week 4!

HORRAY for week four! You will not believe this but we have only 10 weeks till the half marathon. Good news... my knee did not hurt once this week. I feel my hip getting stronger and not hurting anymore either! AND I ran Harder and longer this week than before. I am pretty proud of myself. I almost ran 4 miles on Friday, outside, with some incline in under 40 minutes. I know I will have to push myself to go faster, but I think my body might actually be ready for me to take that next step.
Also I joined Sparkpeople.com. I am pretty exited about it. I think it is a great motivation for me. I like getting points for eating right and working out. I am a sucker for points... even fake ones. I guess it is kinda like a sticker, or a metal or a trophy.
Also, I am having a hard time not focusing on weight. The fact that I haven't lost anything, but in fact have gained like a half a pound really urks me, so I am really trying to not have a food "free day" because I tend to undo all I have done. Does any one else notice that? I love a good free day don't get me wrong, I just hate the day after weight in.

week three

Well I worked out 3 times this week. Tuesday Wednesday and Saturday. I was able to run for 18 min Tuesday before the knee started giving out, and Wednesday was 19 min. Saturday I ran outside instead of a lame treadmill and I ran for 30 min. I know I can hardly believe it. I think this week I am going to go for distance instead of time. Yesterday, Tuesday, I ran 2.5 miles going at a 10 min. mile. I was pretty proud of the progress I have made. My knee isn't bothering me at all and my hip feels like it is getting stronger. I am pretty exited. I have also started spark people (here) thanks to my dear friend Katie. I think I like it so far. I like that it is free and I like that it gives you diet and fitness ideas and helps you set and achieve goals by focusing on daily events and then weekly mini goals to achieve your main big one. I am pretty cool on it so far. Well I will keep yall posted.

Slow but steady

As you can imagine, this is taking longer than I wanted. Oh well. Matt has given me some great stretches and my knee has only been a little stiff. When it gets stiff I stop running and walk the rest of the 30 min.
However a new problem has come up... my hip. Apparently since my dancing days I have duck feet, or walk like Mary Poppins. This is great for turn out, but bad for my external rotators. Now I have been informed that that is a small muscle that attaches at my hip and there is a small nerve that goes right under it... my SCIATIC... long story short, I running it gets stretched out and inflamed and then I can't walk with out shooting pains down my leg into my foot. Matt assures me it will get better because it is a muscle and it will get stronger as long as I am faithful in doing my exercises. And he is almost a doctor... :) *very large grin* Which brings me to another problem....
I find myself NOT wanting to go down and run for 30 min on the dumb treadmill. I guess I just need to get over it, stop typing and go do it. so bye bye for now...

I have been inspired

I have been inspired to start a new blog. I have a few friends who have started "weight loss blogs". I have the idea to follow in their footsteps, but not to do a weight loss blog. I feel pretty ok with my weight... (not perfect but ok)... I have been lighter in my days, but I have also been heavier. I feel right now is about my average weight plus or minus a few measly pounds. I do however feel more out of shape than I have in a while. Now I know that I ran a half marathon in October, but since that race, I have not been able to work out... at all. My knee has been really bothering me, I tore a tendon in my wrist, and since child birth, my hips and abs have become VERY VERY weak. Enter my goals.

1. April 18th, 2009 run the SLC half marathon in 2 hours or less. (I ran Crazy Horse in 2.20 but was experiencing "technical difficulties".)
2. Rehab my knee. This is hard for me because it will take a lot of SLOW recovery. If I re injure it I have to start all over. That means although I may have the lungs to run 7 miles... I cannot even run 1 because of the possibility of re injuring... (this sucks)
3. strengthen my core and my hips. No runner can run without injury with out having a strong core, and buttocks... :)
4. Eat like a marathoner should. This means PORTION CONTROL and NO SWEETS. Your food is literally your fuel and the results that you see or do not see often come straight from your diet.

You will notice that weight loss is not a goal of mine. I do however think and hope that my body will respond to by loosing about 7-10 lbs. I am hoping this mostly because I think I will be able to run faster and harder with less chance of injury by my body not having to carry that weight around but also being strong enough to do it my weight training.
I will keep a record of my work outs and a journal of how my body feels durring these. I will more than likely NEVER mention m weight. I might take a few photos but mostly I want something that I can look over and evalutate, and others my post comments and help me out with ideas and tips. :o)