Tag: running

Uncategorized

When Am I Not a Beginner Anymore?

Kara HartzLeave a comment

There are no answers in this post, just questions and thoughts that have been circling around in my head.

I’ve been writing for many many years. I’ve even sold some stories for real money and done paid blogging, and yet I usually think of myself as a beginning writer. I guess this attitude stems from not yet having finished a fully revised and polished novel (I have written several first-draft only novels). Also, while I’ve been writing for a long time, I don’t write all that much, or all that often. Nowhere near as often as I’d like anyway. For awhile I was trying to keep track of my word count so I knew when I hit my million words, but I didn’t keep up with that, so I don’t know if that landmark has been hit or not. Probably not quite yet, but maybe?

I’ve been noticing lately, when something pops up in my news feed with a title like, “Advice for beginning writers”, I find that I already know most of what’s there. I’ve heard it before anyway. Occasionally, I’ll even disagree with some piece of advice given, and I’ll have reasons for my dissent. So I imagine that I could maybe be moving past the beginner phase. Yet, that’s still how I think of myself and it’s a hard mental image to change. How many phases are there? Am I intermediate? Certainly not advanced. Does it even matter?

I think where it does matter is in finding lessons to continue my growth as a writer. Like I said, articles for beginners are feeling less relevant to me all the time, but I believe all writers can grow and improve, and the greats never stop learning. Finding craft books or advice from authors I admire is how I find myself moving forward more lately.

I’ve also been jogging now for about 8 months. I did the Couch to 5K week 1 day 1 jog the same day as my recheck exam with my surgeon and he gave me the green light to start exercising again. After I finished that training program I have been looking for advice on how to proceed, and I’m finding all kinds of often contradictory advice. I’m realizing that much of my confusion is from not always understanding who an article is aimed at. So many jogging articles seem to assume everyone is running races and trying to finish faster. I started to get a little better, more helpful results when I added ‘for women over 40’ to my jogging related searches. Yet, I got a lot of the same advice over and over again.

Does the repetition mean I’m not a beginner jogger anymore? I don’t think so. I didn’t jog this morning for example because I’m fairly sure I’ve developed mild shin splints and all advice says the solution is rest (or biking – yea for the Peloton.) I also bet most running coaches would classify someone with less than a year of running under them, especially someone like me that was extremely limited physically before that, a beginning runner. That’s fine. I don’t care what I’m called, but I do want to know where to turn for good advice on how to continue without hurting myself (re:this shin splint issue) but also without not pushing myself enough. I don’t know where that line is. Most of the advice I’m finding is aimed at someone just starting a C25K or similar program, or someone who has run a bunch or races and knows their ‘race pace’. I’m feeling a bit lost in between.

I suppose the solution in both cases, is to not care. To just keep going. Doing my best. Reading and learning, and making progress wherever I can, and not caring about labels. The value of the labels should be that it helps with the tracking down of useful resources, but I’m not sure that’s always the case. I guess, reading an article or listening to a podcast that just tells me stuff I already knew isn’t the end of the world. Sometimes we need to hear things more than once for it to stick after all.

Uncategorized

Peloton Classes

Kara HartzLeave a comment

As a sort of Christmas bonus, my husband’s boss gave him a Peloton bike and class membership. I’ll admit, I wasn’t enthusiastic about this, and thought that if the man had ever seen our tiny home he might have realized what an impractical gift this was. At the same time, it was also wildly generous, as anyone who has priced those bikes might attest. My husband accepted in this spirit, and found a place for it in the family room (where I had hoped to put a small sofa, but alas, it was not to be).

Since it was in such a prominent position in our home, and since it was all paid for, of course I gave it a try. The first few rides were hard on rear, but my Google research assured me that this would go away after a few more rides, so I keep on, and Google was right. I thought – hoped? – it might be a good cross-training exercise for me to do on the days I wasn’t jogging as I worked through the Couch to 5K program, and I think it has been very good for that.

The classes are all challenging for me, even the beginner ones, but I’m seeing progress as I keep on going. The instructors are fun, and I’m finding a few favorites. I also recently discovered their online classes for things other than using the bike. I guess they also make a treadmill, that we don’t have, but I can do the classes on the treadmills at the gym using my phone. They also have outdoor running and walking classes I can listen to on my phone, and well as yoga, meditation, and some strength classes.

Since I’ve finished the Couch to 5K program, I’ve liked having the treadmill and outdoor running classes to guide me along sine I’m not really sure what to do for my jogging now. I can’t usually keep up with the paces they are using, but since they aren’t live classes, and no one can see me or know how slow I’m going, I just do what I can, the best I can manage, and it’s been fun. They throw in general running/jogging tips that are great for me since I’m such a noob to the jogging thing and don’t really know much.

