And Away We Go...

I haven't posted much this summer but things have not been quiet.  I made up my mind that I was going to make working out a priority.  I want to lose weight and become healthier than I have been.  My running has suffered for 2 years this June but I wasn't going to let that be the end.  Deep inside I knew I wanted to get back to where I was or in better shape than I had been in a while.  I WANT TO RUN again...and...strong. 

Being a member of the YMCA in Foley, I had absolutely no reason not to get my knee rehabilitated and back to normal.  Somehow, I had obtained bad knee pain the first of the year and when I ran the Gulf Coast 10k at Lulu's this spring, it stopped me running practically completely.  It has swelled and hurt off and on and had not been the same in months.  There wasn't a single incident that occurred so I'm thinking it might have been overuse.  Sadly, I even had to withdraw from a couple of 5k's in order to keep from further injury and downtime. 

I love my trekking class and know that it made me stronger in the past and helped me run some tough hilly bridge races.  So about 4 weeks ago, and after talking with a personal trainer there, I took his advice and kept my incline low but continued with the class.  As of today, I've not had pain in some time now.  In lieu of the hard work inclines on a treadmill give you, I increased my speed so as to get the same "effort" and workout the incline gave the others.  It was hard at first but I refused to quit.  My speed has continued to get faster and solid.  Let's understand, I have a long way to go to be at my "normal" again but I am getting stronger and that feels great.  Walking has about stopped as my running has gotten better.  I'm wondering how all of this will be when I do race again.  Come on, fall!!

When I started this regimen a little over 4 weeks ago, I included a weight workout [on machines and free weights] and a workout on my abs/core and legs to go along with it.  This meant I was getting in a 2 hour workout every time.  A couple of weeks later, I added a spin class on Wednesdays, biking 5 miles in the gym Mondays and Fridays along with 5 minutes of rowing.  From the beginning of the 4 weeks, I was working out 2 hours Monday through Saturday with rest on Sunday. 

I just knew all of this was going to drop some weight.  Well......after getting on the scales last week [the 4th week ending], I found I had GAINED a couple of pounds instead!!!  I did not watch what I ate that close and I knew I had fallen off the wagon some but after all I was working out so hard, so long and 6 days a week.  Then it dawned on me that I was building muscle, too.  My clothes are fitting better than they have in a long time!!  We're eating more fruit on a daily basis, too.  I'm all okay now!  I'm feeling so much better and will continue my workouts.  My improvements have been slow and I am looking forward to fall races.  It may not be what I want it to be but I DO expect to have better times than the first of the year. 

Wherever you are in your workouts, keep up the work.  Don't get discouraged!  Remember, as far as weight goes, it didn't come on over night so don't expect it to fall off immediately.  It may take months but your work will pay off.  I am feeling better every day and look forward to each and every workout now; it use to be that I "had" to go...now I "want" to go.  Stay strong and you will

Finish Strong
Run 4 It