Up and Running Again!

We've signed up to run a half-marathon! We're running the one in Pensacola.

The race date gives us 14 weeks to train. We've already gotten in our first run of 2014! After our first 5k, we ran sporadically then stopped altogether (except for our Thanksgiving day run) to do INSANITY. (Boy was that a mistake. We ran what seemed to be the hardest two miles ever on December 31, our anniversary.) We completed the first month of INSANITY as written and started month two. Now, however, we are going to use INSANITY as cross training on non-run days. We might end up fitting in more, but I doubt it.

So, Fred and I are running a half-marathon. I pray we have an injury free training and a fun race. God has blessed us thus far, and we give all glory and praise to Him for our success and accomplishments.

We chose this race because we have adequate time to train. The race is close to family though it's a six hour drive for us. My sister and her husband intend to run with us, and we hope they are able to.

I know I have some difficult runs ahead of me; however, I'm not scared, and I don't think it's impossible. Note to self - 

       

All throughout my C25k training I would recite a verse that comforted me: "For God has not given me a spirit of fearf, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV) I think I'll need it again!

                                    

Thanksgiving NSV

We had decided last week that we would run today in addition to doing our INSANITY workout. (I have REALLY missed running while doing INSANITY.) This morning I realized that I might not have the motivation later to run. I rarely workout in the afternoon. So we decided to get a run in and skip INSANITY.

Going out I knew we would get one mile in and I wanted to do at least two.  We haven't run in about four weeks so I didn't know what to expect.

Mile one was a typical first mile for me. It takes me a mile to warm-up. Half way through mile two I wanted to quit. My heart rate was at 180 and the twenty-five degree weather was making it hard to breathe. However, I went home with several NSVs:

1) I exercised on a day when I normally focus solely on food.
2) I stuck with a decision to run today even though it meant missing a scheduled workout (I might still get it in).
3) I pushed myself to finish mile two AND three.
4) I finished my 5k in one of my fastest times ever.
5) I burned one and half times as many calories in my run today than I do in a typical INSANITY workout.

We are INSANE!

This morning we completed day one of week two of INSANITY! The program really pushes us, but it's not so extreme that it can't be done. It's just fast-paced cardio with short, strategically placed rest breaks. We both agree that if we hadn't built or cardiovascular endurance with consistent running in the months prior, we would likely be pretty wiped out during the workouts. After the first workout, we knew what to expect and . could hang. Of course we don't look like the INSANITY workout crew - we do get tired and we have to build up to higher, faster everything. Still, we aren't discouraged, we pace ourselves, we know when to modify, and we know to never give up.

I am reluctant to take a break from running, but we want to know for sure how we benefited from INSANITY. I do believe we might go for a short two to four mile run on Thanksgiving Day. I am so grateful for the growth God has allowed in our lives, and I want to show my thanks by running - not stuffing my body with food.

The workouts we complete in rotation are below. Every two weeks, we complete a fit test. Other days, we rotate through discs two through five. The other discs will be used during month two. Each week we are to workout six days and rest one day.

Recap of Week 1