or so, had wrapped both her arms around the button panel in front, increased the speed and incline way too high for her fitness level, and was running with such short strides, it basically looked like she was jumping up and down. She started this craziness halfway through my run, and was still doing it when I left the gym. This is insane! If she had let go, she would've been shot straight backwards into my machine, and lost a limb or something! Perhaps this ridiculous behavior is what keeps her so skinny, but as far as I'm concerned, it looked like the girl had lost her mind!

I Declare Week Seven Completed

I totally cheated this week by making my third run on a Monday when my first run was... last Monday. I was planning to run yesterday but that did not happen. On Saturday, I had to take an exam at 7:30 a.m. (for teaching certification, which I am looking into). I also had a friend's birthday party that night. Unfortunately, the nap I planned to take did not pan out and I stayed out until about 5 a.m. and drank too much. I woke up Sunday a) with my cold back YET AGAIN -- my nose is super stuffy and b) with a bad hangover. I had to sleep until 4 p.m. and after that, I had Valentine's Day plans with my family. I got home at about 9:30 but felt it was too late to run outside after that guy in the hood last week. So yesterday, instead of running I ate a cupcake in honor of V-day. Ha. Though I didn't smoke, and have only had ONE DRAG of a cigarette in over two weeks. Yay for me.

Yesterday, a couple of things gave me further motivation to continue (it is strange, but every time I take 2 or 3 days off, I feel certain that I will leave the house, attempt to run, and just utterly fail immediately. Let's blame years and years of smoking and exercise avoidance). I weighed myself yesterday morning and realized I had reached a certain goal I've been looking forward to (sorry, not willing to publish my actual weight, haha). Now, yesterday I was dehydrated and off a normal eating schedule due to the hangover and all the sleeping, but I weighed myself when I got up today and I think I can definitely say I've reached this particular goal. And I certainly don't want to throw it away. I stupidly did not really take an official weight before beginning this program -- plus December, month of pig outs and cookies, was the first month of it -- but I think I've lost over ten pounds. Probably eleven or twelve. Yay!

The other source of inspiration was not as awesome. Pictures from the other night were posted on Facebook and I'm not crazy about how I look in them. Also, as a sidenote -- I wore a shirt that I worried was too see-through. Yes, yes -- turns out it is pretty sheer. Whoops.

Anyways. Today's run was good. The best part had to be when I ran past this tall guy and he loudly exclaimed, "Baby, baby, lookin' good! Work it off!" hahaha. I hope he heard my appreciative laugh. The last two songs were kind of a struggle and there were points at which I was barely running. But overall, the run felt good, especially considering I hadn't run in three days.

I really think 28.5 minutes is going to be a struggle, because I was soooooo ready for the run to end, and I briefly considered what it would be like to have 3.5 minutes left (aka basically another song), and that made me briefly want to die. I think that about 99% of this is mental, though, so I will try to go into week eight with a better mindset -- beginning it on Wednesday, wish me luck!

Also, and this is kind of strange, I am considering signing up for this. It is a "Run for the Cheetah." Now, when you think of worthy charities, you may not think of cheetahs. However, I think I've stated before that I'm not really that into big races -- and all the other 5ks in Chicago look like they'll be giant. This one will probably be a bit less popular. And, I like cheetahs! And the entry fee is less than $30. So I'm considering this.

Three in a Row! And, Ouch.

Well, technically I have completed week seven, FINALLY!!! I just got back from my third successful 25 minute run. I mean, I had to pause once at an alley to let a car go by, and another time when I dropped my mp3 player (during the last song -- I was taking it out to see how much longer I had!). But such is running on the streets when the park is beneath 12 inches of snow and thus unrunnable.

We're no East Coast/Midatlantic/whatever, but we got 12 inches the other day and it was our biggest storm of the season. My sister suggested I put my feet in Ziploc freezer bags before placing them in my shoes, but I did not and I made out okay. People tend to actually shovel when you get a foot of snow -- it's that three or four inches that they disdainfully sneer at and leave me to fall and die in. So there wasn't too much to run through, except for those slushy messes that gather at crosswalks.

Speaking of the snow, I stayed home yesterday but had to dig out my car in the morning. I woke up today thinking WHAT THE FUCK DID I DO TO MY BACK LAST NIGHT?! Then I realized this terrible, horrible, neverending ache in my upper back and shoulders is due to shoveling. And right now, I am sitting here with achy post-run legs. I kind of feel like a bus ran me over.

The run itself was fine except for that mp3 thing. I wore the ninja mask because it's 22 degrees out, which isn't sooooooo cold, but I was just feeling cold even before I left the house. It looks like I covered just over 2.32 miles, which isn't amazing, but I suppose I have to factor in the snow, and also just deal with the fact that if my pace needs to be a bit slower than I'd like so that I can actually make 25 minutes, so be it.

My plan is to do one more 25 minute run on Sunday, and then begin week 8 next week! I hope I can do it!

Sporadic, yes, but better than nothing!

So, I was able to get back to the gym and continue on tonight, and week 3 being repeated continues. I still hold that week 3 is the ideal workout for me. Even if I added another round of alternating running/walking, I'd still love it. So, due to the unfortunate passing of a friend's future Mother-in- Law, I cannot do my run on Thursday night as originally planned, because I now have to go to a wake. I would possibly attempt a run tomorrow, but since the snow has already started, and we are possibly getting up to 2 feet, I can guarantee that my rinky-dink gym will be closed. Sigh... I also have plans on Friday night, so I have to wait until the weekend to run again, but I'll do it!!

I feel like my posts are so lame, since I'm like a hamster that keeps repeating my actions, but I do love the week 3 workout. I am hoping that with a different podcast, and getting back to a more consistent schedule will lead me to week 4 and beyond.

Well, Alice & I will be hanging out tomorrow on our snow day. Stay safe out there, and happy running!!

Huge Sigh of Relief. It Was Not a Fluke!

I was able to run for 25 minutes again! It was not a flash in the pan accomplishment created by a super special alignment of the planets + 15 hours of sleep or something. This is great news.

