General update

Since we're pretty much done with the 13-week program, Isabel and I have been running a little less often. We did a 40-minute run last Saturday (that would be the first run in Week 13) and a 30-minute run yesterday (that would be the second run in Week 13). There is no third run in week 13. I skipped the last run in Week 12 and did the Turkey Trot instead.

My hip has been really bothering me and I'm starting to think I probably shouldn't run on it until I get it checked out. I'm going to make an appointment with a physical therapist and have it looked at next week. Now that I'm at the point where I can run 40-50 minutes without stopping, I really don't want to quit!

Turkey Trot!

Yesterday Isabel and I ran the Turkey Trot, a four-mile run from the Zoo down to the Rose Garden and back. I used my new shoes and took an ibuprofen, which seemed to help. It was cold and rainy, of course, though most of the rain held off until just after we finished the run. It took us about 47 minutes, so just about a 12-minute mile, which is pretty standard. I noticed that in our part of the crowd, anyway, we were among the very few who actually ran the hills (slowly) instead of walking them and then sprinting ahead when the going got easier. Sour grapes? I am just happy and proud that we did the whole thing without walking. I did it last year, too, but it was easier this time.

Week 12, Day 2: Run 10, walk 1, three times

We ran this at Grant Park in the dark and rain. My hip was really bugging me this time. I decided to skip the next run to rest up for the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. I asked my doctor about the hip pain and did some research on the web and ended up buying a new pair of running shoes. My old ones were pretty worn out, so maybe that will help. I've also been doing some stretches. I think I'll try some ibuprofen before the Turkey Trot, and if the pain doesn't go away soon I will go see a specialist of some kind. I don't want this to stop me from running!

Week 12, day 1: Run 50 minutes

This was the first day of an "easy rest week" (50 minutes?). We ran it on Leif Erickson. It wasn't so bad, at all, except that my right hip was feeling worse. It did not rain, and was, in fact, sunny. We pushed Melina in the stroller and she slept for almost the entire 50 minutes, which was a gift.

Week 11, Day 3: Run 20, walk 1, run 15, walk 1, run 10

I ran this in Del Mar and a little beach town next to Del Mar in the glorious sunny 77 degree weather. It was so nice (though hard to run by myself, and kind of hot actually!). I ran north along Highway 101 on a nice bike/running path and then cut in and went to the beach, where I did the 15 minute leg running back and forth on the beach. Then I did the rest in a neighborhood near the beach. I could feel my hip hurting me a bit. Also, I cheated a little and took more than 1 minute between legs because I had to wait for traffic lights and find my way to the beach. But I did do it despite being at a Council meeting. And it wasn't in the pouring rain, for once.

Week 11, Day 2: Run 10, walk 1, four times

We ran this on Sunday, November 12, just before I caught a plane to San Diego for work. It was absolutely miserably cold and pouring. Jeff bundled up Melina and took her for a hike with the backpack while we ran. The run itself wasn't too bad, though my hip was hurting me a bit.

Week 11, Day 1: Run 40, walk 1, run 20

We ran this at Grant Park, but I cheated and stopped after 40 minutes because Melina was having an absolute meltdown. It was time for her nap and she wasn't going to go to sleep in the stroller. I promised myself I would run the remaining 20 minutes later in the day, but I never did. It was pouring rain.

Week 10, Day 3: Run 20, walk 1, run 15, walk 1, run 10

This was another comparatively easy run that we did (today) in the pouring rain. The temperature was about 10 degrees lower than on Sunday and my shoes were leaking a bit, so it was uncomfortable. It seemed really easy, though - I think we even went faster than usual! Melina spent the hour at the Goodmans'.

This is the last run that I completed when I did this program last year. Afterward, I took about 10 days off and then ran the Turkey Trot, which I managed to do without stopping (4 miles). Apparently I "barely" managed to do this run last year. It was much, much easier today. Probably due to more consistent running, lower weight, and the company of a friend.

