Happy (?) Feet

What to write?

My last post was about my first ever 5K run. I already had my second two weeks after that, my third would be in a couple of days and now what? I am getting hooked into this running and I am not doing anything to help myself. Well, the once-a-month footspa helps as well as the constant visit to the gym but until I have these excess weight in me, I am doing no good for my body, most especially my feet which carries all my weight, not just when I run but ALL the time. Much as I love running, please, Ivy, help yourself and have mercy on those two feet of yours. :(

In layman's term, I am still overweight. :))

Health: My First 5K Marathon

I did it! I made it to the finish line for my first 5K marathon.

It was not an easy 5K. I have to run/walk and modify my breathing technique so as not to feel the 'side stitches' and to keep up with most of the runners from all ages.

The first few minutes were grueling. I had my mind set that I would finish the race in 1 hour 10 minutes maximum since I've been practicing running the 5K loop in the gym and the results are not that good. Well, what more can I expect? I wasn't sure if my legs/feet can carry all 76 kilos of me. But my leg strengthening exercises at the gym worked. Weeks before this, I tried to add more time doing cardio and leg exercises. If I was doing 50 kg at the seated leg press, I changed it to 75 kg, from 3 reps of 12 to 3 reps of 15. My elliptical training level changed from level 5 to level 9, just to intensify and strengthen my legs. My problem that time was how my legs would carry all my weight all throughout the 5K run. Then came vertigo.

I had a week long vertigo attack and that was a week before my 5K run. It bothered me more because I want to participate in the marathon and challenge myself to finish the said race. I was even thinking that I won't be allowed to run because of this. A few days before April 18 and days after that vertigo attack, I tried to do another 5K loop at the gym and see how bad was the damage. I can barely finish 5K without getting dizzy and worst, my average speed was 13-15 minutes per kilometer. But the stubborn part of my being didn't allow anything to be a hindrance and I'm glad I am somehow(?) stubborn.

Finishing my first 5K marathon is a big deal. It means I am getting close to achieving my goal of shedding off these fats and make myself feel MUCH better. From 36.4 BMI, it went down to 33.7 and it's all because of (very) hard work. Next mission is to lose more pounds, lower my BMI and to run another 5K come May 2.

Run, Ivy, Run!

Come April 18, I'll be running my very first 5k marathon. I don't know how I'm gonna do that but I will, God willing.

I've been running for almost two weeks now, though not every day, I am running on weekends in Forest Lake. It's my way of preparing to run the 5k marathon. Aside from that, I've been frequenting the gym for almost a month now. I still can't see the effects (if I'm really losing weight or not) but I love my visits, it makes me feel good.

I want to 'like' running like I used to (I used to practice/train when I was in grade school) but it's different now. I am way heavier than I was before and I stopped running for almost 20 years. Maybe if I wasn't diagnosed to have asthma before I may have been a runner today. I may not be as heavy as I am now. My BMI says I am obese. Well, I know I am. I know that I am overdoing some things (eating, that is) and not doing what was advised (exercise) but I am trying to change it now. I maybe years late in trying to keep a healthy lifestyle but what the heck, at least I am trying and doing it.

I have given up smoking a few weeks after hitting the gym. I still have my empty cig case and my lighter with me but they've been put to no use since then. I cut on my rice intake. Been trying to have one rice meal a day and I think I'm kinda good with it. (I was rice-less before for 3 weeks). Munching more veggies, drinking lots of water. The only thing that I am having a hard time doing is to sleep early but I know I can, in time.

My cousin Paula is my running buddy. She's the one who's pushing me to get my fat ass off the bed and run. Well, I thank her for that and I hope all her efforts for bugging me will pay off. I really want this to work. I want to shed off these fats and run faster. I am somehow getting hooked to running. I may not run the whole 5k during my 'semento runs' but at least I am trying to lift my obese body, hit the pavement and run. I am (and I want) going to finish my first 5k run.

Who knows, I may be able to run 10 or even 21k by next year. *keeps my fingers crossed*