So actually, I got like 6 hours of intoxicated sleep last night (um, Superbowl followed by live band karaoke. And yeah, I do waaaaaaaay too much of my partying on Sunday nights). I noticed on Saturday after I completed my run, I finally was not smelling ammonia afterward. I think it's because I drank a fair amount of water that day -- I babysit most days and it's really hard to get a sufficient amount of water in when you're chasing after a kid. So I figured the water may have helped, and when I got home today I drank a couple of glasses to make sure I had enough (I also drank a grande latte -- I am really lucky I did not pee my pants during this run!).

I was seriously tired today, but we're supposed to get 12 inches of snow tomorrow so I wanted to run before that. I headed out a bit later than usual, around 8:30, and used one of my own playlists again -- also nice to know I don't necessarily require Carli's encouraging words to make it through the run. I started out in the park but after one lap, I had kind of a scare. This guy/kid/teenager? (I'm old now, btw, and I didn't really get a good look) was crossing the street toward me with his hood up, concealing his face; I expected him to go to a car or head toward the sidewalk that cuts through the park, but he kept walking straight across the grass directly toward me, which just seemed off. I realized quickly that there was no one else around. Like, I saw no one. And the running path is a few feet in from the edge of the park, which is across the street from all of the houses -- basically the chances of quickly alerting anyone to anything aren't in your favor. I picked up my pace a little (that and the adrenaline kicked my ass for a few minutes after this encounter, btw), keeping an eye on my shadow to make sure he wasn't coming behind me. I'm sure it was nothing, but I felt weird about circling the park again and decided to head over to run on the sidewalks, closer to houses (and my zig-zag path takes me on busy streets as well).

I'm usually pretty fearless about walking/running in my neighborhood alone but I realize that on occasion I can probably be overconfident. The guy was most likely just cutting through the park but, newsflash to dudes: when you walk toward a lone lady at night and you have your hood up, you are being creepy. So, don't do that. Thanks. I was skittish for the rest of the run, continually seeing things out of the corner of my eyes. Annoying.

But, anyway. I did it again! Yay! I think I'll keep to the 25 minutes the rest of this week, and move on to 28.5 next week.

ZOMG I RAN FOR 25 MINUTES FINALLY !!!!!1111

I finally did it! On a totally unexpected day. I last ran Tuesday. I planned to run Thursday, but my cold came back pretty badly that day and my nose was really, really stuffy. I came home and napped for awhile; when I woke up, my voice was nearly gone. No running that evening. So I planned to do it last night instead. But when I got home yesterday, I felt like I'd been hit by a bus and my stomach felt queasy. I was in bed by 7 p.m. and I slept through the night, until 10 this morning! So, um, yeah. No running then, either.

I did not feel 100% today, but both my respiratory system and my stomach were feeling better. So after spending the day laying around my parent's house and eating an "Italian Turkey" with fries -- it's like an Italian beef, but with turkey, and if you don't live in Chicago you probably don't know what that means, except Boulos might know, but I can assure you it is NOT a healthy meal -- I decided I needed to run around 9 p.m. I was getting sleepy and lazy again and really just wanted to fall into bed, but I did not want to get too off course with this and I knew I needed to get back out there.

I set out pretty certain I would be okay with a two-break run. I had no confidence that I might make a full 25 minutes. I'd taken more days off than I had in a long time, and I was certain that my less than stellar physical condition would make tonight's run super difficult.

However, I think the key here was that I paced myself much better today. I started out running slowly because I didn't want to push myself too hard today. And after awhile I felt like, hey, I think I can run for longer than I thought. After five or so minutes, I was thinking, um maybe I can do the whole 25? And that encouraged me to focus on not running too fast. I still made it around the track over 4 times (that is over 2.5 miles), so my pacing was just about right on. The last minute was tough, because I figured I'd end at just 2.5 miles and the 25 minutes took me a bit farther, but I did it! I even ran an extra 30 seconds or so to make it to one end of the track. Boo ya, 25 minute run!

I am so excited about this. YAY!!!!!!!!!! Soooo... what is the secret? Eating a fatty sandwich and fries and getting 15 hours of sleep? Um, yeah, that's not gonna happen every time. So, I'll just have to do my best. My next run will be Monday; hopefully I can repeat this and then I'll consider my next move. Should I move on to week 8 then? I don't know. We'll see.

Back in the saddle!

So, I went from no blogs in over two weeks to two in one day! I had to report that I did finally get back to the program, and I feel sooo good about it! I decided in order to avoid injury after my long hiatus, I should head back down a notch, and I think it was a great idea. Week 3 is seriously my favorite, and I think that I might just re-do it before I head back to my dreaded week 4.

Two bonehead things I did in my return:

1) I did my entire warm up walk AND my first 90 second run at a 2% incline! This may not seem like a lot, but considering I like a 0 to at the MOST a 1%, this was crazy! I realized later, but was proud that I had even been able to do that. It made me realize that to increase endurance and calorie burn, I really should keep it to at least a 0.5%, which is also supposed to make outdoor running easier.

2) When I got to the cool down, I was already thinking about what I'd write in our blog. How I wish I could somehow take a snapshot of the feeling I get after a good workout, and how I can't believe I stayed away so long from something that seemed so easy! Then, I heard Carli say "Ok, great job on your last three minute jog!" which made me feel simultaneously confused and annoyed! My immediately pre-hiatus self would have thought this was meant to be, and would have just kept on walking, but I felt cheated! I not only felt I'd be cheating myself, but you guys as well, so I did a three minute run and then extended the cool down. I think that the silliest part about this, was while walking when I should have been running, I was thinking, Carli should have made this song play while running, it's so upbeat! Haha, duh...

So, there you go, I'm back! I'm so happy to have finally gotten myself together, and it's really amazing how healthy actions can take on a snowball effect. I started counting points again this week, followed by packing all food for the work day, and now I am back to the program! I have plans to head back to yoga for the first time in over a month, and I can't wait. Thanks for sticking with me ladies, you're the best, and I couldn't do it without your continued support and motivation! Yay!

Owning Up...

