I ran a 5K today

OK...so I didn't run the whole thing...I ran/walked...but more about that later.

I didn't totally blow the day yesterday. Maybe I did, but I guess it could have been a lot worse? I did have my Bertucci's salad for lunch but I also had three (yes three!) hot rolls with butter. I also had an entire Crunchie bar (thanks Mum!) and some chocolate chip cookies. The cookies didn't have any trans fat or hydrogenated (sp??) oils. At dinner I barely at anything - I was stuffed from the cookies.

This morning I had my first session with a trainer at the gym. I am really starting to not like my gym. I like the equipment but I don't like the people. The woman who is there at 5:00 AM is great - very nice. But when you are there with the whole crew, they aren't very friendly. They all sit together and chat. And the women that work there are all dressed to the nines. This is a gym!!

I get there right on time and introduce myself to Greg, my trainer. He asks me to have a seat while he finishes up with someone. That took a while. He was very apologetic - apparently they were short handed this morning. When we finally got down to business he tells me that we aren't doing anything today -just talking about my goals and getting to know each other. I have to tell you I was really, really bummed. But what could I do. So we chatted, talked about what I wanted to work on, how I got to be where I am now. Turns out he has a degree in nutrition. That will be helpful! He got it from the same place I am starting at the end of this month. I think the best thing that came out of today was 1) I need a 5 minute warm up before I start strength training and 2) my cardio needs to last 45 minutes. So we parted ways, agreeing to meet again next week for a real session (thank goodness he didn't charge me for today). I jumped on the elliptical and cranked it to resistance level five. I figure I am only on it for five minutes, might as well make it worth it. Then I did my arms - I did them quickly as I was now looking at a 45 minutes session on the treadmill.

The treadmill was good. I was only going to do it for thirty minutes and then spend fifteen on the elliptical. By the way, I still need to make a good running playlist. Something loud and angry. Anyway, I walked for three minutes, ran for two. Walked at a 3.6 pace, ran at 5.2. With eight minutes to go I decided to do all 45 minutes on the treadmill. I kept watching the calorie counter. You know, the indicator that tells you how many calories you have burned?? When I was over 300 calories I thought to myself "I wonder how far I have run?" Imagine my surprise when I saw that I had run almost 3 miles! By the time I finished up I had burned over 400 calories and ran over 3.2 miles. YEA ME! I haven't gone that far in years. It felt so good. I felt so strong. Then I walked into the bathroom. Surrounded by mirrors, reality set in. I still have a LONG, LONG way to go. I cannot tell you how deflating that was. When I was on the treadmill I felt so strong; I had visions of doing the Marine Corp Half Marathon NEXT spring. Then I looked and the mirror and all those positive vibes melted away. I took one look at myself and wanted to cry. BUT - I plug along. I didn't put it on in a week, I am not going to lose it in a week.

I came home and made a great lunch. I just bought some grape tomatoes and they are DELICIOUS! I think DQ and I are going out tonight so I am going to have to chose wisely!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.