When you come up with the idea to start over and follow the Avoid Laziness plan when it comes to running, I really recommend preceding that by a marathon. Not running in one, of course, just being around one. And watching your friends finish, and then feeding off their energy for the next several days.
Very early Monday morning, when I was at the airport, I was ordering coffee and in spite of my extreme dislike of in-depth conversation first thing in the morning, I couldn’t help but be extra friendly to the woman working at the airport Starbucks. She, of course, did not care that my enthusiasm was fed by having received sweaty hugs and high fives from countless runners, she just wanted me to order. Just order. But I was all, hi! and how are you?! and did you have a good weekend?! I wanted to explain to her that my spirit had been revived a little and I thought maybe, just maybe, like if this knee thing goes right and I can keep running through the winter and oh, I don’t know, drop a few pounds again that yes, things would be okay. She was having none of it, and somehow I kept myself from rambling on.
That’s why there are blogs.
So day one of my new Avoid Laziness plan went well. And THANK YOU so much for all those encouraging words and for those who said they’re interested and following along. Silly me, I know we aren’t alone out there. It’s just sometimes I forget it. On the treadmill yesterday I thought about this plan, and thought it might be better named the Use My Blog to Generate Motvation plan. Or, Get My Ass In Gear plan. Yeah, I’m going to come up with lots of names for this.
Nonetheless, the first day went well. I ran three 10-minute intervals with 2-minute walk breaks in between. The only reason I’m incorporating walk breaks is to keep myself in check, to access pain. With my track record of pushing too hard, it’s important I do this right.
Todays plan, for the sake of variety, will be five 5-minute intervals with 1-minute walk breaks. And then I’ll get on the spin bike for a while because this thirty minutes on it’s own thing doesn’t really feel like enough for me.
Here’s to Day 2, and more names for the Greatest Running/Non-Lazy-ass Plan of All Time.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I like the name – it sort of has a kick to it. I’m on a holy-shit-I-am-getting-married in 30 days plan that involves lots of Jillian Michaels and the treadmill, often in the same day.
Advice from a recent class I taught (even though you are enthusiastic, and with-it and don’t need advice) (becuase I’m going to be 51 in less than a month and that’s like grandma age and grandma’s get to give advice) (and because I don’t have grandchildren (thank god, the boys are too young!)to give advice to, you get it).
It takes 21 days to form a habit. Most plans fail in those 21 days because a crisis point is hit. If you can work through the crisis point your chances of success are much greater. Crisis points are things like: it was raining, so I couldn’t run (or snowing), or I was going to run by I was too busy…tired..it was dark…stuff like that. Hope my advice helps!
When you settle on a plan let me know. You can make me one. Preferably something without a lot of running, a little flexibility, and tasty wine.
Yay!
One day down.
I have a workout planned for this evening as well, and I’m B A D about evening workouts… I’m using your momentum to push me into mine.
JC
A name always helps – good thinking. Maybe you need an acronym? RUN – Refusing (to be) Unmotivated Now! I’m going to try to get a workout in tonight just for you.
Damn, I have a dinner date and can’t do day 2 with you. I will save “Day 2″ for one of your rest days.
I like the walk break idea since I like you sometimes push myself too hard and lately my old injury thing has been flaring up a bit … I think I shall try it.
good job! yes, watching races are a great way to kick start motivation. also, IRONMAN Hawaii is gonna be on TV this saturday. Check the TV Schedule.
And, I TOTALLY get the starbucks moment.
Between backofpack and me you have at least 2 “virtual running grandmas” to give you advice. Lucky you! My only input is to avoid the temptation to do more. Stick with 30 minutes for the whole 21 days, and break it up in different ways, like you are doing. I had about 4 or 5 good runs after my comeback, so I kept doing a little more each workout, and now I’m hurting and having to cut back. Backofpack is wise. I just have an impressive resume of mistakes to relate
I just saw this on Pat’s Running Blog, http://www.eatthatfrogmovie.com, and thought it was very cute. Seriously though, I would love to live in a world where eating a frog is the worst thing that can happen to me!
Good for you for getting back on that horse!
Good for you. Keep up the great work and I think walk breaks are brilliant.
I don’t have a marathon to precede my (as yet unstarted) avoid laziness plan, so I think I will try to steal some of your motivation. Mine seems to be at an alltime low right now. I’m scaring myself here.
Thanks for the motivation. Back at it tomorrow. Pinky swear!
good job lady!
Can I just tell you that you rock?
We are in completely different worlds in a sense as I need to formulate a “lazy” plan!! (Okay, not exactly but… something like that) I need to find time to do the little things – like finishing a holiday present etc. *sigh*
So I will send energetic and “go get’em” thoughts your way… okay?!
I too have been battling some nagging pain. Running has been a real roller coaster. Some days are great and others aren’t. I wish you well on your plan whatever you call it.
“With my track record of pushing too hard, it’s important I do this right.”
“And then I’ll get on the spin bike for a while because this thirty minutes on it’s own thing doesn’t really feel like enough for me.”
Yeah. I see how that works.
There’s a race around here called Get Your Rear In Gear…same idea!!
Good for you following through though.