Having fun while "working" out

Part of my return to fitness is that I really want to have fun with it. I hate reading blogs or magazine articles that say "I hate doing cardio, but I just do it." Um, cardio can be fun, can't it?

On Tuesday, I had a faculty meeting that went a half hour longer than necessary. Even though I had a bag in my car full of gym clothes, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead, I called the Fiance and asked him if he wanted to meet me to play tennis. I'm awful at it. I like to make believe that I'm a Williams sister and grunt while I serve or hit a ball out of my reach, but really, I suck. However, being out in the sun with The Fiance having fun while burning calories... that's a big plus.

Yesterday was Day 2 of Week 1 of the C25K. I admit that I feel a bit of soreness in my glutes and my abs from my first run on Monday, but yesterday, I just got it moving. I have to admit that my last interval (there's eight of them this week) was truly a push, but doing the loop around the hospital at lunchtime when all the workers are outside getting a bit of sun and going for a walk motivated me. I kept thinking, this interval, I'm going to pass that lady in red. This interval, I'm going to pass those two older women. It was great.

Today is a non-running day, and I'm debating whether I want to go to the gym and put in a hard core workout on the elliptical or to go for a walk in the sun. Decisions, decisions :)

C25K: Week 1, Day 1

So, it's been quite a while since I've found myself at this place... literally over two years ago! I decided to take my sprinting heels out for a spin. The rain had cleared, it looked beautiful outside and I needed to get my workout in. What's better than a C25K walk/run workout? This week's workouts are a 5 minute warmup walk, a 60 second run followed by a 90 second brisk walk, and finished off with a 5 minute cool down walk. There are eight of these run/walk intervals, and I thought I could do it. I mean, last time, I was so close to reaching my 5K goal... how hard could this be?

Well, the first two or three intervals were fine. A breeze. When I got to the middle... oy. Not as easy as I remember it. By the time interval seven rolled around, I was out of breathe, my shins were hurting (crap, really? I need new sneaks already?), and I was sweating like a pig.

But man... that run felt good. I remember why I stuck with it for so long. And it was the push I needed to make this week a good week fitness wise.

An even bigger challenge

Once upon a time, a girl who had lost weight decided that she wanted to become a runner. She decided to try the Couch to 5K program. She tried and tried and tried, but she never ran a 5K.

That's going to change this year. Starting Monday, I'm restarting C25K. I found that, in the past, running towards a goal really motivated me. In order to be successful, I'm reaching back to things that got me results before. I'm a bit scared and a little nervous, but that podcast is all ready to go for tomorrow morning. Eep!