Week 10, Day 2: Run 10, walk 1, four times

This run seemed pretty easy (funny to remember when it seemed hard!). We ran at night on November 5 (Sunday) because there was no other time to go that day (and of course it was raining - it's been raining for at least a week straight). The weather was warm, though, so it wasn't too bad. It was a little creepy running at night at the track, though - not sure if we'll do it again. We need to find a track with lighting, but I haven't been able to find any online. My parents were staying at our house, so they watched M. while we ran. I didn't think it was necessary to subject her to the lousy weather.

Week 10, Day 1: Run 30, walk 1, run 30

We ran this one in the pouring rain at Grant Park on November 3. It was pretty long - I could tell my body was getting tired as we got into the middle of the second leg. My parents watched Melina.

Week 9, Day 3: Run 15, walk 1, three times

Ran this on Leif Erickson with Isabel, pushing Melina in the jogging stroller. Pushing the stroller up hill is a challenge; Isabel and I traded off. Still, this wasn't so bad.

I am fitting into size 10 jeans again, after many months wearing 12s and even 14s (just after the pregnancy.) Yay! Still haven't weighed myself.

Week 9, Day 2: Run 10, walk 1, four times

Ran this at Grant Park with Isabel (Melina was at Teresa's). Fairly easy, except I could feel that my body was tired from the previous run.

Week 9, Day 1: Run 10, walk 1, run 20, walk 1, run 15, walk 1, run 10

This was our hardest run by far - a full 55 minutes of running - and we were both dreading it a bit. The last time I did this training course, I just barely made it through this run. This time was much better because a) I was with Isabel, and we talked the whole time and b) we ran in Forest Park instead of on a track. It is so much more pleasant to be out in the woods than going around and around in circles! We covered a total of 5.5 miles - that's 8.85K, nearly a 10K! Of course, some of that was walking, but still.

Week 8, Day 2: Run 3, walk 1, eight times

I'm adding this one out of order. I did this one alone on Leif Erickson while Jeff watched Melina. No problem!

Week 8, Day 3: Run 5, walk 1, seven times

I ran this at work during lunch. Not nearly as hard as the last time I did it. It felt pretty good!

Week 8, Day 1: Run 10, walk 1, four times

Isabel and I ran this at Grant track on Wednesday, pushing Melina. We found a brief dry period on a rainy day, and it wasn't too bad. I'm convinced that having another runner along makes all the difference, especially on long runs. Melina did great, but didn't take a nap for the rest of day. My joints felt kind of tired, maybe because of running on pavement on Monday?

Week 7, Day 3: Run 5, walk 1, eight times

I ran this during lunch on Monday, making a loop along the Max tracks and bike path. It was rough! I counted the minutes and looked forward to every break. I'm not sure if I was just feeling weak, or if running alone made me too focused on every minute. I tried to distract myself from looking at my watch, but without much success. Anyway, I did it.

Week 7, Day 2: Run 3, walk 1, ten times

I ran this after getting a massage earlier in the day, and by the end I felt like a wrung-out washrag. It was a beautiful day for a run, and all in all it felt great. Ran in Wilshire Park. Suprisingly, no other runners out today, though lots of squirrels and dogs.

Week 7, Day 1: Run 10, walk 1, five times

This was definitely the hardest run yet, but it felt fairly easy. We ran on Leif Erickson drive, which meant going slightly uphill for 25 minutes and then downhill for 25 minutes. Isabel entertained me with stories from vet school, which helped; and Jeff went walking with Melina. The 50 minutes passed quickly. We need to get LED lights for our clothes so the mountain bikes that come barreling down the hill will see us after dark.

Week 6, Day 3: Run 3, walk 1, ten times

Ran this one in the neighborhood with Nancy, who is much faster than me, but ran slow for my sake. Melina chewed on an apple most of the way and didn't complain at all. An easy run made easier by conversation.