They also have ‘achievements’ the program keeps track of like, how many classes you’ve taken, how many days in a row you’ve exercised, how many miles you’ve ridden the bike, and that sort of thing. I’ve maybe gotten a bit obsessed with my daily streak. It goes up to 60 days, and I’ve been determined to make it there. I actually don’t have that far to go. Thank goodness, it will count any class you do. When I was sick last week, I just took a meditation class (and fell asleep – oops, maybe I need more work there too). Tonight, I was so sore from my jog this morning, and trip to the gym for weights, that I didn’t think I could handle riding the bike tonight, so I did a 10 min yoga class, and my streak is safe.

We never would have had the money to consider buying something like this for ourselves. Is it worth the cost though? Since we didn’t pay the cost, it’s hard for me to say. It’s pretty darn nice to have though. I’m very attached to the thing for someone who was resistant to letting in the house in the first place.

Uncategorized

I Have Finished Couch to 5K

Kara HartzLeave a comment

Well, sort of finished it anyway. The app I’m using goes by time, not distance. So what I’ve actually finished is Couch to 30 Min of Jogging. I’m slow, and can’t finish a whole 5K in those 30 min. But- darn it – I’m still super proud of this accomplishment. Since the final session in the program, I’ve been trying to work my way up to jogging for the full 5K distance. The last jog I did, I went for 34 min. Let me tell you, there were days along the journey that I didn’t think I’d ever be able to jog non-stop for 30 min, let alone more.

At 34 minutes I still didn’t quite hit 5K (3.1 miles), but I’m getting close. When I use various apps or my fitness watch thing I usually start them going as I begin my warm up 5 min walk, and I don’t turn them off until I get home, so that includes 10 or so min of cool down walking as well. Some of the programs are easier to separate the walking from the running than others. My pace varies between 11 and 12 min/mile, usually about 11:30ish (I told you I was slow). So I figure if I can jog for 36 min I should be hitting the 5K by then. I suppose one of these outings I should wait to start tracking as I actually begin jogging, and stop when I start my cool down for a better, or at least more precise measurement.

I’ve been reading articles on advice for newer runners who have just finished C25K about what to do next to continue their training. Most advise against just running your 30 min every other day and say you should vary your distance, your speed, etc. to continue to improve. I’ve tried following a couple audio type classes that do a sort of interval speed work to help get faster. It’s been a bit of a joke, because I’m really going the fastest I can right now, and any slower is a power walk – not a jog at all. I’m not sure an outside observer would be able to detect any difference in my ‘fast’ intervals vs. my ‘easy’ intervals. These classes like to talk about going at you’re ‘race pace’. I keep thinking, “My what now?”

Oh well. I have to start somewhere, right? I didn’t know for sure I could jog for 30 min straight. Maybe someday I will amaze myself again and have more than one pace.

I girl can dream.

Uncategorized

Thoughts on Couch to 5K Week 5 Day 3

Kara HartzLeave a comment

I’m back at the Couch to 5K program. I think it was the same day my surgeon gave me clearance to start exercising again, i went out for the first session. I was told to take things slow and gradually though, so I’ve been doing most sessions twice before moving on, thus turning the 9 week program into closer to 18 weeks. But that’s all fine.

I just finished week 5 day 3. For those familiar with the program, this is the first really big day with no walking breaks. 20 min of jogging. Giving up the walking intervals is intimidating. I was doing some reading about the program, and read that this is the most common spot that folks will quit. The reason I was reading about the program was that I found it strange that this particular session happened at this point in the program, because week 6 day 1, the next scheduled session, has walking breaks back in again. Why would they do that, I wondered? Once you can do a run with no breaks, why go back?

My jogging trail. Photo by Kara Hartz

I don’t have an authoritative answer, but the most common theory I came across it one I think I agree with. I was very nervous going into the week 5 day 3 run. I was worried I wouldn’t make it all the way to the end. Because I’m taking things slow though, I figured I would just try again if I didn’t make it. At the same time, I really didn’t want to have to do it all over again, so I planned to try my best to get through. After that, I’d get my breaks back and I could go along happily. That, in a nutshell, is the theory about why they schedule it the way they do. If the walking breaks ended, and looking ahead at the rest of the program I saw that there would never be any walking breaks ever, my nervousness would have been much worse. I might have decided to stay at week 5 day 2 indefinitely, or until I felt ‘ready’ to move on. I might have quit.