Hello all! As you may have noticed (or since I'm assuming we have more than like two faithful readers, you may not have), I have been conspicuously absent for nearly three weeks, and it's time to f-ing get myself together and get back to it!

Originally, my hiatus was mostly a mental one, since I kept psyching myself out during my repeats of week 4. I don't know if it's fear of failure, or success, or the resposibility I feel because of this blog, but I just was not in a good mindset to continue! So, I decided to take a week off, re-group, and head back out with a vengence. One week would have been ideal, but alas, that's not how it went down. Last Monday, I literally got dressed for the gym, sat down for my pre-workout snack, and then... didn't go. The RIDICULOUS amount of rationalization I was going through cannot even be explained. There was no reason for me to stay home, except for the fact that I was LAZY. I did read a post on the C25K facebook page about getting back to working out, and some people had stopped in the middle for MONTHS or longer, so this made me feel pretty good about myself! I then had all these plans during the week, and I didn't make running a priority, so I continued to skip it.

The worst part was that I didn't even want to log into the blog, because the guilt was overwhelming! I know it's self induced, but I felt so terrible that I'd started this whole thing with all the excitement in the world, and then ended up with one injured friend, and another who, under other cirucumstances, sounds like she should've been training for the Olympics since birth!

So, here I am owning up to my absence, and making it right! Last night I REALLY did plan on going, and NJ Tranist thwarted my attempts! I MUCH rather would have attempted a triumphant return to the treadmill, rather than being stuck in Port Authority, but it was not in the cards. So, tonight I have my workout gear ready to go. The boyf & I already decided our dinner menu, and I've even started couting points again this week! Although I might have to even repeat a week 3 workout to help me get back on the horse, I don't care! Getting back to it is my number one goal for now. Progress will eventually follow.

Sorry for abandoning you out here for so long, Amanda, I won't let it happen again!!!

Damn You, Elusive 25 Minute Run!

Okay, I'm actually not that angry. Today's failure was to be expected. As of yesterday, I felt as though I was getting over this cold. However, this morning I woke up unable to breathe through my nose. It sucks, and it's hard to run when the nose breathing isn't that great. I should go back in time and tell my Sunday self to stop ordering shots of "the cheapest whiskey you have" (actual quote), suggest NOT staying out until 2 a.m., and grab those two cigarettes out of my mouth and crush them beneath my heel. Alas, I am pretty sure I know why the cold is not retreating/why breathing even under normal conditions is kind of an issue right now.

Today was probably my poorest showing in awhile -- I had to take two breaks and each lasted a song, both songs just over three minutes long (I ran to another mix I made for myself -- btw "The Modern Leper" by Frightened Rabbit and "Not Even Jail" by Interpol are great running songs). But you know, what are you going to do when you can't breathe? Not much. I still managed to cover about 2.5 miles in about 25 minutes and 30 seconds. My next run will be either Thursday or Friday (I have tentative plans for Thursday so if I don't feel great, I think I'll move to Friday). Let's see if I can get through the 25 minute run by Sunday at latest!

Week 7 Keeps Going

I managed to quickly cram in a run yesterday even though I didn't wake up until 5 p.m. and had a show to get to by 7:30. Still couldn't do a full 25 minutes. I took a break about 2/3 of the way through, which I think is a little better, as it was a bit later in the run. I again ran to my own playlist, and I have to say it is a good one. Garbage, Sarah McLachlan remixed, Florence and the Machine... it's a lady-centric mix and it's great.

So, still planning on repeating week 7 again this week. Maybe, at this rate, I'll finish up right around St. Patrick's Day. I think there is a 5k here that weekend, perhaps I'll sign up for it.

A REAL 25 minute run with just one break

Okay, I'm really proud of myself today. I had to stay home and take a nap because I have a pretty bad cold -- sore throat, very stuffy nose, etc. I'm having trouble breathing as it is and running seemed so very undoable. I skipped it last night, in fact, due to exhaustion because of this cold , which only got worse today(and also because yesterday was the most frigid day this week). But I did not want to get off schedule when I am already struggling to complete week 7, so after a nap and some soup, I got out there.

It's still pretty cold -- around 15 degrees F. I wore my ninja mask, which I kept on for more than half the run! I think it was actually helping me breathe with this cold. Finally the ninja mask works its magic. Also, I took a tip from someone on Facebook who had commented on another friend's running-in-the-cold-related status and popped in a mentholated cough drop before going out. I feel like this helped my breathing and my general mucusness so much.

I ran to the updated Running Into Shape podcast, which is actually 25 minutes. I was feeling pretty good and then my nose was stuffing up and I decided to take a break to blow my nose, take off the mask, and catch my breath. So just over halfway through the run, I did that. I walked for about two minutes and then resumed the run. I then got a slight cramp just below my ribs on my right side, which I tried to good-breathe away, but pretty much stayed with me the rest of the run. But it was only a minor cramp.

I think I am pacing myself well in terms of the C25K goals! Even with a 2-minute walking break, I made it around the track over four times in the 25 minutes. I believe the track is 5/8 of a mile, so that means I ran just over 2.5 miles, which is the goal for 25 minutes. I have decided I definitely prefer the track because for whatever reason, the pace I set on it seems easier to maintain and I don't get out of breath as easily.

Okay, so my plan is to try and do a full 25 minutes on Sunday if I'm feeling a bit better. I think I'm going to repeat week 7 one more time -- I want to do the 25 minute run at least twice before moving on. But I should still complete the program by the end of February! (Hopefully.)

25 minutes with just one break... but....

Well, shit. I just finished my first day of repeating week 7, and I was all proud that I only took one break, about 10 minutes in. Then I was looking at the podcast on the way home and wondering why the hell it is only 33 minutes long, when a 25 minute run + two 5-minute walks should = 35 minutes. And I SWEAR TO GOD I had downloaded the up to date Running Into Shape week 7 podcast. I swear!!

No, I didn't. I got home and looked at the site and re-downloaded, and she added another song to make up for the 3 missing minutes :( So, I can run for just over 22 minutes (I added about 30 seconds on at the end to "make up for" my 2 minute-ish walk in the middle) with just one break. Damnit! Foiled again!

