ambitious 10k

Lak tagged me (..and I was very pleasantly surprised tags still exist in the blogworld!) on listing at least two resolutions that I slip on and yet strive to keep at it.

I suppose as women, our constant battles despite the 21st century and the progress the world has made in various avenues, has been one of being respected and regarded as an equal (to the other gender) and then there is the ongoing raging battle of weight and bulge. The rest are something that we take in our stride, and ace and win and lose and it really doesn’t matter coz they are not worthy of much thought.

I am going to leave the first for later. It’s a weightier topic. Pun intended.

So over years the body has gone through enough ups and downs to give the nearby Shenandoah a complex! Okay, I exaggerate, but it’s quite the truth, with kids, pinched nerves, heel spurs, lethargy, desk jobs, cartilage tears and just my own genetic disposition and a sudden brief invasion of the sweet tooth played havoc with the body I walk around in.

2011 has been bad healthwise and I am all but ashamed to see how days passed by so quickly without me taking any serious steps  to stop the landslide.

The single most change and effort was joining Yoga last fall. The monthly massages was the second good thing that were some respite. The summer was a bad time with all the driving I was doing with the pinched nerve in my lower back. I did push my limits with stretches and being regular with them, to actually feel a lot more limber while I walk and do my usual. The lack of aerobic exercise was my death warrant. I haven’t felt this bleah in ages, even when I carried the babies! That is depressing to say the least.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have made a few distinct changes and I know this time around they will stick. Each of us have a switch within, that will flip for various reasons at pre-destined times. Am hoping mine’s flipped again for real now. Losing weight and feeling fit with diet and exercise is not new to me. Earlier the focus was losing weight and staying in shape in a healthy manner. Fitness cruised along.

This time around, the focus is on fitness and fitness alone. I’d like to be able to do longer walks, hikes and outdoor activities with my children before they fly coop among other things. So, with that goal and my blinders on, I valiantly have decided I’d do a 10K. Before you smirk at me and think 10K is easy peasy, let me assure you, it is not. Not for me. It is not the mental stamina to be able to do it, but more of the setbacks I face with my lower body that will make this a challenge.

To be honest, am more of a biker than a runner. I quit running/walking almost 15 years ago when I was diagnosed with heel spurs in both my feet, which required orthotics and good walking shoes. Yes, I walked around like a dork, nike white shoes with jeans and khakis or whatever. So I did ruminate,especially considering I was advised against running (coz of weight and general fitness levels last summer) I figured this is as a good as a challenge as I should sign for.

After sleeping over it last night, I am keeping that goal. The worst case scenario would be that I’d walk all 10K instead of walk/run or I’d stop with a 5K. The best case scenario is that I complete the 10K and in the process boost my confidence, heart rate and just feel a whole lot better about me and my physical capabilities.

The ultimate aim is to be able to perform a dance with both my daughters before my older baby leaves for college in the fall of 2013. This 10K is really a stepping stone, but it’s a grand enough goal for 2012.

So here’s the Ringing In Hope 10K at Ashburn (VA) that am aiming for. I plan to rope in a few more ladies in (coz the husband just scoffed at 10K! ) There are a bunch more out there, which is awesome coz I can use them as milestones as I lead up to the Memorial Day weekend.

With that goal in mind, the smaller stepping stones have to fall in place.

To be able to run that distance, I need to  work in small steps increasing the distance covered S.L.O.W.L.Y. I cannot in any way afford to have a flare up of the pinched nerve/disk that will completely disable my staying on my feet for more than 20 minutes at a time, forget running. I also will need to work on diet and increasing protein content to help the body with the change in demands. I also need to stretch and make those muscles supple and strong to withstand the pressure of the walk.run. Finally and most importantly, I need to ice, pamper and treat my knee like a baby. I most definitely do not plan on having a knee replacement for at least another decade or more. 😐

For all these smaller things to fall into place, the active tasks include:

1. Stretch.
2. Stretch again
3. Yoga to help with the stretches
4. Increase protein content, lessen carbs
5. Consciously and conscientiously  work on listening to my body as I work out.
6. Get back to gym for weight training and biking

I can get into the diet part a little more, but that’s a no-brainer.

Notice how I didn’t use the words inches, measurements, weight, pounds, sugar etc? Yes, that’s the idea. I will weigh and measure me now, but I will not until the day before the race. Just because that is not the criteria here and I do not want to get distracted by them.

I also have some sort of a schedule I found online and signed up for, and it seems kind. I could use some of that as a beginner.

So yes, that’s what I will do. I will update weekly here of course, (10K goal, will be the category) but am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I will be able to RUN this distance. Wish me luck!