Sweet! Or is that Sweat?!

Or both?

The answer is... both. Today marked my second 25 minute run this week and the end of C25K Week 6.

To be honest I had my trepidations about today's run since Friday's was a bit of a challenge but I convinced myself to shut up and do it. Enlisting the help of Mindwave 2, another one of my favorite apps, and it's "Pre-Excercise Session" to get me mentally prepared seemed to have made a positive difference. Ever since experiencing neurofeedback sessions to reduce dyslexic tendencies I've been a fan of a couple of apps that deliver binural and isochronic beats such as Mind Wave 1 & 2 and Tesla Software's Ambiscience (Brain Power and Pure Sleep). Mind Wave 2 has the nifty "Pre-Excercise Session" that I've used a few times now with confidence.

Since Week 7 of C25K is 3 days of 25 minute runs I'm looking forward to enlisting Mind Wave 2 each day.

And I have to give credit and love to Iron Man Kona goddess Chrissie Wellington who shoulders a big role in the creative visualization technique I use to keep me motivated on these runs. Nothing keeps me going like imagining Chrissie as my coach, running by my side and cheering me on, after she's finished the swim, bike, and most of the marathon portions of Iron Man :-) I'm further thrilled to discover she's sponsored by Brooks (forget Nike or Saucony or Asics shoes--I'm forever a Brooks gal).

Until the next dispatch...

Now I get it

Last night was week 6, day 2 of C25K—comprised of 5 minutes warm up, run 10, walk 3, run 10, 5 minutes cool down. That should have been easy, no? It wasn't. Or at least the last 10 minute run segment was more challenging than I had hoped and I ruminated as to why my attempts at treadmill runs seemed easier a couple of years ago. Surely my age can't make THAT much of a difference, right? Right?

Then it hit me—the old gal has an extra 13 pounds since quitting the gym 2 years ago which is almost like holding two 7 pound weights while working out. Ugh! No wonder why I feel out of breath and struggle to keep a modest pace of 5.0...

Week 7 of C25K is 3 days of 25 minutes of continuous running and now is a very wise time to commit to losing some weight. Running without two seven pound weights makes for a better experience.

25 minutes!

Where has the time gone? And yeah, I'm trying to run on a treadmill at age 50+

OK, I'm back after neglecting iPhone for the ADD Soul for the past year.

I'm back to say the iPhone has been perfect for my ADD soul preventing numerous parking tickets, helping with soapmaking projects (10 minutes to soap being cooked using the timer! Unmold soap on February 11 using the calendar!), keeping me inspired to get on a treadmill and keep up with my 2010 new year resolution with iFitness and Felttips' C25K. I've kept many appointments thanks to the iPhone. This is all good. I've even designed an iPhone app that desperately needs to be coded by a real engineer.

So why am I writing now? Well, I'm inspired to keep tabs on my fitness goals here on this blog being that my iPhone is a key component to my willingness and desire to get moving. Honestly, there is no way I would have truly decided to participate in C25K without the app I purchased, which is well-designed -and- fun to use, or without being able to listen to music (my current C25K music list --> http://bit.ly/bYuiUW), or without a reminder that pops up telling me to attend "kickboxing class @ 7pm). And there is a certain perverse joy I get from stretching and tweeting simultaneously (I'm @carouselno3 if you ish to follow).

Another thing happened today while working on my hoolakai.com website: after being distracted by an Athleta e-mail I found their wonderful Chi Blog and got inspired by Anne Marie's Goals for the Week blog and all of her visitor's--many of whom seem to be in a discovery phase of running like me. Inspired by Anne Marie, I'm here to cheer up those in my age group (I am the same age as the "State" of Hawaii) whose idea of dangling one's foot over the edge is the sudden urge to pursue running--even if it is on a treadmill. We CAN do it ladies!

Before signing off on this post I have to give a shout out to the Gratitude Journal from Happy Tapper which I have consistently used since purchasing on March 20 last year. Waking up to hubby bringing coffee & the Gratitude Journal is a fab way to start of the day.

Happy Friday,

--Lucija