Well, anyway. I still feel like I'm improving. Who's to say I wouldn't have made it another 3 minutes? Haha. Kind of doubtful, but it's in part the fault of the weather. It got cold again -- weather.com said it was about 20 F when I left and felt like 7. And it is WINDY. Luckily, I wore leg warmers, an undershirt and my trusty ninja mask, which was annoying in terms of fogging up my glasses, but really helpful because it was freaking freezing out there. I kept it on for about 5 minutes and then stumbled around trying to continue running while my headphones fell off and I tripped over them (NO BIG FALL, just a stumble, don't worry) and tried to collect them.

Anyway, the reason I might not have made it another 3 minutes is that my nose was getting really runny and stuffy due to the wind and cold, but I was holding my ninja mask and, by this time, my gloves. So it was getting hard to blow my nose. This is one thing I will not miss about summer (though I'll have to get one of those armbands to keep my mp3 player in place!).

I was able to run in the park again and I think this was helpful. For some reason -- maybe because I feel more conspicuous on streets -- I think I'm able to better set my pace on the running track. I think I try to run away from people on the streets and then run too fast. What can I say, I'm a misanthropic runner.

So the reason I returned to the podcast, btw, was that I find the little "You've completed five minutes" type reminders helpful. I downloaded the new one and might do that Thursday, or maybe I'll switch back to my own playlist. We'll see!

Getting better...

Well, I've made it over my 3-break hump. At least for a day, let's hope forever.

It is a balmy 42 degrees here, which is really warm. I have no idea how I am going to handle summer because I'm grossly sweaty and red-faced right now. Though I suppose that, in summer, I will not wear sweatpants and a sweatshirt.

The ice is gone! Today was my first run in like a month sans Yak Trax. YAY! I did one lap around the park but the thaw created some really big puddles so it was back to the streets. I can't decide which I like better; I do enjoy the feeling of accomplishment I get by actually traveling in lines and not circles.

So I started and had to pause after one song. Initially this was because I was waiting to cross the street and get out of the park, but that turned into a walk. I'm pretty sure I start out with too fast a pace. Because then I began running again and kind of wanted to quit, but Bad Romance came on (I used another of my own playlists, this one titled "Ladies") and I was like, "Okay I'm going to make it through this song." By the way, that is a song I would highly recommend for your playlist. So I slowed my pace a bit and got through it. Then my next song came on and I thought, "I'll make it halfway through this one." But I got to halfway and challenged myself to run through it. I took my next walking break about 30 seconds into the following song. Both breaks were probably about two minutes, so hey -- I ran about 21 minutes and that is longer than that 20 minute run I was so proud of.

My goal for this coming week is to get down to one break, and maybe do the whole 25 minutes the third run? We'll see!

Okay, so I've hit a plateau here, which won't last forever, but I remembered something I wanted to share: my leg muscles, though often achy, have really gotten awesome! My calves totally rock right now. Additionally, I was wearing a skirt and riding the train and trying to hold my thighs together, you know how you do, so as to not reveal your panties to the world? And I remembered how that used to be super annoying and kind of a struggle, but I did it with ease. I hope that makes sense. I mean, in other words, it's possible that I could crush you with my thigh muscles.

Regressing?

Phew, my dinner plans were canceled so I was able to run today and I can "finish" this week on Saturday like I really wanted. Still can't run for 25 minutes! I had to walk three times during this run. I ran for about six minutes and then walked for a minute or so. Ran for another two songs, maybe, then walked again. Finally I ran for the last six minutes and added another minute on the end. It's a little frustrating that I ran for twenty minutes already, not to mention the eight minute runs and the ten minute runs, and I can only make six or so right now before interrupting the run.

I'm still just out of breath, I think, which leads to stomach and chest cramps. Boo. I really don't think I'll be moving on to week 8. I'm gonna keep trying week 7 until I can do two 25 minute runs in a row, I think. If possible, I am just going to run every other day until this happens.

I also made two of my own playlists today. I just made sure the first and last songs were ~5 minutes long, and the middle songs added up to about 25 minutes (plus or minus a few seconds). So I listened to one of those during my run, because honestly I kind of hate the week 7 podcast. In the end, after I finish this program, I plan to just make mixes of a certain length (most likely 30 minutes plus a warm up and cool down song) and running to those. I don't want to get bored, so I started making lists of songs and coming up with theme ideas. I can get obsessive and crazy over playlists so I foresee a fun and involved project here.

My shins are hurting again, btw! This time it's kind of my inner shins and I think it might have to do with a pair of boots I wore out last night. By the end of my run I was a wincing, achy, huffy puffy mess. It was exceptionally attractive. I'm not kidding, I think another runner gave me a "what the fuck is up with you?" look. Ah well. Hopefully Saturday will be better!

25 Minutes: A Long Time

Week 7 will probably be the week I repeat ad infinitum. Today was day 1 of week 7, but the second time I attempted a 25 minute run -- if you recall, week 6 ended with one. And I "failed" again.

Firstly, let me assure you all that my knee (actually knees -- the right one developed a pretty sweet bruise) are fine. The left one hurt pretty badly every time I sat down or stood up for the past couple of days but felt much better today. So I can't really blame it on that. What I can blame it on, in part, are the cigarettes I continue to smoke occasionally. I had one last night and I don't think they are helping me here.

Still running on sidewalks because the ice on the running path just does not want to melt. I was doing pretty well but about 7 or 8 minutes into the run, I was really getting out of breath. So I walked for a minute or two. I got myself running again, but maybe 18 minutes into the run, I had to slow to a walk again. I walked for a minute or so and was able to run the last 6ish minutes. I tried to push past the end time, and did so for maybe 30 seconds but I developed a cramp in my shoulder/chest area and had to stop.

I felt vomity a few times, there were various cramps threatening, and I just have difficulty taking those deep belly breaths. But I'm working up to this 25 minutes thing and even if it takes me over a week, I'm gonna do it! I am still running the vast majority of the time and I feel good afterwards.

