Off to a Good Start

I began running this morning, as planned.  I warmed up with a bit of Wii Fit Plus after a good stretch.  Then I ate a healthy breakfast:  an orange, a small glass of skim milk, a slice of toasted whole wheat bread with peanut butter, and a tall glass of water.  It was surprisingly filling and quite delicious.  I know, too, that successful running requires good nutrition.

After filling up my adorable water bottle (see below) and setting the TV to "I Used to be Fat" as a strange sort of motivation--and just because it's interesting to watch--I warmed up a bit more by walking on my treadmill for 5 minutes.  I was then shooting for 15 minutes of jogging, and I was surprised to discover that I was able to meet that goal without any trouble.  Well, the only issue was that my shins or ankles were feeling the impact too much. It didn't hurt.  It was just mildly uncomfortable.  I suspect it's a result of either the treadmill or my shoes.

I am currently wearing really cheap running shoes, and I definitely need to get a good pair before I run the half-marathon, although hopefully much sooner than that.  My parents have been looking for birthday gift suggestions, and I told them they can take me shopping for a good pair of running shoes.  This is when I also let my mom know about my half-marathon goal, and she was a lot less surprised and worried than I had expected.  It's nice to have her support, and I know she'll be thrilled to have me cooking healthy meals with her.

If the treadmill is the problem, there's not much I can do about it right now.  I won't run outside when there's snow and ice on the ground.  However, when it starts to warm up I'd actually prefer to be running outside.  I can deal with the treadmill for a bit longer.  I'd like to include some biking, too, when it's warm enough to be outside.  Part of preparing to run a half-marathon is cross-training--basically any form of exercise except running or walking.  I love biking, anyway, so it's a great choice for me.  Until I can start biking outdoors, my mom has a stationary bike I can use.

After that tangent...

I did a 10-minute walk as a cool-down after my 15-minute run, and then I stretched again.  I had originally planned to jog again after walking for a bit, but I remembered advice I had read warning new runners not to increase distance too quickly.  I decided to be safe and stop there.  I wasn't feeling particularly hungry after my short run, but I knew I should eat a little, so I had a few turkey sausage links.  I love how good I feel after eating well and getting in a bit of exercise.  It sets the tone for the rest of the day.  I'll take tomorrow off, as far as running, but do a bit of cross-training.  Then I should be back to running on Monday morning.

My adorable water bottle