Couch to 10K and other stuff

Well, it's officially fall, and the seasons are changing...back home in Maine, anyway.

Here, the only difference is that it gets cool enough at night that Baby Kara now has two blankies instead of one, and the days are a really moderate 85 or thereabouts.

Otherwise...no change.

As of my last post, which was way too long ago, I had indicated that I would be starting a couch to 10K program. It's being hosted by my local Fleet Feet Sports, which is a huge running store chain here in California (and all over the country). It's a lot more glitzy than my old Maine Running Company standby in Portland, Maine; it's not as packed with stuff as Marathon Sports on Boylston Street in Boston. Nor is it as large as Peak Performance Multisport in Portland, Maine. However, they have enough of what I need (except Extra-Salt Maragarita Shot Bloks!), and the owners--Aimee and Deron--are fantastic.

I was really tired the morning of my first run with Fleet Feet's "Running 101" 10K Training Program. The night before, I had driven to Sacramento with my niece to pick up my sister and her youngest daughter at the airport. They had been on a Disney Cruise that week, and Sam (my oldest niece) and I were eager to hear all about it. We had a lovely time at Whole Foods--we only spent about 45 minutes there this time, far short of our last 1 1/2 hour epic adventure--and then cruised the city a while. I went there to college (CSU Sacramento) back in the 80s, and lived there for 9 years before Kent and I moved to Maine, so I know the city fairly well.

I digress.

Anyway, we didn't pick them up at the airport until about 11 p.m.; then, by the time we got home, it was about 2 a.m.

Did I mention that I had to be at the river, ready to run, at 7 a.m.?

I set the alarm for 6:15 a.m., just a scant four-plus hours later, and threatened Kent with dire consequences if he let me sleep through. "You'll never wake up," he said.

At 6:15, when the alarm went off, I was shockingly awake; it was easy to get up, have some cereal, and drive over to our appointed rendezvous.

Aimee was very friendly, and gave us all binders, into which we will add our weekly "lessons" that she photocopies and hole-punches. It also has our schedule of running. Since I wasn't sure if I was a level 1 or 2, she added both for me. When everyone was assembled, we walked across the river to warm up, did some stretches, then took off along the riverwalk. I started with the beginner group, and we did a run 4/walk 1 minute program, for 3 1/2 miles.

At the turn-around point, the "intermediate" group met up with us, and as I had already left the beginners behind, I joined up with them, and happily found that my pace was equal to the task. Yay! I'm not hopeless after all!

Post-run we took a walk around the convention center, then it was off for home. I was happy that I'd been able to run without too much difficulty, and felt confident that I could join the intermediates the next week.

Fast-forward to last Saturday, Sept. 20. I was again at the designated area, and this time joined Deron in the intermediate group. We were five going out. The beginners did a 4 1/2 min. run/1 min. walk, and we did 5 min/1 min instead. I felt good, but I started getting a side stitch under my ribs on the right. To try to "fix" the problem, I focused for the entire first half of the four-mile run on breathing in and out while landing on my LEFT foot.

Supposedly people mostly breathe in (or is it out??) when landing on their right (70% of the population--who knew?) and that this causes most of the predominantly-right-sided cramping people feel. I don't know if that's all true, but it worked for me.

Along about the halfway mark, I started chatting with Deron about past runs, like my half-marathon last February and his Clam Beach run in the horizontal rain. It was great--the time flew by, and at the end of the run, we both gave it a bit of a kick--clearly I was slower, but I was able to speed up a bit, which is good for helping you to learn how to finish strong. Going faster on fatigued legs builds up endurance, apparently. Granted...it's supposed to be the last third of the run that you speed up for, but I'm not there yet...I can only kick for an extra minute at this point.

I'll get there.

When we finished, I realized that our group of five was down to four. We'd lost someone on the way. I still have no idea when that happened!

My goal is to run four times a week (including Saturday); Sunday I didn't run at all, but Monday I went out at midday and quickly flamed out. Sunshine and temps in the 80s are not conducive to running all out. I quit at two miles.

