Running

One of my New Year’s resolutions for 2011 is to run 5km non-stop without fainting. It’s obvious I’m not too keen on physical activity but I’m inspired by the Health at Every Size (HAES) movement. The key components of HAES include 1) Self-Acceptance 2) Physical Activity 3) Normalized Eating. (Eeek! What’s that? Fried chicken cures all, I say!)

I’m not interested in becoming skinny and weight-loss is not a motivation. For now, I just want to stop being a slow-poke.

Let me just say that I HATE RUNNING and it has been a pain in the arse since I started. Literally and metaphorically. Every time I get on the treadmill, my inner self is whinging. This irritating little voice keeps swearing that if I don’t STOP NOW I will either die of exhaustion or boredom.. It doesn’t help that I have a very short attention span. Running is monotonous and BORING! Rightfootleftfoot rightfootleftfoot rightfootleftfoot… bambambambambam…

Here I track my progress… (Are you curious to see when I will give this up? Me too!)

24 December 2010

25 December 2010

23 January 2011

24 January 2011

OH KAY… I appear to be surviving and I’m surprised at my determination. I officially give myself a break and will not penalise myself for the next few runs.

My next milestones are:

• Finish 5km at 40mins by 31 January 2011
• Complete 5km under 30mins. (No deadline as long as I keep trying)

Are you enjoying my silly inner monologue typed out for the world to see?

28 January 2011

1 February 2011

It’s the start of February 2011 and not only did I not reach the milestone I set, I am also starting to ache. Today when I boarded the bus, my knees squeaked and there was definite pain. I’ve already been taking glucosamine along with other supplements, so I guess the only thing I can do is ease up on the running and do something else – maybe more yoga-type stretches and elliptical? Wait a minute… WHAT’S THIS? Is this an actual exercise routine/plan? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Physical activity is the enemy!

7 February 2011

I could barely finish a short 2.4km before my knees and ankles started creaking. I either need to start working on my posture or something. You know how you crack your knuckles? My knees made the same sound every time I bend to run another step. I think I did ok though. At least I didn’t just cave in and give up immediately.

14 February 2011

Early morning on Valentine’s Day, I went running before heading to the office. I’ve been unsuccessful with improving my timing in the last few runs and it was actually getting me down. It didn’t help that the gym upgraded all the treadmills and I’m unfamiliar with the new ones. I bit the bullet and gave it my best shot. When I finished this run, I was actually shaking and couldn’t even take the photo properly. This is the fastest I’ve ever gone and I’m now clearly under 50minutes for 5km. Epiphany – I can’t possibly go any faster if I remain at this size. Something has got to give. It’ll take a while to get my stamina and strength up, and I need to be lighter if I want to go faster. I’m not sure if anyone can understand how incredibly painful this is for me. Any mention of weight depresses me and I’m about 25kgs overweight at this point. Whatever it is, I’ll try to maintain and keep up this pace. Forget about improving time or going under 40minutes for now. I’ll keep within this range and continue running 5km at under 50minutes. Wish me luck!

24 February 2011

Work has been really busy and I’m juggling quite a few projects. In order to keep up with the running, I’ve made some sacrifices on my social life and other activities but I’m not complaining yet because I’m seeing progress. It was stalemate for a while but today I broke another barrier. I’m now working on endurance instead of speed. It took me 1hr 30min to do 7.67km but I think I could’ve gone for 8 if I really tried. Only 400m more right? This is the first time I’ve gone on for more than 1hr at a stretch. As I type this, I don’t feel much of an ache or pain. Maybe my stretching exercises really work.

25 February 2011

I know I’m probably at my maximum limit and I should take it easy for the next few days. It’s strange but perhaps it’s some kind of adrenalin rush. I get a kick out of kicking myself in the butt and challenging myself. I did 8km in 1hr 22min – faster and further than yesterday. I think I might be at the risk of hurting myself if I push any further. Afterall my weight isn’t easy on my knees. I like that I am building strength though. I think the next run will probably be in 4 or 5 days. I will stop setting myself challenges. The goal now is to keep running and hopefully do 5km under 40mins by the end of March. Can I do that? I don’t know but I’ll give it my best shot!!!!!

3 March 2011

It’s been 3 months since I started. For fear that I might hurt my knee, I’ve started using the Elliptical. It’s great! I’ve learnt how to not fall off! Today was my longest workout on it. I did about 35min backwards and then the rest normally. I think it’s good because you don’t feel the strain, unlike running.

