Resting for Vday..

Considering the amount of candy and other sweet things I've eaten today, I definitely should have gone to the gym. However I don't have a car for the next week, so getting to the gym is gonna take a lot more effort. But since my last post, I've been running 2.5 - 3 miles when I run, so I know i'm getting somewhere! I thought I would find getting even to this point harder, since I have never been a great runner, but it's not too bad! I've been feeling good : )

Later, I'll report back after my "day after v-day workout" oh boyyyy.

- Rachel

workout update

Helloooo everyone!

This week was a long and stressful one in terms of school work and other upsetting events that took place.  A talented and well loved musician and friend named Jack Gallagher passed away on Monday; the funeral was Friday. Emotional events like these give me much more energy when I run. Perhaps it's simply because I have more to think about and therefore am less concerned about how far I am in my milage at any given point. As (what I think is) a result from this, I was able to get to 2 miles easily without stopping. I allowed myself to have an easier day today, simply running a mile and doing some weights and ab workouts. 

Along with the beginning of my work out schedule, I went grocery shopping to get foods that will give me the protein and fiber I need to have lots of energy to exercise. One thing I do still need to work on is getting enough sleep, which will prove to be imperative as I move farther along in my project. 

I'm snowed in at my house tonight, so maybe I'll try catching some ZzZZzz

- Rachel

Peer Reflection:

Hey there readers,
If you get a chance, check out my friend Emma's blog, at http://firsttryatfiction.blogspot.com
It's a pretty ambitious project, though I have no doubt in my mind she will be able to complete it if she sets her mind to it!
Writing a book of sorts is a tedious task, but one that involves so much creativity that I'm sure it will be nothing short of a blast!
It seems both our schedules will help us in accomplishing the basics of our projects, which will both require a lot of additional motivation to follow through.
This certainly wont be true only about our projects, but for all of the WISE projects. That is one of the things that makes these projects so hard and at the same time so fulfilling. But I know we all have the drive and determination to succeed. I look forward to keeping up with my classmates while I progress as well.

- Rachel

New Nikes!

Check out my new Nikes! They're Nike free running shoes; you can barely feel them when they're on! I'm super excited to go try them out : ) 

2 Week Plan

Luckily, I was able to get myself to he gym the other day, and am heading out to go there in about an hour. I just got back from Foot Locker where I bought a new pair of Nike running shoes. I got my old ones about a year ago and they're pretty worn down, so it was time for a new pair. I've found a training schedule I'm going to follow, and I'm going to start it on Monday. The schedule begins Monday, which is actually a rest day. It's important to rest because running breaks down your muscles, and in order to build them back up to a stronger level, you must take at least two rest days a week, and vary your running mileage often. Here is the schedule I will be following, the first two weeks are clearly marked.

Also during these two weeks, I will confirm my mentorship with my selected mentor, and begin meeting with him to share ideas and thoughts. Two weeks puts me at February 20, lets see what I can do!!

Here's the schedule, wish me luck for a good start!

Dear Readers,

          As I'm writing this, I am sitting at home on my couch staring at my gym bag. Sitting here, I glance over at my TV and almost reach for the remote, but then I realize I can make better use of my time: I can go to the gym. But I'm so lazy... Why don't I have the same desire to go running that I do for watching Netflix?

          Here you have my WISE project. I am going to give myself the challenge of making running a routine part of my life. I've always enjoyed the feeling I get after I excersise... who doesn't? But it's getting to the gym in the first place that's so very hard. And once your there, you can stay for two hours and move slowly, run a mile or two and meander around trying out different machines for a while... (I speak from experiance) or you can make good use of your time and stretch properly, warm up, get a good workout in, cool down, and leave feeling happier and healthier.

         My goal is to do the latter. But what is my motivation? Why am I doing this?
Not only do I want to get in shape and feel good about myself, I want to accomplish a goal, and physically working to change my endurance to get there seems like a sufficient proposal. I am training to get ready for local runs in the finger lakes area, and possibly a 10k (6.2) mile run in Chicago this coming May. As it is now, I go to the gym often, but with no specific work out routine or agenda. From now on, I will follow my training schedule, which I will post soon. The schedule is geared towards the goal of a 10k run, but will of course aid in training for a 5k run (3 miles) as well.

       Thats enough for now... Gotta get off of this couch, I'm going to try and get myself to the gym.
                         - Rachel