Ouch.

That brings us to today. I decided to go out and go for time, not necessarily distance; and, in light of the fact that it was midday and sunny, in the 80s again, I decided to be kind and let myself walk.

This time, I called my friend Pam, and we chatted for most of my run/walk, until my cell died. I did the last couple miles in quiet, except for some chatter by Baby Kara and a stop to douse my head in cold water at a local park. I was so hot, and that helped me feel so revived! There are some good tips online for how to deal with running in the heat; Runnersworld.com is an excellent resource for these and much, much more.

In the end, I had run/walked a pathetic almost-speed-walking pace, including my rest stop for water--just over 14 min/mile--but I went 6.5 miles in all, and was out for just over 1 1/2 hours.

Not bad.

I was particularly happy about the mileage, although the pace is frustrating. I am still trying to remind myself that running in heat requires a different mind-set--you can't just go all out like I used to do in Maine. You have to slow it up, you have to run early (which I'm NOT doing), and you have to hydrate. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Water (or, on longer runs, electrolyte-drinks like Gatorade) are critical. You don't want to get heat exhaustion or, worse, heatstroke.

Despite knowing this, I am surprisingly frustrated by my (to me) pitiful attempts at mileage anymore. I used to run 6-8 miles each time I ran. However, I need to also realize that I AM capable of running four miles at a time, and have done it without rest breaks on a treadmill at the Y, so I am definitely gaining some fitness back. When I can't run outside at noon in the sunshine in mid-80s temperatures in a dry, dry, DRY climate like this, I need to remember that this is not what I've been used to for a year and a half.

I should try to run in Eureka, instead. Cooler, more humid...more like Maine.

Regardless, the "Running 101 10K training program" is a good program. Unfortunately, I will have to confess to Aimee this weekend that I'm going to be missing three sessions in a row--first, I'll be in Portland, Oregon with my sister at a conference called "Art & Soul". I am also planning to run the Kaiser-Permanente 5 miler run that is being hosted in conjunction with the Portland Marathon.

Two days after I return from that, I will be happily winging my way home to Kennebunkport for a week-and-a-half visit with both of my daughters. Yippee! I get to go HOME! Maddy doesn't know anything about it--yet--but there, we will be visiting friends, going to our house for a "camp out", running around to do our favorite things (Fun-O-Rama at York Beach, The Clam Shack in Kport, Bandaloop in Kport, kayaking on the Harraseeket River with LLBean's Walk-On Adventures, the New England Aquarium and Duck Tour in Boston...), and maybe even taking part in the yearly Presidential 5K run in Kennebunkport. That will be a blast!

It looks to be a busy and fun next few weeks. The biggest challenge--keeping up with my 4x a week running. Should be OK in Portland, with the hotel and the 5miler; in Maine, I'll just have to bring a jogging stroller (or borrow or rent one) and take the baby to some of my old stomping grounds.

I can't wait!

Meanwhile...it's hanging out on the couch time for me. I get to do a lot of that, given that I'm still not in my own home, and that baby takes at least a 3 hour nap every day.

Maybe instead of sitting, I should pull out that jumprope I brought and make use of it. My legs still quiver at the remembrance of my last jumping escapade (and the five days it took for them to recover), but maybe this time I can learn how to take it a bit easier.

I'll try to be better about posting.

I know, I know...I say that every time.

Happy running!

"Run slowly, run daily, drink moderately and don't eat like a pig." - Dr. Ernest van Aaken
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Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor. However, I am a teacher certified in both California and Maine to teach science curriculum, including the human body (and health/nutrition) to kids in grades K-8. This blog is my attempt to wade through the current thinking and my own journey to fitness and health, and to present it in a way that makes sense to everyone. As a woman who is successfully recovering from obesity, I feel it's even more important to help others understand what I did to lose the weight; what worked, what didn't, and what the struggle has been like as I went from morbid obesity to fitness. It doesn't mean that I have all the answers, however. If you want to lose weight or gain fitness and health, by all means, read my blog--I think I can provide some help and clarity. BUT, please know that I am NOT a medical expert, and you should most definitely consult with your own doctor or family physician before undertaking any exercise and/or weight loss efforts yourself. Weight loss and fitness are personal journeys. I'm making mine visible to the world, but each of us has to take our own steps with our own doctor's guidance; please make sure you check in with yours before you try to do anything I have done. Good luck, and congratulations for taking that first step!

