Running at Work?!

I got a huge boost of motivation yesterday - even more today because I'm not really sore. Because of this newfound motivation, I'm kind of wanting to do a bit of a run streak (provided I don't have any bits that start to protest). Unfortunately...I didn't run this morning. Little man was pretty restless last night and I was POOPED, so it just wasn't happening.

Since I didn't make the early morning run, I figured I would just have to be that much more determined to get in a run this evening. Then, I remembered that we are scheduled to go over to Cody's parents' house tonight for dinner. Sigh. Knowing I had a rough night last night, I really doubt I'm going to be able to push through and make myself run when we get home. So... I did a walk/run on my lunch break!

I was hoping to do around 16 minutes of steady jogging if nothing was sore, but it turns out my calves are sayin' howdy, so I adjusted to a walk/run. My feet were all set because I keep a pair of running shoes under my desk in case I'm not wearing walk-friendly shoes and I'm feeling the need to move. The rest of my outfit wasn't necessarily "run-friendly" (jeans, a wrap top, and a sweater), but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?


I ended up doing 20 minutes alternating between walking and jogging. The jogging intervals felt a little faster than normal because my calves were burning and I was anxious to get to the pillar that meant "walk." I then did 10 minutes of walking in the hopes to stop sweating before I returned to my desk. It helps that it's 18 degrees outside, so walking between the offices and the powerhouse was CHILLY.

In other news, I've been approved to work from home every Tuesday. If everything goes well, I might be able to do two days at home every week- yay! Being able to see my fellas on my lunch and breaks is huge. I'm really excited. Since I've done some telework in the past, I have an office set up in the basement with everything I need, so I can start next week. Can't. Wait.

Here's to day 2 of my mini run-streak! I'd like to get to 30, but since I'm not exactly in top shape at the moment, I am prepared to adjust if anything starts acting up. We'll see how it goes.

Happy Hump Day!

2/30

ONE MILE!!!

Last night was magical and the little man didn't wake up at all - woo hoo! I was enjoying the sleep so much that when my alarm went off at 4, I decided to keep a good thing going and sleep for another hour... Of course, S was having none of that, so I got up to feed and change him and then put him back to bed... by then I figured the remaining half hour would be better spent on my treadmill than in bed. So, once again, my tiny person managed to help me get in my run this morning. He's kind of awesome like that.

So, I got on the treadmill and did a five minute warm up, expecting to repeat the 1.5 min/1 min intervals I did last week. I started out at an "easy" pace, thinking I would definitely speed up my next interval...or...maybe I would see how long I could keep going. Somewhere in the second minute I knew I was going to go a whole mile.

It took me 15:47 (I literally used to be able to walk that fast), but it was AWESOME and I didn't slow down at all. I mean, let's be real, it felt like a fat person running a mile, but it was AWESOME. My back felt fine and my legs felt good. I was huffing and puffing, but I DID IT! Even better - I know I'm going to do it again!! It has been well over a year since I've run a mile and to finally be able to do so again makes me feel like I may actually be able to get back to where I used to be. Like everything else in life, it's going to take time and work, but it is possible.

As discouraging as it can be to have to start out this slow, I have to remember that 1) when I first started running, I ran just as slow and 2) I've never run while weighing as much as I do now. Getting this much mass moving takes work! I don't say that to put myself down, I say it to be realistic and to remind myself that, as I get lighter, it will get easier. It is supposed to be hard. Hard burns calories, right?  Hard is what makes it amazing.

I'm sure I have various life details I could add, but I think I will stop there and just bask in today's accomplishment before tackling a new one tomorrow.

Happy Tuesday!

What was your last major accomplishment?

**Shout out to Richard who just completed his first Ultra. Way to go!
**Also congrats to Christy who just became a Marathon Maniac.

You're both insane and inspiring!


1/30

Sore legs - Yay!

Well... our little angel has gotten back in the habit of waking up several times throughout the night, usually around 11 and 2. Cody took the 11 and I took the 2...except he wouldn't go back to sleep. He was really restless and thrashy. His fussing sounded more cranky than pained - so I'm not sure if it's teething or what - but I'm not a fan.

The good news about getting up at 2 is that I was wide awake for my treadmill workout. Of course, because I still need to do laundry (this part of the plan hasn't happened yet), I was stuck with black capris and a navy top. I sort of felt like this, combined with my neon green shoes, was the mullet of running outfits: business up top and a party on your feet. I'm thinking of selling the idea to Brooks.

Anyway, I hopped my mulleted self onto the treadmill and started with a warm up - which felt great. Then, on the first running interval, I felt something I haven't felt in a long time. My legs are sore! My quads are just sore enough to feel, but my SHINS were on fire. I can't remember the last time I was sore from working out. I'm so HAPPY! I had decided in advance to increase my running intervals to 1.5 minutes jogging with 1 minute of walking. It was hard in the best possible way. I was out of breath by the end of the interval with my legs burning and I was grinning like an idiot. I'm choosing to see this as "I'm working hard enough to improve" rather than "I'm out of breath after a minute and a half!?!" It's all in your attitude, right?

As I was running, I has several fun, running-related thoughts that I was going to include in my blog post... but they've left the building, so I'll leave you with some Random Thoughts for Thursday.

Random Thought #1: Who knew shaving your legs would feel like such an accomplishment? Since little man was in non-sleep mode after his treadmill-workout-length catnap (thanks, Lord), I set this up in the bathroom doorway to keep him busy while I got ready. The attached toys and crinkly book kept him entertained until we were ready to leave.

I felt a little like I was trying to get away with something as I shaved my legs, expecting S to start fussing in reprimand at any moment. I felt a ridiculous sense of accomplishment - of course, this could be partly endorphins and partly lack of sleep.

Random Thought #2: When you shop for food at 5:45 am, you tend to buy mostly caffeine and sugar. We need to go to the store, so I stopped at a gas station to grab something for lunch and ended up with coffee, a Diet Coke, Pop Tarts, macaroni and cheese, and a chocolate-heavy snack mix. The healthy eater I have tucked in the back of my brain is catching up on beauty sleep and left my inner 10 year old in charge of the food choices today.

Random Thought #3: I'm considering taking a "conference call" in one of the conference rooms and taking a nap. I'm 99% kidding, 1% looking for a pillow. I am jealous of George's desk fort from Seinfeld.

 Random Thought #4: It's Thrusday, woo hoo. Tomorrow, I sleep!

I hope everyone has a fabulous Thrusday.

Parents, any advice for a baby that's suddenly a night owl?