Runner's Knee?

So this is my first post for this week, and I'll be honest with why I haven't posted yet. I hurt my knee last week. I believe I may have what is called Runner's Knee, but that is just my doctorless diagnosis of my right knee. 

Now the above brace isn't the exact one that I got but it is the closest that I could find. I got an adjustable Ace Knee brace (found in the pharmacy section of Walmart). 

I also bought an additional ankle/foot brace for my left foot. I borrowed a foot brace from my mother and wore it jogging on Wednesday. I was really surprised in the difference that it made. In my Sophomore year of high school I rolled my ankle really bad. Foot and ankle both turned such a dark purple that it was almost black. Did I go to the doctor then? Nope. Should I have? Yep. Is it to late now? Pretty much. 

Point is, this last week I've been only doing walking. I noticed that I got the pain in my knee on Monday and since then have had to walk. I attempted to do a very short jog on Wednesday and two steps in I was repeating, "Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea," until I stopped at the end of the very small stretch. 

It's kind of funny actually. The more my life has changed, so has my body along with the aches and pains. I'm not old by any means or measure, but some days I sure do feel like it. 

Satisfaction

So, my friend Briana and I started jogging last Monday. We only jogged five times throughout the week, and yesterday (exactly one week) we tracked the amount of time it took us to complete two miles. What we accomplished was rather surprising, at least for us. Let me break it down for you: 

Monday, 7/17

Monday, 7/22

So, this was proof. One week of exercising and eating healthy and this is one of our concrete accomplishments. Although I haven't lost any weight, my clothes don't fit any differently, and I sleep more than ever, this is proof of progress. This is proof that we are DOING something. This is proof of accomplishment, and one step closer to success.

We cut 12 minutes and 11 seconds from the first time that we jogged together. We also increased our average pace by 6 minutes and 7 seconds.

What is more surprising than the fact that we cut that much time, was the amount of satisfaction. It was so satisfying to see the difference in time. I always thought I'd only get satisfaction out of exercise by losing weight, looking "good", and feeling more energetic. This was more satisfying than I've ever gotten from any other results of exercising. 

This is my motivation. This is my first accomplishment. This is my first feeling of satisfaction from jogging.  

So here's to goal setting. I averaged the amount of running I've done over the last week. I'm going to continue with four to five sessions a week, for at least two miles each. With that calculation, I have set a goal to complete by the end of the year. Wish me luck! 

I'll post a chart of my progress, once it becomes more significant.

Running, running, just keep running!

Ha ha, yeah like I can actually run for an extended amount of time. Thank goodness this 5K isn't for awhile, or else I would die. Whether it would be from exhaustion, sore muscles, or humiliation I'm not sure. 

Well, this is me checking in on the whole "exercise, healthy, happy" lifestyle change. Yes, I'm still alive and kicking (barely). Am I still as confident as I was previously? Nope. Does it matter? Nope. It's my life and I'm the only one who can change it. 

So what does that mean? Yes, I'm still trying to run (it's more a jog than anything) and I've also started to do small weight training at home. 

Am I working out with the friends that I signed up for the 5K with? On the weekends, which is not nearly as much as I'd like. Unfortunately though, scheduling is a bit of an issue that's wedging the gap between work out times. I work a day shift schedule and I find it hard to come out so late at night (yes I understand 9:30 is not that late and I used to work later than that). 

I've found that by going at six thirty in the evening that I'm EXHAUSTED the rest of the day. Also of note? I've been later than I want to work in the mornings. I've been going to sleep around 11pm and getting up between 6 and 7am. Now that I'm working out I'm finding it harder and harder to get up in the mornings so I am still trying to figure that out. 

Anyways, my point for this blog is that I hope that whoever is reading this (if anybody... which is unlikely) doesn't lose faith in me. I know that I have friends and family who don't think I can do it and have blatantly told me that. There lack of support discourages me more than I could have imagined it would have. I've heard of people doing things without support and how difficult it is but I never understood how HARD it actually is. Luckily I'm to the stage where they just ask me "are you still doing that thing?" My answer: HELL YEAH. 

So tonight I'll be going running again, and this will also be the second day of the 30 Day Plank Challenge. Can I just say that 20 seconds reads, sounds, and looks a hell of a lot easier than actually doing it? I did it, but damned if it wasn't hard. Here's the challenge if you're interested: 

I'm thinking once I've finished the challenge I might do another one, like the ab or leg challenge. Who know's where I'll end up after all of this. I do not, that I don't want to stop and I will FINISH this. 

Couch to 5k...

Okay... I'll be honest. I'm very skeptical and quite nervous about trying to complete a 5K. I can't even remember the last time I did a mile, and a 5K is quite daunting in retrospect (3.1 miles). 

So, I've decided that I'm going to use the Couch to 5K app provided by Active.com (inadvertent promotion). 

The app itself is designed for a 9 week period and I've got until October 19th to prepare. So theoretically I should have PLENTY of time to prepare, right? Eh... we'll see. 

I know that my sister, who's ten years older than me, has completed a 5K and has really gotten into running. If my sister who's ten years old than me can do it, then I know for a FACT that I can do it. Okay, that's a lie. I'm just a bit competitive with her ;) 

Another obstacle that I know I'm going to have to face over next several weeks is my foot. I'm hoping that I have no issues but somehow I doubt I'll get off that lucky. I'd say about four years ago I rolled my ankle. Now when I say rolled, I mean I'm surprised my foot didn't just TWIST off. Did something break? I'm not sure. Was it only a sprain? Maybe. Did it heal correctly? Nope. Spring break was within two weeks and I was told that if I had a cast then I couldn't go to Orlando. What did I say? My foot is FINE! No doctor needed! 

Well, that was a mistake and I regret it years later. For the following weeks that came I only wore flip flops. My foot was swollen for the majority of the time and about 75% of my foot turned such a dark purple I thought it was black. Bruising showed across my toes, atop the foot, and the entire outer side of the foot. 

Due to the poor choice in footwear, for the years that followed I couldn't wear shoes that had a strong arch. Stepping on anything that put pressure on my arch caused discomfort and pain (as in small steps or the grooves in door frames). Now, I've gotten a little better with the shoes that I buy. They have to form to my foot in a certain way or else I can't wear them for more than an hour tops. 

In the past when I've tried jogging just to be active, I've felt pops in the same foot and it just feels more sore. So hopefully, I can complete the training and the shoes that I bought are the kind that I need. If not, then I'll be forking out more money for better shoes... AGAIN. 

Well here's to me training and here's to me completing my first 5K. Wish me luck!