SH Running Challenge > Week 6

Week 6 was rough! Mostly on my part - I haven't been feeling well and I ate too much sugar over the previous week so I was just off all week. Regardless I'm glad I keep trying and it can only get better! I do miss my elliptical and bike work outs though - so I will be happy to get back to cross training and not just running every week. But I do realize I need to get my running endurance up first before I can add it into my weekly workouts.

Week 6 > 11/7 - 11/11

Monday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes), Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes), Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes), Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes), Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) + Stretch
~Yeah, totally could not get up this morning. But I've been working hard so I just slept in this morning :) I still walked a few miles and stretched a lot.

I don't like running outside in the cold...

 Tuesday - Take a 30 minute walk
~ Walked a few miles and continuing to stretch and do some minor strength training through push ups and sit ups.

Wednesday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes), Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes), Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes). + Stretch
~Meh, I've been feeling off all week. I think I ate too much sugar this weekend and it always throws me off balance. I could barely finish each 10 minute interval but I'm glad I sucked it up and ran this morning. I may try elliptical tomorrow morning so I'm not totally out of it for my 25 minute on Friday ahhh!

Thursday - Take a 30 minute walk
~I walked a few miles today, still haven't been feeling well so I stretched a bunch and went to sleep early!

Friday -  Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2-1/4 miles (or 25 minutes) with no walking. + Stretch
~ Ugh, just having an off week and didn't get to run as long as I should have today. But I can't be too hard on myself. I've made so much progress and its OK to have an off week. I need to make sure I don't eat as much crap this weekend so I feel better next week!
 

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- Stephanie

SH Running Challenge > Week 5

Week 5 - I'm so proud I made it so far and have been running 3 times a week! I learned how to run 60 seconds at a time but this was the best way to do it. I'm feeling great, have good energy, and I'm not super sore!

Runners - any tips as I get into running longer times and distances? :)

Week 5 > 10/31 - 11/14

Monday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes), Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes), Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes), Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes), Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes). + Stretch
~ Running for 3 - 5 minute intervals today! OMG. I am happy to say I completed all 5 minute intervals and felt good! The longer I run, the more I have to relax mentally and just run. Overthinking it kills it for me and I psych myself out. The upcoming weeks are getting more serious so I know I have to continue to eat healthy, drink water daily and mentally prepare for training!

Building up my time slowly but surely!

Tuesday - Take a 30 minute walk
~ Walked a few miles and stretched a lot. I'm not feeling nearly as sore as I thought I would be, so I'm grateful for that! Also created an epic & intense running playlist (everything from Adele and NSync to Nirvana and Rage Against the Machine). Actually excited for my run tomorrow!

Wednesday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes), Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes), Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes) + Stretch
 ~ Two 8 minute intervals were scary... def the longest I have ever ran (don't get me started about Friday)! The first 8 minute interval I got the worst side cramps ever and had to stop at minute 7 to walk it off. I then quickly googled side cramps (check out our Facebook page for my findings) and continued my 5 minute walk. I realized I had to keep my breathing in pace - which I did for the next 8 minute run and I made it through! Great feeling :)

Treadmill Champ!

Thursday - Take a 30 minute walk
 ~ I am staying super hydrated (I usually do every day) and keep stretching to make those awful side cramps stay away tomorrow!

Friday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog two miles (or 20 minutes) with no walking. + Stretch
 ~ I ran the entire 20 minutes straight this morning! I ran 1.5 miles this morning! #WINNING I am so proud of myself - considering just 5 weeks ago I didn't even know how to physically run. I felt good, keep my breathing at a steady pace and luckily no side cramps came my way. I'm feeling powerful and proud. Happy I have come so far!

All smile after my run this morning :)

> Also - don't forget to LIKE our Facebook page! We post daily updates, reminders about giveaways, meal ideas, pictures, answer questions, post links to cool articles, etc!

- Stephanie

SH Running Challenge > Week 4 & Loving It!

Made it 1 month running!

Whaaaat I've been running for a whole month! I really can't believe it. I remember being pretty discouraged when I was so sore my first 2 weeks. But now I like it and I look forward to running! I've been running 3 mornings a week for the past month (only missed 1 morning). In fact 2 mornings this week I ran 1.5 miles during my 25 minutes of running intervals! I can't wait to see what the next month brings! Please feel free to leave any runner comments/advice - I'm always looking to improve. 

Week 4 > 10/24/11 - 10/28/11

Monday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 3 minutes, Walk 90 seconds, Jog 5 minutes, Walk 2-1/2 minutes, Jog 3 minutes, Walk 90 seconds, Jog 5 minutes. + Stretch
~ Running for 5 minutes straight was intimidating... but I did great and loved it! No side cramps, I kept at a steady pace and felt good. I know week 4 is my halfway turning point and I'm ready to keep pushing forward!

Tuesday - Take a 30 minute walk
~ Walking around the city a bunch today (unfortunately got blisters from my new boots - wahh!). Also took time for crunches/push ups/stretching.

My first of 2 - 3 minute running intervals!

