Tea Gets Fit, Week I Don’t Even Know

[teaberryblue]

So I totally fell off the fitness bus when I moved, although I bought a pair of wrist weights and have been wearing them pretty regularly.

Then last week, beatonna asked for folks who would join her in a Run For Congo Women. It’s a 5k run to raise money for women in the Congo.

I know, I know, I already posted about this, but for those of you who missed it or may have just been breezing by at the time, we would be mighty happy if anyone could give our team a donation at our team donation page right there.

Anyway, it’s a 5k race. And as most of you know, I am miserably out of shape. So, when I heard about the race, I started running.

I didn’t own sneakers or any running gear, so starting the first night, I did the running exercise on the Wii Fit, which I don’t even know if that counts as real running, but I figured it was something. I started with the “long” jog on the distance run and then worked up to the 20 minute jog on the timed run. I decided that one mile on Wii Fit is probably equivalent to about one kilometer of real running. I decided that each week, I’d increase by 1K. I have until September 25, so I think this is a doable timeframe to get ready in.

On Monday, I went out and bought myself my first pair of running sneakers. They were bright pink. And then I bought running socks! But I didn’t have any appropriate running clothes, and I wasn’t sure what to do about that. Then, yesterday, I was taking a walk to where Rina told me there was a Michael’s craft store, and, lo and behold, I saw it like a beacon in a storm: a big Sports Authority sign. So I trekked over to the Sports Authority, and when I got there, they were having a MASSIVE TENT SALE in the parking lot. Hooray! Unfortunately, the tent was not for sale.

I went into the mysterious tent, and when I emerged, I had bought two sets of running clothes and it had all cost me under $50. It was like a message from the universe, telling me that I should run! I was very excited! So I was telling Brendan about it at work today and he told me where there is a public track a few blocks from my apartment. So! I went to the track today.

It was a little weird, running in front of people, but I think it was a good experience, because it wasn’t as uncomfortable as I expected once I just sucked it up and did it. It is a big park with a lot of activities in it, and so there were a lot of people of all ages, and kids using the track to ride their bikes or skate as well as joggers. In fact, for most of the time, I was the only person really jogging.

I did five laps, or 1.25 miles, which is just a touch over 2k, and then I walked a bit to cool down. It was definitely hard work, but I also felt at the end like I could have done more. And unlike high school, I wasn’t winded after one lap of running, which tells me that the exercising I’ve done all summer helped a lot. So I felt like it was doable. Next week, I’ll try to work up to 3k, which is a little under 2 miles.

I’m still not sure about some things. Like, where do people put their keys when they’re running? I carried a little purse but it wasn’t the most practical.

All in all, though, this is a very exciting development for me!

Mirrored from Antagonia.net.

Comments

[whimcee.livejournal.com]

Hooray, congratulations! :) I think running is the most rewarding form of therapy/exercise out there, but that's just me.

I miraculously and accidentally only own pants/shorts that have hidden pockets on the inside that are perfect for a single key. It's kind of a pain to take it on and off of a keychain if that's where you usually keep it, but loads better than getting locked out or being weighted down by extra crap. Try looking for running gear that has things like that? (I also put things down my shirt.)

[rosefox]

Jogger wallet!

[whirled.livejournal.com]

I've got a little pouch type thing that attaches to your shoelaces, it's big enough to hold keys I think. Want me to send it to you if I can find it? I usually run with shorts/skorts that have a key pocket, so I've never actually used this thingy that I got sent for signing up to some race a while back. If you've only got a key or two, you could quite easily tie it through your laces, and tuck the end of the key in along the tongue of the shoe?

And yay... running! :D

[writingmoments.livejournal.com]

Aww..love the photo:)

[evil-laugher.livejournal.com]

I clutch mine in my hand, but that's like a reflex for me, so it may not be for everyone.

[rainy-day.livejournal.com]

LOOK AT YOU YOU ARE SO CUTE! I love the outfit!!

Not sure what to do about keys though - I have one set up capris and they have just enough pocket space for a car key, so I leave the rest of my gear in the trunk and lock it there.

[deutscheami.livejournal.com]

Yaay! I'm so excited for you that you've caught the running bug!

Running outdoors, I wear a T-back that has a zippered pocket at the small of the back-- as others have mentioned, sport clothes with zippered pockets are super for keys!