On the diet front, I have to admit I've slipped a bit, although when I went clothes shopping yesterday I was wearing the smallest size I've worn since my wedding. Yay! The batteries on the scale have run out and I haven't replaced them yet, but I wouldn't be suprised if I still weighed exactly the same as when I started. Anyway, I made a really good loaf of banana bread last night and have pretty much been living off it ever since. Also, I bought some soy ice cream to console Jeff after his sinus surgery and ended up eating most of it myself. Lessons learned: a) after a month or two of depriving myself, I need a treat and b) I can't keep sweet stuff in the house at all if I don't want to eat it.

Week 6, Day 2: Run 2, walk 1, twelve times

Isabel and I ran this in my neighborhood after a long series of mishaps. We were going to run it in Forest Park, off Germantown Road, but we ran into a traffic jam and it took us forever to get there. Finally we arrived, unloaded the jogging stroller, put the wheels on, put the baby in, and my cell phone rang: it was Jeff needing to be picked up at the doctor's after a minor medical emergency, and it couldn't wait. We drove to the doctor's office through another traffic jam (almost getting in an accident ourselves), picked up Jeff, dropped him off at home, and actually ended up doing the run after all. It was an easy run.

Week 6, Day 1: Run five, walk one, eight times

This was supposed to be a hard one, but it was actually pretty easy. I dropped Melina off at Teresa's, and we ran at Grant park on a nice cool day. We talked the entire time, which really helps pass the minutes. No problem!

Bonus run

I repeated my last run (3x1x9) so that Isabel and I could be on the same run next Tuesday. Ran this on Leif Erickson in Forest Park (off Germantown Road). It's a very nice route with some slight hills and nice scenery. Jeff ran trails at the same time. I felt much stronger this time, maybe because it was cool. Melina fell asleep in the jogging stroller for the first time, which was nice.

Week 5, Day 3: Run 3, walk 1, nine times

I ran this one around the neighborhood as well. It was a warm day and this seemed really hard to me. It gets tiresome trying to find good routes on city streets. Melina did great again.

Week 5, Day 2: Run 2, walk 1, ten times

I ran this one around the neighborhood, pushing Melina, at the tail end of my cold. I felt pretty weak at first but better as the run went on. Melina did great - she seems to prefer running in the neighborhoods to running at the track, which must get boring to her.

I hab a code

Well, I guess running in the rain wasn't such a good idea, because soon afterward I developed a cold that has been hanging on for about four days now. I haven't been able to run, and I've noticed my cravings for sugar increasing (maybe as a result of not running?). Looking forward to being well again and trying to catch up with Isabel on the running schedule.

Week 5, Day 1: Run 3, walk 1, ten times

Isabel, Melina and I did this run in the pouring, pouring rain at Grant Park. Three minutes after starting, we were drenched to the skin. Melina cried for a while and then fell asleep in the jogging stroller (with the rain cover on). The run itself wasn't too hard, but the entire running experience was fairly miserable.

Week 4, Day 3: Run 2, walk 3, seven times

This should have been an easy run, but I was still recovering from the hike and it seemed really hard. I pushed Melina in the stroller around the neighborhood. She did great, but the first few minutes felt pretty tough to me. I also had a stitch in my side that wouldn't go away. In all, a generally unpleasant experience (though I did find some nice streets to run on).

Sunday hike to Burnt Lake

Hiked to Burnt Lake on Mt. Hood. Started out around 3:00 and ended around 7:00. Hiked around eight miles - four up and four down. Not the most exciting hike in the world, though perfectly pleasant. View of Mt. Hood from Burnt Lake was spectacular. There's a very nice campsite near the waterfalls on the way to the lake, though the trail is very popular and I expect the campsite gets taken early. It would be worth going on a weeknight to get that spot.

Physically, I did pretty well. We were going fairly fast. Feet were hurting by the end. Oh, and as usual lately I got my period just as we started the hike. I think this is the third time in a row that has happened. Luckily I had stashed the necessary supplies in Jeff's glove compartment!