Unfortunately dinner plans with my grandmother mean I won't be able to do the Thursday/Saturday like I wanted, so I will see you on Friday, when I cram in a run before my plans for the night, and then Sunday.

First Failure + First Injury = Finishing Week Six

Well, things couldn't go smoothly forever. Today was my first failed run. I managed to fail twice, too!

First I should set the scene... I wanted to run yesterday because jumping from two 10-minute runs to a full 25 minute run seemed crazy and I wanted to do this with only one day between. However, I had an interview for a teaching fellows thingy from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm and I was exhausted after. I took a nap and then got some tacos and beer. I then went out, drank like a sailor, smoked 2.5 cigarettes and sang karaoke. I believe I fell asleep on my couch around 6 a.m.

So today, despite sleeping until 3, I was kind of hurting. I'm not sure I drank enough water to make up for my hungover dehydration and I was a little headachy. I had to delay my run by a half hour or so because I discovered that my Zune was dead, too. So I was crabby as well.

I left the house with a severe lack of confidence, visited the park with hopes of running there, found that the snow had melted and refrozen into dangerously bumpy ice, and continued on across the park to the sidewalks I've been running on. Most of them are clear but there are a few areas that are just a sheet of ice, so I was wearing my yak trax. About five minutes into the run, another runner was coming at me from the opposite direction and I was checking her out rather than looking at the situation near my feet; my yak trax caught on some irregularity in the sidewalk (there was no ice there) and I completely wiped out. I landed on my left knee and my right hand; luckily my knee was covered by thick fleecy sweatpants and my hand was covered by a thick glove. Nothing hurt too badly so I got up, assured the other runner that I was fine, and continued on. My knee hurt, but I figured it was just bruised.

So that was my first interruption. My second was just about being a baby. I still have trouble regulating my breathing, perhaps due in part to the occasional cigarette, but also because my nose gets stuffy in the cold and my throat gets phlegmy and no matter how much I spit and blow my nose, this hinders me. Plus, I developed a pretty mean headache during this run, possibly due to dehydration. So about 16 minutes in, I had to switch to walking. I walked for about two minutes and somehow motivated myself to begin running again. I tacked on an extra minute at the end (day one of this week lasts 26 minutes so I was easily able to measure this).

The Running Into Shape website indicates that we should be covering approximately 2.5 miles in 25 minutes. With the fall and the 2 minute walk break, I still made about 2.3 miles in 25 minutes, so that's pretty good. Additionally, this coming week is composed of three 25 minute runs. So I'm not going to repeat anything and I pretty much hope to work up to running for 25 minutes straight by the end of the week. I really hope the park clears up soon because I'd like to be able to run in circles and let my mind wander more, plus I'm not a huge fan of the people I encounter on the street.

By the way, I got home to find that my knee was bloody and swollen. It has continued to swell a bit; I now have a rather large bump that I'll be icing. When I told my sister about my knee, she reminded me that I totally fucked up my knee last January, as well. I was running up an escalator after getting up the el and I tripped on my heavy winter boot. My knee slammed into the spiky edge of an escalator stair and was a bloody mess. I think it was the same knee; apparently this is an annual thing. Just like last year, I took pictures. Here they are:

Not pushing hard enough??

So, tonight I was acting like a GIANT baby, and I REALLY did not want to go running. There are a few reasons for this tantrum, however. First of all, I was planning on restarting week 4 yesterday, however due to a stupid accident that backed up my entire commute home, I got home at 7, my normal running time. This wouldn't have been a problem if I wasn't also STARVING, but I was, and we all know what happened last time I tried W4 D1 on an empty stomach, so I was screwed. So, due to the wrench thrown in my schedule, I was planning on heading to run AND go to yoga immediately following. I've been doing week 4 for a while now, so I figured it would be fine, but, I was wrong.

I'm not sure what is up, but I am not progressing nearly as well as my cohort, Amanda. As it is, Amanda had to coax me even going at all tonight, via text message. I feel so pathetic! To top all of this pathetic whining off, not only did I head home post run, but I didn't even do the final five minute run AT ALL. It's like, every time I try a week four, I get three of the runs perfect, but one of them is always slightly cheated, or, cut out entirely, like tonight. I'm also really bummed to not have gotten a chance to return to yoga. My problem with that tonight was the step class at 7 was still going at 8, and I did not want to spend another moment on the treadmill, so I left.

I'm also experiencing some new pain in my legs, YAY! I hadn't really had any shin issues too badly yet, but there they were tonight! Ugh, sorry I'm such a Debbie Downer, after Amanda's inspirational and educational post! I hope that I am not having ammonia smells without knowing it, since I cannot really smell. I guess I somehow justified giving up on the final run because of the intense pain in my side that appeared as I was supposed to start it, as well as being proud I went to the gym at all. My issue was over heating as well. I joined the gym in August, and I remember it being air conditioned pretty well, so I have a feeling that might be my favorite place to run when it's warm. I think I would really like running outside more often though, but working really puts a damper on my preferred schedule.

Oy, well I will try again on Saturday. It's supposed to be in the 40s here, which will also feel like summer compared to what we've had!! So, maybe that will help get me back into the positive, gung-ho place I was when we first started. One final thing. I honestly do not know if I am currently capable of running for longer than five minutes. I have a feeling week 4 might last even longer for me, but I guess we'll see! At least I'm trying, I guess!!

Week Six, Run Two

Today was 2 10-minute runs, with a 3-minute walk between them.

It is a balmy 38 degrees here! In Chicago, in January, that is tank top weather. No legwarmers or ninja mask today! In fact, in the middle of the second run, I felt it was way too warm out. Summer promises to be amazing for me.

The first run went pretty well. About seven minutes into the second run, I felt like I might vomit and/or die. I had to slow my pace severely, but I managed to not quit. I was really on the verge of walking. I have no idea how I will do 25 minutes for Saturday or Sunday! (I'd prefer to do Saturday but may not have time.) It's possible I ate too close to running, or it's possible that I am an out of shape chubbiekins and this is just gonna continue to be hard for me. Who knows.

