It's sit-up Thursday!

In the past, when I've tried to get in shape/train for a specific event, it's been a failure. I don't have a specific plan, I'm not motivated, and I can think of a million other things I need to be doing. This time, I vowed to make it different. I have hired a personal trainer/coach. He came pretty cheap since I'm married to him. So far, he has actually been helpful, has made a plan for me, and I'm sticking to it.

I started at the beginning of February. The plan says I am to do 10 minutes of cardio intervals (walking/running or cycling) twice a week, and one day of "core" work (mostly sit ups! YUK). I am supposed to add 2 minutes to the cardio each week. (Remember I'm pretty much starting from scratch, and I had major surgery 6 weeks ago) I did walk/run a couple of times, then the weather turned sour. Karl got my bike on the trainer before I even had to ask him, and I've been spinning since. 2 minutes a week didn't seem like much, so I went a little farther. On Tuesday, I did 30 minutes. That was more like it!

Last year I bought a cheap little TV to put in the office so I could watch DVDs while I rode. That got boring quickly, and that's why I quit. This year, the TV is still there, I watched it a couple of times, but my bike is in a different spot, and I can see the computer, so I pull up some bike racing footage and ride with the pros. That is my motivation.

I'm still having trouble with the "million other things I need to do" part, but I'm getting better, and believe me, I feel no guilt whatsoever that I should be vacuuming instead of spinning. Those cat-hair tumbleweeds can wait, I've got 100km to train for!

Things are looking good otherwise. I have yet another "inflation" today. I think I'm just about to the size I want.

Spring??

Well, since Jimmy the Groundhog was snowed in for Groundhog's Day, I have no idea if this spring-like weather we're having is an actual spring, or just a teaser. Either way, I'm taking full advantage.

Karl has agreed to be my fitness coach, and so far, has put more effort into the project than past years when he's agreed to be my fitness coach. He made me a fitness log and a schedule. The schedule does include indoor spinning, but the bike hasn't made it in from the garage yet. I'm trying a new approach: intervals. I'm starting small - I did just have major surgery, ya' know - 10 minutes of slow walking/fast walking. I did that 3 times in the last week after dropping Katrina off at the bus. I'm not sure of my time for those days though because Karl's watch got waterlogged and so he's wearing mine. I did go half a mile each time.

Todays beautiful weather was just calling me, so I donned my cold-weather tights (and my watch!), and was able to run/walk for 13 minutes - a whole mile! I could have gone more, but I didn't want to overdo it. I think I was even a little overdressed, my jacket was hanging open after only a few blocks! I think this will be my routine for at least a week - temps will be about the same as today for at least that long (I hope).

I haven't done any running since last summer, and it was amazing how comfortable it was to run without "the girls" flopping up and down! I'll be doing much more running, I'm sure of it. I just need to steal my own watch back.