Week 4, Day 2: Run 2, walk 2, seven times

Ran at Wilshire Park while Jeff watched Melina. Listened to "The Forsyte Saga" on my newly re-found MP3 player and tried to figure out the stopwatch functions. Felt sore and out of shape for the first few minutes, but warmed up fairly well.

Week 4, Day 1: Run 3, walk 2, eight times

I ran this alone at Wilshire Park while Teresa watched Melina. Nice to run in the cool weather. Isabel has visitors this week and is taking a trip to San Francisco, so we will be running separately for a while. Hopefully we can both stick to the same schedule.

Week four is a "rest week." Starting with week five, things get a little tougher.

My "regime" is going well. I haven't had chocolate since I began about a month ago. I'm not specifically trying to avoid chocolate, but that's how it's panned out. I never had my treat last Saturday so yesterday I had a bubble tea and called it a treat. I also had a few bites of ice cream - half a treat. Today I'm going to have some homemade banana bread that my coworker brought in - that's half a treat - so no more treats until the Saturday after next. It really hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. I have managed to avoid the candy dish at work and haven't had any dessert-type items at home since the frozen fruit bars ran out.

A lot of people have commented lately that I look like I've lost weight, which is interesting since I weigh exactly the same as I did six months ago. I haven't done any other measurements, though - maybe I'm gaining muscle and losing fat. Let's hope.

Week 3, Day 3: Run 3, walk 2, nine times

Ran this at Grant track with Isabel; Jeff had Melina. Nothing particularly interesting to report.

Bike ride to Sellwood

On Saturday we rode our bikes to Sellwood, about 10 miles r/t - maybe more. It's a nice flat ride, mostly on bike paths. We had a little snack at Marsee Bakery and returned home. Melina cried most of the way home (we stopped at Willamette Park to let her run around for a while). Hopefully this is not a new trend.

Week 3, Day 2: Run 2, walk 2, nine times

We ran this in the morning instead of the afternoon. With Melina waking up so early these days, I am becoming a morning person. Pushed Melina around the Grant track in her stroller. She was probably overtired (she woke up at 6:30 a.m.) and was pretty fussy. The weather is getting a little cooler, which is a pleasant change.

Weight has dropped back to X-7, after a recent high of X-4. Who knows? I probably shouldn't weigh myself every day. I have been very good about my "regime" though (I refuse to call it a diet), and instead of cake, cookies and chocolate I have been eating lots of fruit. Can you eat too many bananas?

I have to say I am looking forward to my Saturday treat, though. I'll have to make sure it's something good.

Week 3, Day 1: Run 3, walk 2, times ten

This was a pleasant run (yesterday), easier than the run before it. Isabel and I ran at the Grant track, pushing Melina. Melina did really well for the first 40 minutes and complained for the last ten minutes. Better than I expected. Three minutes didn't seem like long to run, especially since we were talking the whole time. It's MUCH easier running with a partner.

I cheated a bit on my "regime" and had a piece of cake at work. It was a very special piece of cake from an exceptional bakery, and it was my co-worker's baby shower. I felt justified. It was a *very* good piece of cake.

Week 2, Day 3: Run 2, walk 2, ten times

I did this run alone at Wilshire Park. It was the first run that felt challenging to me, maybe because it was so hot. It was a very quiet day - Labor Day weekend. Very few cars or people about. The squirrels were busy with their fall preparations, despite the 90-degree weather.

Weight remains at X-5, which is very frustrating - basically I've gained three pounds since beginning this effort. I have to remember that I always gain weight when I start an exercise regime. Not sure why, though of course muscle weighs more than fat. I've been good about my diet plan (no sweet treats, except for one on Saturday). Last year I didn't lose any weight during the entire three months that I was running, which was frustrating, although I knew I was getting in better shape.

I may decide to do the Turkey Trot this Thanksgiving if we don't have any other T-day plans.

