Couch to 5K - Starting Over

Well, I am starting the Couch to 5K plan all over again. It's been a month since I was on track and posted anything. I did end up speed walking my first 5K on Sunday, March 13. It was the Mini-Mukluk Marathon that is both a fundraiser and a "fun"raiser for the Rotary Club of Nome. We raise money for college scholarships for students from Nome. Anyway, I walked with people with long legs and a person about my height who wanted to walk fast. Instead of turning around where the rest of the walkers turned around, my friends and I turned around farther up where the runners turned around. I finished in 64 minutes - I kind of slowed down and talked to some people at the end. After that, my husband and I came home and cleaned our house in preparation for Iditarod guests. I ended up getting in over 20,000 steps that day. A record for me!

I did not exercise again until I hiked on vacation. I took a little time off to attend to some work-related issues. While in hindsight I know that I could have been still on track for couch-to-5k, I just needed to let something go and it was training for my challenge to run a 5K sometime in 2011.

Now I am back and did Week 1, Day 1 again. I walked at 3.8 mph and jogged at 5.0 mph. I am thinking that the next time I exercise this week, I may jump to Week 2, Day 1. I did not really break a sweat today, but I did not want to push myself too hard. I pushed myself too little, but still feel that I got a fairly good workout. I will be traveling this week, so workouts will have to be flexible. The next time I work out might be on Thursday morning. I am hoping to walk/run the country roads of Northwestern Ohio as I visit some of my relatives. One of my uncles is not well and I really want to see him. Please keep him in your prayers.

Tonight while I worked out, I listened to a sermon by Rev. Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor of United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, called "If I Don't Do It...Remember Rule #6." He talked about taking time to slow down and listen to God. He also urged listeners to resist the urge to busy ourselves so much that we miss what God is saying to us. I am someone who can easily busy herself and spend 12 hours a day on church-related matters if I am not careful. I am a Pastor and I want to be the best Pastor God has called me to be. I am grateful for a husband who gets me out riding snowmachines (aka snowmobiles) and going to the Recreation Center. Again, I find that I have time to slow down and listen to God when I am exercising. Even though my body many be running or walking, I have still taken the time to get out of the grind and do something healthy for my body and soul.

I hope that you will continue to journey with me...even if I did take a break in the middle. My next opportunity to run a 5K will be in August. I am looking forward to running outside in Nome once the snow melts!!

Week 6 Take 2

So I took another detour/break in the journey. God is good thought! I am back on the track, just not sure which part of the track. :-)

Tonight after a 5 minute brisk walk, I ran 10 minutes, then walked for 3 minutes, then ran again for 10 minutes and then walked for 5 minutes and then cooled down. I ran mostly at 5.0 mph and at 5.5 mph for 30 seconds toward the end. I walked at 3.5 mph. I am hoping to run for 25 minutes on Saturday. Before my workout at the Nome Recreation Center, I met up with at friend in the earlier part of the evening and walked in the beautiful sun and snow in 15 degree weather! There was no wind - it was indeed marvelous! We walked for about 45 minutes total.

Tonight's sermon was one I needed to hear again. Staying focused on God is tough when there are so many other gods to distract us. These gods include money, prestige, power, facebook, twitter, texting, internet...basically anything that is used way more than necessary. Hearing this sermon is timely as I ponder what to either fast from for Lent. I am sure it will become all too clear by Ash Wednesday...March 9. I already have an inkling, but will pray about it before I totally commit.

The journey is back on and continues...

Week 6 Day 2

Well, I was supposed to run last night, but got on a roll with the writing project that is before me. By the time I was ready to go, the Nome Recreation Center was closing. I went instead this morning around 6:00 am. I know, I do prefer to do my workouts at night but I was wide awake at 6:00 am. After a brisk 5 minute walk, I ran for 10 minutes @ 5.0 mph and then walked for 3 minutes at 3.5 mph and then ran another 10 minutes @ 5.0 mph. I cooled down by walking for 5 minutes. There were not many people at the NRC this morning. My next workout will be to run for 25 minutes. I know that a good sermon will sustain me and knowing that I am getting closer and closer to running for 30 minutes excites me!

The sermons I listened to today are about our need for Jesus - our need for God. If we let God do the guiding we can be at peace. Life is not easy, but with God at the helm we can do anything. It's just too easy for us to want to take the helm and then ask God to take over when life all of a sudden becomes difficult. It happens to many, if not all, of us.

The journey continues....with God at the helm....God, thank you for being on the this journey with me and all others who are reading along....

So Long Self - Mercy Me

In case you want to hear the song I ran a bit to this evening for yourself, you can find it on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxMnr0pM78U. It is called "So Long Self" by Mercy Me.

Week 6 Day 1

I just finished week 6 day 1 workout. I feel great to have run 5 minutes then walk 3 then run 8 then walk 3 then run 5. This all of course with a 5 minute brisk walk warm-up and a 5 minute cool down. I listened to a podcast on New Year's Resolutions. Within that podcast was the song by Mercy Me called "So Long Self." As I was running I thought about how I was running from the negative thoughts that try to keep me to being on this journey. I am so glad to be working toward becoming a runner. I feel more positive in my body than I have in a long time. May the journey to health and wholeness continue...

Week 5 Day 3

I just got back from jogging for 20 minutes. Yeah!! I made it!! It's amazing what our bodies will do when we put our minds to it! Tonight I listened to a sermon about stress which I really needed to hear. Looking forward to my next workout!

I enjoy blogging about my journeys. Life is a sacred journey!