Wednesday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 3 minutes, Walk 90 seconds, Jog 5 minutes, Walk 2-1/2 minutes, Jog 3 minutes, Walk 90 seconds, Jog 5 minutes. + Stretch
 ~ What a run this morning! I definitely pushed myself and it felt good. I jammed out to the Nicki Minaj CD and the 5 minutes flew by! Then the second section of 5 minutes I got stomach cramps (because I was drinking water?). Feeling more exhausted than usual today, but feel empowered that I completed another run!

Thursday - Take a 30 minute walk
 ~ I walked a few miles around the city and continue to stretch and do strength training.

2 - 5 minute running intervals too! Love it!

Friday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 3 minutes, Walk 90 seconds, Jog 5 minutes, Walk 2-1/2 minutes, Jog 3 minutes, Walk 90 seconds, Jog 5 minutes. + Stretch
~ Woo second morning this week I ran 1.5 miles within my intervals today! It has been freezing/raining so I've been running on a treadmill at the gym but it hasn't been that bad. I actually like using the treadmill because it helps me keep a steady pace. Felt good about both 3 minute and 5 minute runs. Excited to push myself more next week!

Feeling accomplished :)

> Also - don't forget to LIKE our Facebook page! We post daily updates, reminders about giveaways, meal ideas, pictures, answer questions, post links to cool articles, etc!

- Stephanie

SH Running Challenge > Week 3

 SH Running Challenge > Week 3 > Monday 10/17 - Friday 10/21

I am stoked that I have not been as sore as I was the first weeks when I was running. I'm enjoying it more now, and even looking forward to pushing myself a little harder. Even though I was terrified at first, I feel great and excited I'm overcoming this year!

> Any tips as I start running for longer periods of time next week? I have a killer playlist, great running shoes... I think I need to work on my breathing though!

Love running outside in beautiful fall weather!

  WEEK 3:

Monday - ~ I wasn't home to run, so I didn't. Still did stretches and walked around 2 miles throughout the day.

Tuesday - Take a 30 minute walk
~ Walking and stretches felt great! I was in a car all day on Monday and it felt good to stretch out!

First Rep: Run for 90 seconds, then walk for 90 seconds

Wednesday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:
Jog 90 seconds, Walk 90 seconds, Jog 3 minutes, Walk three minutes. + Stretch
~ Ahh - running for 3 minutes straight?! I was scurred at first but it felt real good! I did get some side cramps by minute 3, but by the end of the run I felt like a champ. (Haha don't judge - this is progress for me!!) 

Thursday - Take a 30 minute walk
~ I've been walking during the day and have also added in around 20 minutes of yoga/crunches/push-ups every night after I get home from work. Strength training is crucial and I had forgotten how much a few minutes of yoga can chill me out.

Second Rep: Run for 3 minutes, walk for 3 minutes

Friday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 90 seconds, Walk 90 seconds, Jog 3 minutes, Walk three minutes. + Stretch
~ Feeling so much more confident going out on my runs now! Felt great the whole time, can run the whole 3 minutes without any side cramps now. It was hard to wake up this morning, but I'm glad I got out of bed and just ran. It woke me up and gave me a great start to my day. I like to feel accomplished before I even get to work - and running is doing the trick!

Haha yes - this is this morning. What would I do without my iPhone...

I really recommend this start slow and build up running program. The first weeks of starting slow really gave me confidence to continue without feeling overwhelmed or too exhausted.

Have a great weekend :)

- Stephanie

SH Running Challenge - Week 2

 SH Running Challenge > Week 2 > Monday 10/10 - Friday 10/14

I completed my second week of my running challenge! I am very happy I made it this far. See below for my daily recap - please comment and let me know any advice you may have for the upcoming weeks :) 

Week 2 > 10/10 - 10/14

Monday -  Take a 30 minute walk
~ Started off the week slow, just walked a few miles throughout the day and stretched a bit. I didn't feel well all day (ended up being the flu!). Also, practiced running with my fiance at night, and I was running wrong. Way too hard on my feet (no wonder why my heel was killing me), so excited to give it another try tomorrow!

I love running on The High Line. So beautiful!

 Tuesday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes. + Stretch
~ Heel is feeling much better, but I haven't been feeling well for the past few days. Decide to give running a try this morning and I felt good about the run. But then sick immediately after and cue the flu for the rest of the day... oh life.

I time myself on my iPhone when I run
> Run for 90 seconds

> Walk for 60 seconds

Wednesday - Take a 30 minute walk
~ Woo slept for 10 hours last night! I needed the sleep so I didn't get up early to do anything. However I will be walking around 2 miles around the city today, so its no big deal. Started to do some nightly crunches and push ups to add in some strength training to this program.

Thursday - Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes. + Stretch
~ Feel really good this morning! I'm doing well running 90 seconds at a time, and it feels good. Definitely an adrenaline rush to accomplish this in the morning. Again - so happy I started slow because I'm feeling positive and not overwhelmed by this. Feeling strangely tired but alert and excited at the same time.

How I keep my keys on me while I run!

Misty morning run on The High Line on Thursday

Friday -  Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes. + Stretch
~ I didn't get to run as long as I would have liked to this morning, but I'm still feeling great. I'm not super sore anymore and I don't have any foot pain.


- Stephanie 

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