My running legs...

I feel like they are back! I have had some serious doubts recently on whether or not I want to keep running.  Last week's cold set me back once again, and not to continue making excuses... but I am not a natural runner, so pretty much any semi-lengthy break feels like I am just starting over again. I have come to terms with the fact that running will probably never be easy for me, but I will have good days and bad days, and it is totally OK to walk whenever I feel like it! I am trying to take the pressure off myself, but I am a perfectionist in a lot of areas in my life, and that is starting to rub off on my exercise habits. I don't think that is the best feature, so I am working on it... one day at a time, right?

This week has been kind of rough at work, and instead of coming home to pout on the couch and emotionally eat like 'old Katie' would do, I got my running shoes on and worked it out!

This is my excited face. 

I just have to share my success story from today. I wasn't sure what I was going to do workout-wise, but I got my shoes on and headed out the door anyway. It was too gorgeous to just stay inside. I figured my legs would take me somewhere, at some pace, and I'd eventually end up back at my apartment. Well, my legs started running, and (for me) my legs started running fast! I decided to do a 2-mile, mostly flat loop, because I am still warming back up to running since my few days off due to my cold. I finished the first mile at a 10 minute per mile pace, and then I had to slow myself down for the second mile. I wanted to bring my heart rate down a bit, so I slowed it down to a sub-12 minute per mile pace. I finished the 2 miles in 22 minutes flat (with one 20 - 30 second delay waiting at an intersection). I think that is the fastest that I have ever completed a run!

Today's run was a great one. I felt powerful and strong! It definitely gave me some inspiration to 'just keep running...'

Best Body Bootcamp - Week 2 Plan

Well here we are, week 2 of Best Body Bootcamp! Last week didn't quite go as planned for me, but I am feeling mostly recovered from whatever illness knocked me down. I am still not going to do anything intense today or tomorrow, since I am pretty stuffy - I will probably just stick to walking outside until at least Wednesday... notice I was generic with 'cardio intervals'

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous here all week, so I should have no problems getting outside after work! While this time change is hard to adjust to, I love the extra hour of daylight at night and not having to rush home and cram an outdoor workout in.

Basically, perfect weather! If that isn't incentive to get outside, I don't know what is!

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Here are my two healthy goals for the week!

Goal 1: Drink at last 64 oz. of water each day - this stayed the same from last week, still trying to drive this healthy habit home!
Goal 2: Eat at least one fruit or vegetable with every meal!

 Love my 32 oz. Rubbermaid bottle!

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And here is my workout plan! Hopefully by Wednesday I will be back to jogging again!

Monday: 50 minute cardio intervals
Tuesday: 20 min cardio + workout B
Wednesday: 50 min cardio intervals
Thursday: 20 min cardio + strength training
Friday: 20 min HIIT + circuit training
Saturday: Bar Crawl = lots of walking
Sunday: Rest

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Looking forward to kicking bootcamp booty this week in preparation for some special visitors this weekend!!!

Best Body Bootcamp - Week 1 Recap

First week of Best Body Bootcamp is complete! 7 more to go!

Here is how my workouts for the week went. On Wednesday, I came down with a cold that came along with flu-like body achiness. It knocked me down on Wednesday and Thursday, but I felt a bit stronger on Thursday after resting all day and tried to go for an easy walk. Strength training was still out of the picture, although I attempted one of our strength training circuits on Saturday. Bad idea. I decided it was better to tone down the workouts for the rest of the week and just do walks, instead of pushing myself with a jog.  

Monday: Strength Training + 20 minute jog

Tuesday: 50 minute run/walk intervals

Wednesday: Rest day

Thursday: 30 minute easy walk

Friday: Rest day

Saturday: 1 circuit of strength training 

Sunday:  Walked ALL day furniture shopping

I took this week a lot easier than I had planned because of my unexpected illness. I am starting to feel better, and am down to just being congested. I can deal with that. No running just yet, but this shouldn't impact my basic workouts for the week because I can substitute walking.

Looking forward to week 2! Next week's workout plan is coming tomorrow...

How was your first week of Best Body Bootcamp? Did it go as expected, or did life get in the way?