Yes, I'm Still Here!

June 23, 2010 is the birth date of this blog. So yes, I have neglected it a wee bit lately- I would explain in detail, but it’s complicated and I’m not ready to tell the whole world everything. No new postings have been made. In fact one posting was even deleted since I decided it wasn’t appropriate subject matter. This month, I’ve been brainstorming and reading other blogs, learning what blogging could really offer me! –In conclusion, I have a ton to learn and I’m getting hooked!

Now for the, My Big News Report:

The Couch to 5K is still happening. In an odd sort of way, I was “sick” and had to stop one week –maybe even a little into the next week. But with Patient First’s excellent medical care, I’m back! Surprised I was to find that I didn’t have to start back at the beginning of the program. But I’ve had trouble with remembering where I am in the program, so I wrote out this schedule:

Week	Monday	Wednesday	Friday
1	5 min. walk 60 sec. jog 90 sec. walk Total= 20 min.	5 min. walk 60 sec. jog 90 sec. walk Total= 20 min.	5 min. walk 60 sec. jog 90 sec. walk Total= 20 min.
2	5 min. walk 90 sec. jog 120 sec. walk Total= 20 min.	5 min. walk 90 sec. jog 120 sec. walk Total= 20 min.	5 min. walk 90 sec. jog 120 sec. walk Total= 20 min.
3	5 min. walk 90 sec. jog 90 sec. walk (all x2) 3 min. jog 3 min. walk	5 min. walk 90 sec. jog 90 sec. walk (all x2) 3 min. jog 3 min. walk	5 min. walk 90 sec. jog 90 sec. walk (all x2) 3 min. jog 3 min. walk
4	5 min. walk 3 min. jog 90 sec. walk 5 min. jog 2.5 min. walk 3 min. jog 90 sec. walk 5 min. jog Total= 30 min.	5 min. walk 3 min. jog 90 sec. walk 5 min. jog 2.5 min. walk 3 min. jog 90 sec. walk 5 min. jog Total= 30 min.	5 min. walk 3 min. jog 90 sec. walk 5 min. jog 2.5 min. walk 3 min. jog 90 sec. walk 5 min. jog Total= 30 min.
5	5 min. walk 5 min. jog 3 min. walk 5 min. jog 3 min. walk 5 min. jog Total: 30 min.	5 min. walk 8 min. jog 5 min. walk 8 min. jog	5 min. walk 20 min. jog (No Walking)

Since being ‘sick’, I’ve started back at Week 3 this week. I might even do this next week depending on how strong I feel. Also, I only posted up to week 5-Half way to the end of the program!

One of the beginner running pages' followers talk about setting a goal. As you know my first goal is to run a 5K in the blink-of-an-eye, but the next would be another 5K benefit race or possibly a longer one! At the YMCA I saw a posting on the bathroom stall for an 8K race in September. Maybe it’s a possibility, we’ll see.

The next piece of My Big News, is that Youngest is wearing real underwear these days! She’s loving it too! I do still buy Pull-Ups, but I think we might actually have purchased the last package we will ever buy. She’s still in Pull-Ups at night for “wet bed protection” though. Fact: Working Moms have no time for extra laundry.

And that’s a wrap of- My Big News.

Getting back to my self-education in blog culture, I’ve decided the best blog are ones that are VERY focused. I will stay on my first objectives: Running, Motherhood, and Scheduling.

Then, next to content, I need to address structure, visuals, and references. So these are the upcoming goals in my blogging adventure.

Take care all,

Julia

The Plan: Schedule, Schedule, Schedule

My life is so scheduled in order to keep everything going these days. Let’s take a moment to think about what the word schedule means:

sched·ule , n.

1. A list of times of departures and arrivals; a timetable: a bus schedule; a schedule of guided tours.
2. A plan for performing work or achieving an objective, specifying the order and allotted time for each part: finished the project on schedule.
3. A printed or written list of items in tabular form: a schedule of postal rates.

Yes, a timetable and order with allotted time for each item. I’m just so AD, it’s even hard to sit down and make a grocery list each week let alone take time out to pee!
But each week I try to make order to my life; to plan the groceries, buy the house hold supplies, get myself to work on time, keep my family happy, and to take up something like running in order to get fit, and healthy. Having recently popped out two children, I’ve really just begun to get a grip on my new obligations in life. Also, I just turned 35 last week! This all adds up to:
What am I really doing with my life?
Is this mid life yet?
Am I doing everything I dreamed of?
Where do I want to be right now and down the line?

So I’m using this blog to get accountable for more of my actions and will start with my running plan.
A bit about my athletic life is that I was competitive swimmer: ages 8- ~15. Then I got into lifeguarding which kept me employed all though college. I also rode my bike like mad in high school, sometime averaging 20 miles a day! But after college and moving around the country, I’ve been lucky to keep an occasional gym membership. Now that we have a family YMCA membership I’ve got to use it more!
Lots of times I’ve tried to begin a running program but have always failed. Usually this has been from injury or lack of motivation and documented successes. So I scheduled a plan. I will work out three days a week right after picking up the girls from daycare. I researched on the internet and found the Couch to 5K running plan. Getting people like myself back in shape and running 5K in three months! Check it out at http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml. I ran last week with no Couch to 5 K and it was pulling teeth. This week I picked up the plan and so far it’s been great! So I’ll “Just keep swimming” or running.
Monday- Wednesday- Friday –First 3 Sessions-
Stretch
Brisk Walk -5 minutes
Jog 60 seconds
Walk 90 seconds
Do this for 20 minutes.

‘Till next time,

Julia