Mrs. Colorado's Challenge- Day 3
Topic: Baby Steps
I was never a runner until I moved to Colorado. I had gained
a bunch of weight after having baby #2 and wanted desperately to get back into
shape. I remembered seeing groups of
women running and talking and it looked so fun.
On night, I had a friend over and we started talking about the balancing
act of being married, working, etc. We
both really wanted more time to connect with girlfriends and exercise on a
consistent basis. Shortly after that conversation,
we made a commitment to run a few times during the week. In the beginning it was painful because it
was hard and I was not in condition. Together, we encouraged each other to
continue and we soon set a goal to run our first half marathon. We created a nine week running plan and
before we knew it, we were on the trail of the Highlands Ranch Back Country
Half Marathon. Completing that goal never felt so good. Running now is our social hour but more
importantly it has helped me to stay committed to taking care of myself and particularly
my cardiovascular health.
Topic: Baby Steps
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| Me and My Running Partner |
During these winter months, it can be challenging to run
outside. With this in mind, I have recently
been running on the treadmill and have had to find creative ways to keep myself
motivated. I came across an interesting running drill, tried it, and LOVE
it! Of course, I just have to share it.
THE DRILL
·
Start on the treadmill at a speed of 4.5 for 2
minutes
·
After the first two minutes, increase your speed
by .5 for one minute (you should be running at 5.0)
·
Keep increasing your speed in increments of .5
until you get to a speed of 8.0.
·
Then drop your speed back down to 4.5 for 2
minutes. This allows your heart rate to rest.
·
Repeat this routine five times.
This is a brutal run but is so much fun because it is super
challenging and at the same time it forces you to focus on one level at a
time- just like taking baby steps. When
I do this drill, I keep telling myself, “Come on, you can do anything for one
minute!” If you run outside, you can apply this same strategy by setting your
stop watch and increasing your speed each minute.
This running drill reminds me of preparing for the Mrs. Colorado pageant. It can be overwhelming to think about the end goal of running a race or being in a swimsuit on stage. From running to preparing for Mrs. Colorado, it really helped me to switch gears and just focus on taking it one day at a time- take baby steps. You can do this!
This running drill reminds me of preparing for the Mrs. Colorado pageant. It can be overwhelming to think about the end goal of running a race or being in a swimsuit on stage. From running to preparing for Mrs. Colorado, it really helped me to switch gears and just focus on taking it one day at a time- take baby steps. You can do this!