22 March 2011

This is what happens when you stop running for more than 10 days. Timing sucks! I don’t give two hoots about weight loss but remember, the goal of this running thing is to speed up! ARGH! It’s so hard to juggle work and running and everything else in between. How do working women with a family and multiple children keep this up?

26 March 2011

I went back on the elliptical today because my knees were creaking. I had to get off the machine before I completed my goal of doing 8km because the gym was switching off all their lights for Earth Hour. Never mind. Tomorrow, back on the elliptical and I try for 8km again. GGRRRR!!!

5 April 2011

I’ve been running but not as hardcore in the last 2 weeks. I took some classes and I did some strength training. So I haven’t been documenting with pictures. Today I had a breakthrough because I’ve been slacking off the last 2 weeks. I forced it upon myself. I read that running fast bulks up your calves and I got worried. I did actually compare photos and I think they shouldn’t be bulkier than they already are! So I switched up strategy and tried going for long distance instead. Apparently you don’t really get any exercise till after 30minutes, so there I am thinking ok, let’s do it then. Endurance. It was painful! This 10km was long drawn and boring. My butt and thighs ache now. Even when I was boarding the bus, I felt achey and a definite pulling sensation. So what’s next? Don’t know! It’s April, so let’s just keep it going!

12 April 2011

I did another 10km today with relative ease. It still takes a long time but I managed to do it with intervals and shaved 15minutes off the last timing. I’m not sure if there’s any point to this or if I have a strategy. I think I just have to keep running and not give myself grief when I don’t feel like running.

4 May 2011

Almost 6 months since I started running. Today I pushed harder than I did for the last two weeks and I am pretty satisfied with the distance and timing. It’s the fastest I’ve ran so far. The last few weeks was basically me taking my time to clock 20-25km weekly. I wasn’t bothered with timing and I broke it up so as not to pressure myself. Yesterday I ran 5km, today I ran 7km. I still owe myself 12-17km. Depending on what’s on my plate, I’ll either do 12 or 17km by the end of the week. Maybe 10km on Friday?

13 June 2011 - Elliptical Machine

I hurt my back about a month back and I had problems getting back into my routine. I went to a nearby public pool once and it was just too crowded to get real swimming done. I spent a lot of time avoiding people instead on concentrating on maintaining a consistent effort. I went back to the gym last week after 3 weeks of absence and I finally got into it. Today, fueled by anger and indignance (perils of dating in Singapore), I pushed as hard as I could. Still didn’t dare to go back running because I’m afraid the pounding might aggravate my back, but I did the Elliptical and this has been my best time so far. I think I’ll go back again tomorrow and see if I can keep it up. I need to increase my workouts and *gulp* start watching my food intake. I’ve gained a whopping 8kgs since last December (i.e. since I started running). I haven’t changed my dietary habits and I’ve upped my physical activity. I understand that to lose weight you need some kind of caloric deficit but I’m not looking to lose weight. So I can’t figure out why I gained 8kgs – that’s a lot! So… I will bite the bullet and make better food choices. Will give it a shot for 1 month and see if I can bring my weight down to last December’s. Sux.

20 June 2011

I’m puzzled and frustrated. When I started running, losing weight or becoming skinny wasn’t an issue for me. All I wanted was to move faster and be just that little bit healthier. Instead, six months down the road, I find myself weighing heavier than when I first started. My body shape is also changing and I don’t like it one bit. For some strange reason, I’m bulking up on top and I’ve lost my hips and thighs. I’m starting to look manly. What happened to my curves and my bum?!?! WHY AM BULKING UP ON TOP? According to the BMI calculator, I’m very ill. My BMI value is 31.6, which means I’m quite obese. This sux.

26 August 2011. A little soft & flabby.

It’s been almost 9 months since I started leading a healthier lifestyle. For the last 2-3 months, I’ve been going to the gym 3-4 times a week and covering 20-25km weekly on either the treadmill or elliptical. Then I went on holiday and slackened for a week. It took me almost 2 weeks to regain the stamina. Then I had a busy work schedule for the last 3 weeks and didn’t get any time to go to the gym at all. With the irregular meals and long work hours, I was in a fitness dump. And this brought me to 3 days ago. On the 25th of August, I was determined to get back on track. I think it’s going to be so hard. 3 weeks of non-exercise and letting myself go, I find myself soft, flabby and weak. My clothes fit the same but I know there are lumps & folds I’m hiding. I haven’t lost any weight since I started exercising and to date, I weigh the same (nothing more *phew*). I guess it’s strange to say this but, you feel it yourself. I actually feel guilty about this. I went to the gym the last 3 days and I just couldn’t do it. It was so hard to move and I had to brisk walk instead. My fitness level has gone down. I feel… weak.