The Freedom to Tri

I know, I know. I misspelled "Try".

Actually I didn't.

What today's blog is about is FREEDOM. We don't think about freedom, other than freedom from worry or freedom from terrorism. But there are other freedoms too, which I didn't enjoy in my previous life as a morbidly obese woman.

The joyful part of this journey into overcoming obesity is that I have gained a new measure of freedom in my life.

I have the freedom to eat whatever I want, whenever I want. I do not limit myself, ever, on any foods that I eat. I learned that being free to eat whatever I want, whenever I want, means that I am not afraid of food. I do not demonize it, or put it on a pedestal. Food is food. That's all there is to it. Lettuce is not more virtuous than chocolate, and a Starbuck's Mocha is not more deadly than a cup of decaf tea. To continue to lose weight, if I have these other things, I just fit them into my day by balancing out the calories over the rest of the day or, if necessary, the rest of the week.

Oh, and one more freedom that I have about food is that I can feel comfortable eating anything in front of anyone, without wondering if people around me are judging me on what I eat and thinking unkind thoughts.

That's something that plus-sized women think about. At least, I did.

Another freedom I have is the freedom to wear pretty clothes. I am not relegated to the Women's section of Macy's which, oddly enough, is like being relegated to the back of the bus. If you want to see what I mean, go to the Macy's flagship store in Herald Square in New York. I do not think you can get any higher up or any further back in the store than the Women's section. It's on the 7th floor, and if you enter from Herald Square (as most people seem to), you have to pass through all the other departments on that floor to get to it. I wrote a whole blog yesterday about clothes, so I won't go on. But that freedom to buy clothes anywhere, and on sale, is one of the best and most unanticipated bonuses of this entire journey.

I also have the freedom to exercise without feeling uncomfortable or ungainly. I can go out and run, as I did today, and if I feel like I want to keep going, I can, without a lot of huffing and puffing (unless I'm going uphill, of course). I can push myself to go further and further, and improve, and it doesn't hurt my lungs or hurt my legs or hurt my chest. I don't get headaches and I don't feel like I'm trying to move lead. Of course, after running my first half marathon, I might feel like I'm made of lead, but that's simply because I'll be pushing myself beyond my new limits. The old obese me had such low limits that any exercise at all brought such misery. Even walking a mile with friends on the school track had me puffing so hard I thought I'd have to stop. Yet today, I ran 1.6 miles, then after a .2 mile walk, I ran another mile. Maybe that's not much to some people, but considering that before this summer, the last time I ran a mile was junior high, we have some serious breakthrough here.

Another freedom I have is the Freedom to Tri.

Ah yes. The misspelling that isn't.

"The Freedom to Tri" means that I have such health, I am going to try new adventures.

Like a Triathlon.

You may have read that blog, about my upcoming races. What this blog is about is that recovering from obesity, to me, means that I have been able to get out and do things, like the 5K I jogged and walked back in June, or the kayaking I did last weekend, or the Triathlon I'm going to run in September.

You see, this to me is the most important freedom of all. The freedom to Try (Tri). The freedom to take on new adventures. The freedom to get out and be active in all the fun ways I wanted to be before, but didn't have the health to actually do.

As I mentioned, this past weekend I actually went on a Walk-On Adventure offered by L.L.Bean. These are walk-up-and-go-as-you-are physical activities that cost $15, and run anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. L.L. Bean provides all the equipment you need, and then gives you introductory lessons, so that you can go out and actually do the things you've always wanted to try.