So, that ammonia smell (it's ammonia, I googled it -- I'm just bad at naming cleaning supplies by scent). Apparently not a good thing. It means either I am not getting enough carbs pre-run and my body is burning protein (muscle), or I am not drinking enough water. However, it kind of sounds like this is if your sweat smells like ammonia, and I swear the scent is only in my nose, because it disappears after about two minutes. I have no idea, but I'll try to get more water in (I don't think a lack of anything in my diet can be to blame. I eat carbs and lots of them.)

Starting Week Six

I am such a dummy! On the way home, I realized I have three weeks and two runs left, which led me to realize that given nine FULL weeks, I was halfway done during run two LAST week, not during week four. I swear I used to do well in school, even in math :(

I just returned from my first run of the week and the smell of rubbing alcohol is very strong in my nose. What is this about? I'm totally googling it. It's warming up in Chicago -- starting tomorrow, we are going to be above freezing for a whole week! In January! Bust out the bikinis! But I dawdled and, though it was 31 when I got home today, it was 26 during my run. And it felt really cold until I hit the middle of my second run (btw today is 5 minute run, 8 minute run, 5 minute run). Probably because I only wore one pair of socks, did not wear and undershirt, and left the ninja mask at home.

I have to admit, I totally felt like I wouldn't make it through the second run. After completing last week, I felt confident that today would be a breeze, but it was not. I took two days off (which ideally I would like to quit -- I'd love to just run every other day -- but having the extra day to play with really helps create a realistic schedule). Plus I smoked like four cigarettes this weekend, though my lungs didn't actually feel too bad.

I finished, and I feel great now, of course. I wish I could tap into how I feel NOW when I'm sitting around lazy and lethargic pre-run, just for a second, for motivation.

I feel like I got a lot of weird looks on the street today (I tried the park, but the snow was too deep and slippery), and I'm over it. Even this one dude, who I know was either about to run or had just finished because he was doing runner's stretches; I tried to smile at him and he TURNED AWAY without smiling (this was during my post-run walk but I was all sweaty and briskly walking). I'm just going to get an XL t-shirt to wear over my sweatshirt that says FUCK YOU TOO. I don't like these people. Where is my encouraging old man when I need him?

Next run is two 10 minute runs on Thursday. Talk to you then!

Ugh, week 4

So, I have completed week 4, but I am not so energized about it. I don't really feel like I've accomplished as much as in weeks passed. I still seemed to be really struggling during the first five minute run, and  it worries me, due to the intense jumps in time that week 5 is soon to bring. I am having a dilemma about whether I should even bother starting week 5, or if I should remain on week 4 until I feel I've really mastered the entire workout. I guess I will see how I feel on Tuesday, and decide then.

Although I don't feel like I completely rocked the workout, it was enjoyable overall. I moved from one town away nearly a year ago, and I am so in love with my new neighborhood. It's so beautiful, and a lovely place to observe when out and about. I have to say though, that winter outside running is not my favorite, if only for the fact that my nose WILL NOT STOP RUNNING WHEN I AM OUTSIDE! Amanda, I don't know how you deal with this, but the second I start moving, my nose just starts POURING. I am not even sick, it's just the effect that the cold has on me. It's rather annoying to deal with tissues while trying to run, and wearing gloves. Also, I think that the treadmill holds me a bit more accountable, as far as speed goes, but I'm not trying to win any marathons yet, so I guess it doesn't matter too much.

I have noticed that there is a really nice camaraderie between us runners/walkers on the street. Perhaps the time I spent as a New Yorker has jaded me, but I rarely acknowledge strangers on the street, I keep my head down and go. However, when I'm out in my gear, whether it be on the way to the gym, or during my outdoor runs, my fellow road warriors always smile, nod, wave, or even say hi. There's an unspoken bond that I really enjoy, and it is a great motivator. So, although I'm happy that I got myself out there to finish the week, I'm not sure I'm quite done with week 4, but I am ok with that.

Completing Week Five

Yes, I said completing. I CAN RUN FOR 20 MINUTES STRAIGHT!!! I apologize for the repetitive nature of these celebratory posts, but seriously I think this is the first time in my 29 years of existence that I have run for 20 minutes, including back before I smoked. Honestly this is enough of an accomplishment for me, but I suppose I'll keep going.

It's like 17 degrees here; I wore 2 pairs of socks, the ninja mask (I wore it for about half the run, which is a first. I still think it messes up my breathing, though, so I had it down over my nose and mouth for most of the time), legwarmers, an undershirt, gloves... I've been chilly lately. The thought of running in the cold made me dilly-dally quite a bit before finally getting to the run.

The snow is still around and it's slushy in places but more sidewalks were clear (the park is still a no-go) so running today was a bit easier. One thing that is a problem is my stuffy nose; blowing one's nose while running is kind of a pain in the ass. Also, I'm still running around spitting everywhere. I'm gross.

I had several moments of "dear god, I cannot do this anymore." A couple because I was out of breath, a few about 10 minutes in when my ankles/lower calves were hurting pretty badly, and a few more when my heartbeat seemed to be warning of cardiac arrest. But in the end, the second 10 minutes (she tells you when you're halfway done, thank god) went much more quickly. I thought I would be judging time based the cues for the other days, but I somehow missed notification of the last 5 minute run. I was just thinking, "Oh my god, she hasn't announced that yet, I have at least four more minutes?!?!" when Carli announced that I was done. I was so surprised, I grunted. Not that I usually grunt in surprise, but I didn't have the energy or breath to say "What? Really?!"

Overall it was a good run, on to week 6!

Digging Deep

So, after a VERY ill advised three day break, I did W4 D2 last night. Unless you are in between weeks, or are somehow incapacitated, I STRONGLY advise keeping breaks to a two day max. Last night when I got to the gym, I was happy to see how empty it was. I guess most people don't want to start the weekend at the gym? Who knows. Regardless, I was psyched to see that there was a Friday nigh Zumba class happening as well, and this one is full of CRAZY dancing ladies that were really entertaining to watch, although they seemed to be having so much fun, I felt a bit jealous being stuck on a treadmill, but alas... I digress.