General running advice, most of which you probably already know:
-Run striking heel-to-the-ground first; running on your toes will (!) give you shin splints
-Buy a new pair of inserts and throw away the ones that came with your shoes; most of the time they're just junk
-Moving Comfort makes fantastic sports bras for the larger-bust woman; they're on the expensive side but totally worth it if you end up running a lot
-This is more my personal opinion than anything-- but train to run a longer race than the one you'll actually be running. You never know what the weather conditions, etc. will be like on your race day, and if your endurance capabilities equal and exceed whatever the race requires, you'll be more than ready to handle things like an unexpected heat wave.

[sewertalk.livejournal.com]

I keep my keys on an elastic key ring like this: http://www.amazon.com/Wrist-Coil-Keychain-Assorted-Colors/dp/B000GP0VS0
and just hold the keys in my hands too if they bounce too much.

[batchix.livejournal.com]

http://www.walkerbags.com/a.html maybe this? I was thinking of those ones from the 80's. those things were rad.


especially to an eight year old ._.;

[delizia.livejournal.com]

You could do what I do (or did, before I got a cumbersome clicker for my car that is quite large) and tuck your key into your sports bra. This only works for large bosomed people like me, but it was awesome -- couldn't feel it at all! ;)

[spiralstairs.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm so excited for you guys doing the run! My ankles are shite so jogging is right out with me, but if rollerblading is okay, I'll participate. :D

[sunnyrea.livejournal.com]

How cute is your running outfit? Win! And yeah, I don't get the key thing either.

[i-smell-apples.livejournal.com]

Yay for many new clothes! :D I found that buying some actual tracksuit pants helped with my motivation a lot. Also, they have pockets for keys and such - although whenever I went running it was with my friends whose apartment was the end and start point, so I never needed keys/pockets myself xD Whenever one of my friends went out alone for a run though, she'd safety pin her keyring to her waistband if she was in the shorts without pockets.

[beeker121.livejournal.com]

Ah keys. I tend to run with a hat that has a pocket so I can tuck keys there, and I have an extra house key on it's own ring so I don't have to bring everything. Mostly I leave my wallet/phone in the car at home depending. For the days that isn't such an option I still have something like this: http://www.amazon.com/10013-iSnug-iPod-Armband/dp/B000J3GDE0
from when I ran with my old school ipod. It's big enough for my phone and an ID and some cash, and it means I don't have to carry anything or have a fanny pack bouncing. They used to be everywhere, now it may be harder to find.

Also, congrats on the running! It sounds like you're off to a good start.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

I drive to where I job and leave my house keys locked in the car with my cell phone. I just have my car key in the pocket of my running shorts and my iPod strapped to my arm.

I see lots of runners with fanny packs, though.

[balcarin.livejournal.com]

I know in college a lot of people looped an key onto broken elastic hairties and reknotted them and wore them on their wrists. People also tie their keys to the shoes and tuck them behind the laces.

[kateshort.livejournal.com]

I usually only take the house key when I go out and about-- I have a separate copy of the key that's easy to tie to a waist string or fit into a pocket or into one of those zippered wrist-pouch things.

Keys etc.

[(Anonymous)]

Damn woman!

Is that how you do it in the big city? We don't dress up that fancy except for church. Of course some people are wearing sweats in church now, for that mad rush to the door, not when the service is over, when the collection plate appears.

But hooray for you. As for keys, maybe you can't do this in New York but I run in cutoff retired blue jeans and old T-shirts with the arms cut off. The Ts get holes in them from being washed all the time, but that improves ventilation. It can get hot in the desert if there's no breeze.

But blue jean front pockets are nice for keys. They are especially designed so nothing falls out, even if you run over the side of a canyon. Even if you remove your jeans, for whatever reason, and they fall down a canyon, you can go down there and your keys are still in the pocket. You know that little watch pocket some blue jeans have in the right front pocket? My point exactly.

I actually wrap a wash cloth around my keys and put that in my pocket. I'm afraid they'll poke through the pocket and fall on the ground somewhere, but I have a lot of keys. But this way, they don't poke me, either.

Oh, and my stainless steel water bottle even fits in the back pocket, so while I'm running I can whip it out and take a gulp of water to keep hydrated.

Frank
Albuquerque

[kutiechick.livejournal.com]

I love, love, love your running outfit! And go you for doing a 5k! I think that running is something I've always wished I could like to do -- but never really put in any time trying to figure out if I do/can.

Good luck to you!