So I decided, in honor of my 97 pounds lost, I was going to go kayaking. Almost two years ago, when I was at my heaviest, I tried to get into a friend's kayak up at Sebago Lake. I fell out twice and never attempted it again. This time, however, I was bound and determined to get out there in a kayak.

I was nervous, sure. I explained my lack of experience, and the guides laughed and told me not to worry, these were more stable "recreational" kayaks, and that they'd get me into the kayak on the dock and then simply slide me into the water anyway--no possibility of falling over trying to get in.

So Kent took the girls to Borders, and off I went. I got my "personal floatation device" (no longer needing the largest they had), paid careful attention as they described the paddle strokes and how to turn, slow down and stop, and then it was time to get in the kayak.

No joke. They literally did slide me backwards down a ramp from the dock right into the water. And aside from a bit of a wiggle when I got in, I was very stable.

I was so excited! It felt a bit unwieldy at first, as I tried to get out of the way of the other dozen kayakers and two guides. I even bumped someone at one point, and the guide just laughed and said the kayaks came equipped with magnets and they attracted each other.

But pretty soon, I got the hang of it. When someone dodged in front of me, I quickly backstroked to stop. When we needed to wait for others, I was able to quickly "turn on a dime" to watch for them. And when the guide told us to head out toward the channel, I was off.

I wish I could convey the excitement of being out on the water in my own kayak. Half the fun was being with other people in their kayaks...sort of like biking, but not having to stick to "our lane of traffic". We meandered, we zig-zagged, some of us went faster and some slower.

Our male guide was fantastic--he knew the history of this part of the Harrasseeket River, and told us stories about the castle turret we saw, and pointed out good restaurants to try. He showed us Osprey and had us watch as one fluttered, hovering in place, before diving for something it saw in the water. He pointed out the flock of Canada Geese--not that we needed pointing, they are unbelievably noisy as they go past overhead. And he looked for but didn't see the resident Bald Eagle.

We chatted with people in boats, hanging out on the River, and ended up going into an area that was too shallow for other boats, very close to the geese. Our paddles hit bottom, but we glided on.

And the gliding was so incredible. Sure, I worked for it, paddling this side and that, but the sensation was so smooth, so sure, and so free, that I didn't mind the work I was doing. The breeze off the surface of the water kept us cool, and I had a bottle of water to drink while we were out.

Who knew that kayaks come equipped with a water bottle holder tucked between the knees?

The hour and a half we spent on the water was over too fast. We glided back to the dock, and I was able to quickly zip over to the far side of the dock and line myself up properly to help them pull us out--again, no ungainly trying to get in and out of the kayak, so no chance I could fall in.

I would love to have a kayak, but I also recognize that, as I mentioned before, half the fun of the kayaking was being out on the water with other people. I think I would enjoy solo kayaking, but if I was going to be out on my own, I think I'd almost rather do some serious rowing, like sculling.

I've always wanted to try that, too. Maybe there's someplace in Boston I can go to give it a tri...er, a try??

Have a great evening. Go out and do something!

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." - Will Rogers


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Disclaimer: Look, I'm not a doctor. However, I am a teacher certified in both California and Maine to teach science curriculum, including the human body (and health/nutrition) to kids in grades K-8. This blog is my attempt to wade through the current thinking on weight loss, and to present it in a way that makes sense to everyone. As a woman who is successfully recovering from obesity herself, I feel it's even more important to help others understand what I did to lose the weight; what worked, what didn't, and what the struggle has been like as I went from morbid obesity to fitness. It doesn't mean that I have all the answers, however. If you want to lose weight, by all means, read my blog--I think I can provide some help and clarity. BUT, please know that I am NOT a medical expert, and you should most definitely consult with your own doctor or family physician before undertaking any weight loss efforts yourself. Weight loss is a personal journey. I'm making mine visible to the world, but each of us has to take our own steps with our own doctor's guidance; please make sure you check in with yours before you try to do anything I have done. Good luck and God bless!