Week 2 - Run 2

So I headed to Western Springs for my 2nd run of the week. It was pretty cold yesterday so I chucked on a long sleeve top instead of my usual short sleeve one. I'm usually pretty resiliant to Auckland winters since spending winter in freezing Taumarunui and Palmerston North.

The run started off well, I felt strong and was impatient to get into the 2nd set. I chugged along and reached the 3rd set. Thats when my lung started to hurt. I've been prone to lung problems in the past and am on an asthma preventative since previous illnesss' have made me susceptiable to asthma. When my lung starts to hurt, it generally means I'm getting sick.

I figured I should probably call it a day since the cold air would probably make the sore lung worse. So I started walking back to my car and the heavens opened up and it started to pour. I got soaked within seconds. I sprinted back to the car but there wasn't much point really.

So I am giving myself a day off today, so I can recover. The sore lung hasn't really come to much. I have a bit of a cough but nothing more. Lets hope it stays that way.

As you saw in my previous post Goodbye my lover, goodbye my friend... I am giving up junk food. I eat WAY too much and its not doing me any good. I know its going to be hard because buying and eating junk food has become a habit but I'm up for the challange. My good friend Emma is also giving up junk food too, so we're going to support each other. I'm going to allow myself one treat a week because I know myself, and I know that I will just fail if I'm not allowed any junk food ever again. I'm excited to see the results of this new lifestyle. Anyone else want to join the challenge too?

Goodbye my lover, goodbye my friend...

Dear Junk Food,

We have to talk. You see, although our love affair has been going on for a long time, I am afraid I have to end it.

Its not you, it's me. (Actually that's a lie, it is you, but I was trying to make this easier on you)

Although you are completely delicious, satisfying and comforting you are also wreaking havoc on my teeth, fat stores and wallet. I just don't see how its going to work anymore.

Don't be too upset. Remember all the good times we had? All those BP pies and V's, the countless trips to McDonald's for cheeseburgers and frozen cokes, those sneaky missions to the supermarket for maltesers, tiny teddies and those strange but yummy Chinese noodle things. And don't forget all those delicious muffins, scones and biscuits that dominated the pantry.

Look, the truth is. I've moved on. If we're being truthful here, I should tell you. I... I cheated on you. I never thought I would be a cheater but I am. I've fallen in love with your arch enemy, Healthy Food. He rejuvenates me, he makes me feel like a new woman. He encourages me to better myself. I just feel stronger and happier when he's around.

Healthy Food's introduced me to his friends who are just amazing. Exercise, Water and Sleep always lift me up and treat me like I deserve. Your mates, Laziness, Tiredness and Gluttony always ridicule me and make me feel bad. I am a Princess, a Warrior and they don't treat me like I am. Dam it Junk Food, I deserve better!

Lets just make this easy. Don't call, don't write. I think we should make this a clean break. I'm too good to be a booty call, so don't even think about it.

Its time to move on Junk Food. To tell you the truth, I'm too good for you. And so is everyone else. Really, you should just become a hermit. Don't go looking for someone else. Its for the best really.

Goodbye Junk Food.

PS. Welcome to Dumpsville... Population: YOU

Someone needs to lock me up!

I can’t believe it! I HAD A V AGAIN! I went out this morning to get meat for this weeks dinners and I managed to convince myself that I didn’t need one but then when I went out again to get some supplies for our family birthday, I bought one! Grrr. So now I have given my mum my eftpos cards until I head back down to Palmerston North, so I don’t have the means to buy it. Hopefully by the time I head back, I won’t need V anymore.

My Health and Fitness Goals

(This isn't me... but I wish it was)

I believe that having specific goals is important when wanting to achieve something. So here are my health and fitness goals that I want to make happen.

Fitness Goals

Long Term

Compete in a 10k race – I want to compete in a Marathon one day but that is a long time away. I know once I finish my first 10km race it will be the glorious end of the un-fit, un-healthy Katie.

Mid Term

Be able to run 5km without stopping – This has long been a dream of mine. It seems like a big mile-stone that will finally let me feel like a real runner.

Short Term

Be able to run for 10 minutes without stopping – I’m going to get that amazing feeling back!

Health Goals

I don’t have long term, mid term and short term goals for my health but here are a couple of goals that I want to achieve.

Quit drinking V - V is an energy drink that tastes amazing and I am totally addicted to it. I have 1 a day and sometimes 2 if my craving calls. I know it’s pickling my insides and is really not good for me what with all the caffeine and sugar. The healthy part of me wants to quit but the un-healthy of me really doesn’t. And so, starting tomorrow I am going to stop drinking V (that un-healthy part of myself is screaming in frustration).

Swap unhealthy snacks for healthier snacks - I love biscuits and chocolate... and anything else that has no preparation and tastes good. I want more vitamins and less sugar so I’m going to make an effort to eat healthier snacks.

So this is it, I am going to do the best I can to achieve these goals. I REALLY want to compete in that 10k race, I really want to become a runner.

I need a change. A BIG one!

I have tried to become a runner dozen of times. I’ve started numerous blogs to document my journey and managed to keep a couple of them going for a few weeks. But then something always seems to interrupt my running aspirations and it’s always hard to get back on the wagon, and then my poor blog dies a slow, lonely death before I shame-facedly decided to kill it off permanently. Failure, once again.

I am hoping beyond all hopes that this blog doesn’t end up like those previous blogs... in the mysterious blog grave yard where all the forgotten and discarded blogs lay their heads. I hope that I don’t give up and that I do achieve my running and fitness goals.

Who am I? My name is Katie. I am 19 years old and live in Palmerston North in my beautiful country of New Zealand. I am studying at Massey University, completing a foundations course before I study Vet Nursing.

At school, I was never one of the really sporty ones but I wasn’t a completely sportless (I think I just invented a new word) person. I played Netball for years and dabbled in Soccer and Tennis. When I was 14, I saved up and bought a horse and started competing him in Eventing, Show Jumping and Dressage. My body lost its baby fat and my muscles toned up but my cardio fitness was always below par. I would huff and puff my way through netball games and struggled to keep up on team runs. I hated it.

When I realised my lack of cardio fitness was having a negative impact on the Cross Country phase of my Eventing, I decided to start running. I started the couch to 5k running program and managed to get about 3 ½ weeks into it before I stopped (I can’t remember why I did). That was the longest I lasted and the fittest I have ever been. I remember the day I ran 10 minutes straight for the first time. I was so proud. Now, I wonder how I will ever get that far again.

I’m starting this new blog because I need a change. Since deciding to sell my horse, I have become lazy and since starting University, I have been eating truck loads of crap. So I want to throw myself back into life and start turning my life around. I want to finally become a runner.