The beginning of the workout was tough, as it usually is for me, but I ran the entire three minute run, and kept going. About half way through the first five minute run, I was truly ready to give up. Andy and I were having a steak and martini night at home (not healthy, but I figured I would deserve it after a tough week capped off by a good workout). I seriously got into this mindset that I just couldn't stay on the treadmill any longer, and slowed to a walk after three minutes or so into that first five minute run. So, I kept walking, but I couldn't bring myself to slow down further, and I also kept thinking that I was being such a baby! I'd already restarted this week, and then took three days off, so, it was insane to even consider giving up! So, with that, I renewed my drive, and thought of you girls, my Mom, and Andy, who yelled "You can do it!" to me as I headed down the stairs on my way to the gym. I had been sharing my fear of being able to complete tonight's run with him after the long break, and although it was a simple sentiment, it helped!

I was really happy to complete the workout, and then felt totally ready for the amazing steak and martini that awaited me at home. I felt that I had earned it, and now, I am really looking forward to my outdoor run tomorrow! It is supposed to be super cold this weekend, but at least there's no snow in the forecast! Oh, and on a side note... although I have not lost any pounds since I started the program, I decided to measure myself, and I've lost a few inches! Some off my hips, waist, bust, and thighs! Nothing off my arms yet, sigh. I really need to get back to some weight lifting. Before the C25K, my time at the gym was spent on the ellipt ical, and then the weight machines. I would really like to get a couple weight sessions in a week, and to also get back to yoga.

Well, I feel as though I'm back on track, and although I am still terrified of starting week 5 on Tuesday, Amanda's amazing progress is helping me not get too freaked out about it. Also, I am so happy that I keep doing this, even though I had some issues with week 4, that I really don't care if I finish in the 9 weeks or not, as long as I finish!!

Quick Note About the Week 5 Podcast

Today -- 2 days after I needed it, crap! -- the awesome chick at Running Into Shape posted an updated Week 5 podcast with the correct 5 minute runs.

I Can Run For Eight Minutes!!!!

This is an amazing discovery. I can do it, TWICE. In the snow.

I have no idea who is reading this -- you may or may not know that I live in Chicago. And we had a snowstorm today. I think there's probably like 5 inches or something out there; we're supposed to get 10 total. It's that fine, fluffy snow that is really hard to move in, so running was not an appealing idea (plus it's still in the teens, it's not that 32 degrees and snowing weather). But jumping from 5 minute runs to 8 minute runs meant there was no choice -- I really couldn't take a day off.

By the way, I did the math during one of the walking sections, and this was the first day that the running section was longer than walking. Tuesday, I ran a total of 15 minutes and walked a total of 16. Today, opposite -- ran 16, walked 15. Excellent!

Anyway. I wore two pairs of socks, leg warmers, my Yak Trax and my ninja mask (the mask until about halfway into run 1). The park was blanketed in snow so, yet again, I chose to run on the sidewalks. Some of which were not shoveled; walking and running on that was like running through sand. Thus, my legs are aching a bit again. My form suffers in the snow :( But it's not too bad. Also, both Tuesday and today, when I got home, I smelled weird things. It smelled like a hospital/disinfectant. I mentioned this to my sister (who has run marathons) and she said she used to smell weird things after running. This made me feel like a runner.

So, now... 20 minutes. 20 minutes! But I really thought maybe I couldn't do 8, and I did. And I only kind of felt like vomiting after. And I said "thank you" to the shovelers who stood to the side to let me pass, and this wonderful old man said something like, "make it a good one!" or some similar supportive thing in response, and I'll do 20 minutes just for him! Because I look like a total weirdo running in the snow but I love it, as do kind old men.

I'll report back on Saturday or Sunday!

Bone Bruise: It could happen to YOU!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been diagnosed by an expert. An expert that believes that I am too young to have fractured my knee so randomly and therefore don't need any sort of bone density scan and that what the mri shows is actually a bruise on the bone caused somehow by an impact while running. Let this be a warning to you - apparently hitting the ground too hard with your feet can cause your knee to bruise FROM THE INSIDE!!!!

This experience does help me reflect on the fact that I have excellent health insurance. I mean, I went to the doctor, the x-ray, the mri, the orthopedist, etc. and it cost me a whopping $15 out of pocket and $5 of that was for parking. Of course at the end of the day, I totally could have just skipped the whole ordeal and saved my $15 because there is no treatment and I just have to avoid running for the next three months to allow it to heal. By that time you ladies will be running marathons, I'm sure. My next checkup is in early Feb so the doc says we will re-evaluate the situation at that point.

I've decided that I'm not willing to just shrug off this whole endeavor. I WILL BE BACK in 3 months to do this with you. In the mean time I am going to WALK my 5Ks just to keep myself mobile and at least not go all the way back to couch potato status I bought a pedometer today at my WW meeting and since the meeting I've walked 1386 steps. I have no idea if this is a lot of steps or not but it equates to .63 miles so that's kind of impressive considering that I've just been puttering around my house. In any case it gives me something to focus on and blog about so I can still share the experience even though I'm now "differently able."

Starting Week Five, the Scariest of Weeks (thus far)

Week Five, Day One! Three sets of 5-minute runs, with 3-minute walks between them. I did it, I can officially kick ass by running for five minutes straight, three times in a row. Woo hoo! Now... on to Thursday's 8 minute runs, and then Sunday's 20 minute runs. Does that not seem insanely accelerated to you? I mean, seriously, I think like 3 weeks ago I was lucky to run for 90 seconds without dying? So... now I'm gonna up it by 15 minutes in 5 days. Who the hell created this crazy routine?

Today I was crabby and cold and sleepy when I got home from babysitting my friend's 16 month old. I was like, I want a sippy cup and a nap now, please, but I needed to run. I should have immediately eaten some soup and gone for the run like 30 minutes later, but I dilly-dallied at the computer and it got colder and I got crabbier. My sister got home and wanted to watch a crime drama with me and I was like, "LOOK I HAVE TO RUN. I'D RATHER DIE THAN RUN IN THE COLD, BUT THERE YOU GO." It was a really impressive display of being a bitter baby on my part.