It seems to be a psychological hurdle more, or at as much as, a physical one. Believing you can do it, and that it’ll be okay is one of the main challenges of week 5 day 3. Knowing you just have to get through the one time, and you’ll get walking breaks again helps with the mental battle you have to deal with. Really, the walking breaks don’t last much longer. By week 6 day 3, they are gone for good. They last just long enough to let you know you can do a jog without breaks and you’ll do fine, so when the walks are gone truly gone, you do feel ready.

Uncategorized

Couch to 5 K Week 2 Day 1

Kara HartzLeave a comment

I almost didn’t advance myself to week 2, since week 1 was so much harder than I had expected it to be. Yet by the time I talked myself into getting out there at all, I felt like I might as well go all the way and go on to the next scheduled run. As usual with these things, I’m glad I did.

The week 2 run was still harder than I feel like it should have been considering how many times I’ve done this program before. I’m still disappointed how much strength and stamina I’ve lost. I try to be kind to myself, remembering that it isn’t as though I just stopped working out for a year and am getting back into it. I was incredibly ill that year. In the not too distant past, I could have died from what I went through last year. It’s really a statement to the wonder of modern medicine that, while last year was crappy, and I went through some non-enjoyable stuff, I was never really worried that my life was in danger. Maybe I should have been.

Still, starting from scratch to get in shape, when I did all this work before is frustrating. But what else is there to do? Not get  back in shape? That’s the other option, right? That won’t work for me, so here we go. Again.

I had my annual check up with my doctor today. I was surprised that he said he’d like to see me lose 10 to 20 pounds. I’d like to see me lose 50 to 60 pounds, so his advice feels like a piece of cake. Maybe that’s a bad simile for weight loss. It feels do-able. I can handle that.

So tonight it’s a walk and ab work (going to do ab work every day to deal with the lumpy tummy problem) and tomorrow C2 5K week 2 day 2!

Uncategorized

Couch to 5K Time Again.

Kara HartzLeave a comment

I started up the Couch to 5K running program yet again. This time I’m starting nowhere near NaNoWriMo! Not that it matters.

It was both harder, and not as bad as I thought it might be to get started again. So far, after the first two runs, I am much more winded after the running segments than I thought I’d be. On day 1, the minute of running felt so long. Too long. But today, only the second run, the minute was very do-able. Still I was breathing hard after even that short bit of running. All I can do is keep going, and trust that I’ll get better. If I need to, I’ll do each week twice, but I’ll keep going.

I maybe started a little too soon after being sick, as I’ve fallen into bad coughing attacks at the end of the runs, although today wasn’t as bad as last Thursday. One has to start somewhere though.

The part that was better than I’d hoped was my pace. That’s something that has improved very slowly, over many circuits through this running program. I always think that when I start the program over, I’ll have to start as slow as I did the previous time, but that’s something that seems to carry forward for me even through periods of not running. Unless this app isn’t accurate, which is possible, I don’t think I’ve ever managed a 10:28 pace so early in the program. I suspect as I do longer running intervals that will slow down since it will be harder to maintain lover longer periods. I remember, not all that long ago, thinking how if I could only get up to 12 min/mile, I would feel like I was doing well. 
I guess that’s part of the fun of this process. It’s always a little different, but I always get better. 

Uncategorized

I Didn’t Mean for it to Become a Trend

Kara HartzLeave a comment

I’m six weeks post-surgery now, so I’m allowed to start exercising and doing things again. So I’ve started up my Couch to 5K running training program. Today, I was looking over my outline as I prepare for NaNoWriMo. Then I realized I had linked these two events together yet again.

http://karabucreations.blogspot.com/2016/03/couch-to-5k-is-my-fitness-nanowrimo.html
http://karabucreations.blogspot.com/2016/06/couch-to-5k-and-nanowrimo-again-and.html

When I wrote those two previous posts, I’d thought it was sort of a humorous coincidence, and I liked the similarity in the determination and self -discipline I needed for both activities. I didn’t mean to forever attach them to each other.

I’d really love to believe this is the last year they will be attached. Not because I don’t love them both. I just hope to stay well enough to not need to restart Couch to 5K from the beginning again. The other times, I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish the program due to health restrictions. Now, however – I hope I remain hale and hearty and running well past the end of the program. If anything, maybe I’ll be looking into a program to take me from 5 to 10 K next year. A girl can dream.

I do plan to keep participating in NaNoWriMo ever year because – why not?

Uncategorized

Couch to 5k and NaNoWriMo Again, and Again. . . and again. . .and. . .

Kara HartzLeave a comment

This is basically a repeat of my previous post “Couch to 5K is My Fitness NaNoWriMo”, except I think this will be attempt 5 now? Maybe? I’ve lost count, but it doesn’t really matter.