Bike ride to Council Crest

Yesterday we rode our bikes up to Council Crest with Melina in the trailer. Actually, I cheated and took the Max from the stadium stop to the Zoo, which cuts out a huge part of the climb (though it does leave enough to feel like you've gotten a workout). This is a good compromise and lets Jeff get in a good hill climb (pulling a trailer, no less) without killing me. Melina did great and we had a nice time playing with her in the grass at the park at the top.

Week 2, Day 2: Run 1, walk 2, ten times

Ran this grueling 10-minute run with Isabel in her neighborhood, pushing stroller. First run on pavement; I could feel the difference in my joints. Highlight was seeing Morgan Freeman (briefly, from a distance) while running by movie set near Isabel's house. Melina was patient and didn't put up much of a fuss, except when M.F. walked by without acknowledging her.

Week 2, Day 1: Run 2, walk 2, eleven times

Ran this in the park with Isabel; left Melina with the Goodmans for Last Thursday. Easy run despite tweaking my back earlier in the day. Tomorrow we run again to try to stay on schedule.

Diet is suffering a bit. Had a nice piece of vegan carrot cake at the Vita Cafe tonight; no more sweets until NEXT SATURDAY. Can I do it?

Week 1, Day 3: Run 1, walk 2, eleven times

Ran in the park while Jeff watched Melina. A nice change of pace after an 8-hour Habitat Committee meeting. Easy run, nice weather. Officially at the end of the Easiest Week.

Have splurged on diet with homemade hiking cookies. Will resume ascetic practice tomorrow. Somehow managed to gain three pounds despite new exercise and lack of sweets, but it's probably water weight.

Next run: Wednesday with Isabel?

Saturday bike ride

Today we rode to Lake Oswego (about 24-26 miles r/t) with Melina in tow. Jeff assured me that there was one small hill on the way there and a slightly more difficult hill on the way back. The small hill was about two miles long, and the "more difficult" hill was worse. Fortunately we found an alternate route that went on a bike path through Tryon State Park - very nice. A good ride, despite two flat tires. Melina did great and slept a lot of the way there and back. When we got to Lake O. there was a farmer's market going on. All in all a nice Saturday outing and definitely a good workout.

Week 1, Day 2: Run 1, walk 2, nine times

Dropped off Melina at the Goodmans and ran at Wilshire Park. Running in the park is a nice alternative to running at the track. Teresa said she would be happy to take Melina like this about once a week so that should help me stay on schedule. An easy run today; foot not bothering me much.

I seem to remember this being harder last year. I was probably more out of shape (having just had a baby), plus I weighed about ten pounds more.

Next run: Sunday.

Week 1, Day 1: Run 1 minute, walk 2 minutes, twelve times

This is just my exercise journal. Nothing fancy about it, just a way to keep track of exercise and diet efforts.

Yesterday I started the 13 Week Run/Walk program with Isabel. We went to Grant Park and ran around the track. Skipped Melina's 2:00 nap, hoping she would sleep in the stroller. She didn't, and was quite fussy during the run. Luckily she fell asleep pretty quickly when we got home.

The run itself was easy. Need to get organized about my stuff, though. Everything in one place! Also need to put air in the tires of the jogging stroller.

I am also on Day 7 of my new diet, which is: no candy or pastries or sweet drinks except for a) the frozen fruit bars already in my freezer and b) one treat on Saturday. I may switch this to Monday so I can make chocolate chip cookies for the Habitat Committee.

I'll keep this up for a few weeks and see if I lose any weight. I was eating a lot of chocolate and too many sweets before. Eventually I might expand it so I can have one dessert per day under 100 calories (specifically, frozen fudge bars - 70 calories).

Weight: X-8. I'd like to lose 12 pounds. Ideally, I'd like to lose 22 pounds, but I don't know if that will happen with my current metabolism. (I'm keeping my exact weight a secret in case I ever make this blog public. Nobody really needs to know exactly how much I weigh. Let's just say that it's 12 pounds too much.)

Next run: Friday.