So I got my butt in gear with her encouragement. It was like 19 degrees when I left the house, and I was all, oh I know this temperature. Ninja mask, you have no hold on me any longer, you are staying home.

Wtf? It was SO cold on my face and neck. Like, way colder than last week when it was around 20 degrees about every time I ran. It took at least a run and a half before I felt like I wasn't going to die of hypothermia. So I guess I'm taking the old mask next time.

I had to do the techno run, and it was okay. I prefer the pop music of Running Into Shape, but the techno does have those points that make you want to run whilst pumping your fist, which is okay to do if you are not in New Jersey because you are less likely to be mistaken for The Situation. Overall it was a good run, my lungs felt much much better than they did on Sunday, and I was so much less crabby when I got home. See you Thursday!

knee injuries: go big or go home!

Ladies, you continue to inspire me. I can't wait to hear about your 20 minute runs - the mere idea fills me with uncontrolled optimism about life. And let me tell you, I can really use the optimism right now.

The MRI images of my knee are in and it turns out that I actually BROKE A BONE IN MY LEG! I suppose that should make me feel pretty hardcore for walking around on it - I honestly thought I was just out of shape and a wuss for giving up after W2 D1. We'll see what the orthopedist has to say on Thursday. By now the swelling is gone but I'm still a bit sore (probably because of the elliptical machine workout I did yesterday just before the doctor called and told me not to) and very ready to be done with this whole knee scenario.

My list of questions for the doctor include:

1. wtf?
2. how did this happen?
3. do I have a crazy brittle bone disease?
4. seriously, wtf?
5. I swear I've consumed more milk and cheese than is even advisable!
6. I even eat those gummy calciums!
7. and I've totally lost weight so my skeleton should be psyched for that.
8. do I at least qualify for a handicapped parking pass?

Right now the most plausible explanation is alien abduction and time spent in a zero gravity environment leading to loss of bone density. That being the case, I guess it could have been worse.

--Alice

Week 4, Day 1, Take TWO!

When faced with the prospect of starting week 4 for the second time, I was absolutely terrified. Not only had I failed my first attempt, but it had been three full days (two of which were full of booze, a cheeseburger deluxe, and a heck of a lot of couch time) since then! Alas, the new year had started, the party is over, and it was time to get back to business, so after a long, cold Monday, I was ready to face the music.

When I got to the gym, I was not too surprised to see all the women who decided to start their New Year's resolutions, therefore raising the indoor temperature to even higher than when it's only kind of packed. Annoyed with the possibility of a bigger audience, I pressed on, remembering that Zumba would soon start for my amusement. I didn't get my new favorite treadmill, but I suppose I expanded my horizons by using a new one. So, with the fear that I might immediately collapse on the treadmill, or completely forget how to run, I got started.

Amazingly, I felt energized after the warm up, and powered through the first three minute run, with ease, dare I say! Even the recovery followed by the first five minute run was not so bad! I did the entire first five minute run without stopping! This was unbelievably encouraging, and thinking of what I would have to write later on, and the accomplishments Amanda have made this week helped me when I was feeling like I wanted to give up. The second three minute run was more of a struggle, but it was alright, and I made it all the way through, maintaining an even pace. The recovery before the final five minute run was where I was really beginning to feel it. The beginning of the last run was alright, but about a minute to 90 seconds in, I got a stitch in my side, that I could just not power through. I was feeling really proud by the time I got to this point, and knowing I have two more workouts in the week, I realized, it was ok! This is the type of day 1 I am used to! I don't believed I've ever completed the final run during any day 1, so at least I was consistent!

I am happy to have a day off tomorrow, but I'm also encouraged by how well I did with a three day, party filled break. I think that it was a really important lesson for me to learn. Several times in the past, I have given up on workout routines because I would take a break, and just be overwhelmed by the prospect of starting over from the beginning. If I fall off the wagon, it's ok, because I can always come back to the program. I am looking forward to the outdoor run I'll do this weekend. There really is nothing like running in the frigid cold, I can't wait to do it again! Finally, although I definitely have not lost any pounds  so far, some people have asked me if I've lost weight. I think that I have finally found something that is helping me to tone up, and lose inches! My aches and pains are significantly dwindling with each run, and it's fantastic. Thanks to all of my friends and family who've been reading this, and supporting us all through this journey! It's really an amazing experience, and I couldn't do it without you!!

Finishing Week Four

Well, today's run did not reach the heights that Thursday's did. I mean, I made it, but I'm assuming that two days off, New Year's revelry that included about 10 cigarettes, subsequent weird sleeping schedule issues, a Big Mac yesterday and too much lunch prior to running are to blame. I feel kind of nauseous right now, though I waited over an hour after eating to run. I think I'll stick to like a yogurt or soup if I'm hungry before running (oddly, 1/2 a can of soup seems to work really, really well for me).

I think today was my first run while the sun was still fully out, and I have to say, I didn't like it. It was "19 degrees, feels like 5," but the damn sun throws that off. I went out in the ninja mask and just took it off immediately, it didn't feel cold at all out there. And my head is really sweaty now. Apparently I enjoy running in the cold darkness. Prepare to hear me bitch constantly over the summer.

I kind of felt like dying during the last run, a 5-minute one, but I made it. And again, the fear set in. Next week is a progressive week with a mixture of 5 and 8 minute runs, leading up to a 20 minute run on the last day. I will be running for 20 minutes a week from now?!?! That seems unpossible. Also annoying -- the Running into Shape podcast for next week will not work for days 1 and 2, because the five minute runs are 7 minutes. So it'll be weird techno time, I guess.

p.s. I think I've lost a bit of weight! I never remember to weigh myself in the morning and the holidays have obviously thrown everything off, but on New Year's Eve and Day, I reached lows I haven't seen in awhile. Don't think I can count New Year's Day though, as I was probably dehydrated and had just slept about 12 hours, thus eating nothing for half a day.