In that last post I said I hoped this try would be the one to hit the finish line, but I’m not sure it will be. My colon hasn’t finished being persnickety even though the trouble making part is gone. It’s taking its sweet time to heal, so my ileostomy reversal won’t happen until August at the earliest.  There is nothing particularly tragic about this. It’s only relevant in that I have a second abdominal surgery to look forward to with a second recovery and therefore a second (fifth? sixth?) interruption to my 5k training program.

Still, in the meanwhile, I’m running the program. I ran week 2, day 1 tonight and it went well. Maybe I’ll have time to finish the whole program before surgery, maybe I won’t. It doesn’t matter though. I’ll probably need to restart after recovery anyway. Maybe I’m not a 5k runner. Maybe I’m someone to just tries. A lot.

And connecting these two events for me again – I just learned there is another camp NaNoWriMo in July. I’m outlining right now – something new to me so it’s slow going. I also have some other writing projects I want to move forward right now, but July will be a perfect goal time for getting the novel going. So far I think the outlining process will help me. Some complain that outlining takes the fun and spontaneity out of their writing but that doesn’t seem to be happening to me. Instead it’s making me excited about the story. It has a purpose – a meaning. It isn’t lost and meandering the way it felt. I think I’ve been an outliner trapped in a pantser all this time.

Uncategorized

Couch to 5k is my Fitness NaNoWriMo

Kara HartzLeave a comment

I participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month for the theoretical person out there who doesn’t know) every year, even when I know I don’t have the time or the energy to win. I just like to play. Mostly, I don’t hit my word goal.

Couch to 5K (or C25K since we all like to use the lingo, right?) is a running program that takes someone from not being a runner, to being able to run a 5K. I completed the program years ago and was so proud of myself. Then I hurt my foot and stopped running. Last year, when I was fed up with feeling crappy all the time I decided to start up again.

Things were much tougher for me then. I was very overweight and out of shape. After the first couple weeks of the program I had difficulty progressing, so I did each week twice before I felt strong enough to move one. I ran super slow. Most people could probably walk at the pace I was ‘running’. But I was still proud of myself.

Then I got lazy, and we went on vacation, and I generally neglected my running. Still, I wanted to do it, so I started over. That time I did better and got really close to finishing the program. . . and then I thought I had the flu, but actually had a perforated colon and got to spend some time in the hospital. It took longer than I expected to gain any strength back, but when I did, I started C25K all over again. My colon responded by acting back up again. Stupid colon.

Now I’m on the week 3 runs – for the fourth time in the past year, even though this time I knew going in that I would not be able to finish the program. That trouble-making colon is coming out in a couple weeks so I won’t be running for a bit as I recover.

So why bother restarting the training? The same reason I can’t not do NaNoWriMo. It makes me feel good. I’m proud of myself when I do it. Even though my efforts and results are not exciting compared to what I see others doing, they are pretty great for me. So after surgery, when my doctor says it’s safe – I’ll be starting my fifth attempt to get through the Couch to 5K program. Hopefully that will be the one I finish.

Oh – and, I’m signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo 2016 in April. I’m ‘karabu’ over there. Camp NaNoWriMo is similar to the November event, except you set your own word goal, and it doesn’t have to be all on one novel; any project is fine. Stop by and say Hi if you’re writing too!

Uncategorized

Health Check In

Kara Hartz1 Comment

So I promised to check in with a little accountability on my quest for better health.

Our scale broke during our move, so I can’t comment about any weight loss (but if I had to put money on it, I’d say there isn’t any loss to comment on anyway). I confess my eating habits have been pretty awful. I’m still juggling too many activities, especially too many that happen around dinner time, so I’m frequently not home to cook real food. That should be changing in the coming weeks, but I know if could put more effort into being more prepared too. It’s just exhausting. That’s my only excuse.

On the exercising front, things are in better shape (pun intended.) My oldest daughter and I have begun the couch to 5 k program. We just ran day 4 today. This is the second time into the program for me, and I’m excited to be doing it again. I have never been an athletic person, so running 3 miles straight was such a huge accomplishment for me. I am SO looking forward to that feeling again. We may go slower in the program than I did before. My kiddo is still little, and I want this to be fun for her, and I don’t want to push too fast. My youngest even ran the first day with us, but I knew she couldn’t keep going beyond that. As tough as she is, that’s a ton of work for those tiny little legs. But thanks to the wonders of Craigslist, I got a used running stroller for super cheap. It was only partly for her. Mainly it was a way to keep me from having excuse to skip a running day. No need wait around until someone else is free to stay home with her.

So the goals for the coming month are to keep on schedule with our runs, and to fit in more home cooking. Wish me luck!