Week 3 of C25K

This week was 90 sec of jogging and 2 min walking. I did a total of 30 min each day (including 5 min warmup and 5 min cooldown), and 3.86 miles for the week.

I'm also trying to increase my pace, so Monday I did 2 sets of jog/walk at 3.2 mph jogging, 2.7 mph walking, and the other 4 sets at 3.0 mph jog/2.5 mph walk. Wednesday I did 3 sets at the faster pace, and today I did 4 sets. Next week I'm supposed to do 2 sets of 90 sec jog, 90 sec walk, then 3 min jog and 3 min walk. I don't know if I could do 3 min jogging, so I'm going to stick an intermediate step in there of a week of 2 min jogging and 2 min walking. I think it will be easier for me personally to jump to a 3 min jogging stint from 2 min than from 1 1/2 min.

I'll try the 3 min jog first though, just to see if I can. I'll probably do it Sunday, so I can have a day off to recuperate from today. Or I might do it tomorrow.

Worked up a GOOD sweat today, it was a bit humid because it's rained all day and it was around 72 degrees. I actually stunk, so I took a nice cool shower after I sat around for a bit. I find I have to sit and stop sweating before I go take a shower, or I just sweat all the clean off after I get out. Not to mention the Gold Bond powder and the Nystatin powder and the deodorant...

I'm just astounded I'm still doing the program and haven't skipped a day. Plus the treadmill is keeping me from having all those pesky injuries you tend to have when you start a walking/jogging/running program -- shin splints, sore knees, that sort of thing, since I'm running on a level, uniform surface at a steady pace.

When I tried this before, I was using the high school track, and kept fucking up my knees so that I had to wear knee braces on both legs. Got shin splints every time I tried to increase my pace or length of time jogging, even with good, not worn out shoes. The only time I've had shin splints so far was when I first started, and they went away with the first 2 day weekend rest period.

(Just FYI, I buy only New Balance running shoes, and I replace them religiously every 6 months. I'm rough on the support system of shoes, since running shoes are all I wear. I buy 2 new pairs on my birthday in June -- one new pair sits in my closet in the box, the old ones become my gardening shoes, and one pair of new ones are my running/going out in public shoes. 6 months later I throw out the gardening shoes, the pair I've been wearing become the garden shoes, and the pair in the box become my new running/going out shoes. Ain't I clever?)

So that's about it. I've noticed all my jeans are looser, and one pair I'd had to quit wearing because my hips had gotten a bit hippy fit nicely again. Some new tee shirts are getting too big, too. Which annoys me, because right now Mike and I wear the same size tee shirt (XXL), which made for uncomplicated laundry. If I go into XL or just L that's going to be a pain. Guess I'll deal with it, though!

Quick cat update...

Brownie: went to vet this week for her cortisone shot, a week early. The last time we went I was trying giving her 2 mg Periactin every day to stimulate her appetite, but it wasn't working anymore, and she was stiff and sore because the vet who saw her is the old guy who just can't believe she's handling 20 mg depomedrol with no side effects, so he always gives her only 10 mg. Which doesn't set her up well to start with, and leaves her in pain from the arthritis after only 2 weeks. Yesterday we saw the RIGHT vet, who gave her 20 mg like she's supposed to have, and I also asked for culture of her nose to see what this snot is caused by and maybe find an antibiotic that will work. Obviously it's resistant to amoxicillin and Bactrim, neither one worked.

I think Mike is getting tired of having to treat her, he's making euthanasia noises. I wish he'd stop -- she's still bright and perky when she feels good, takes interest in everything going on around her even when she doesn't feel good, and she hasn't gotten that deep inward stare even on her worst days. I'll know when it's time. It's getting close, but it's not here yet. Most likely within the next 6 months, though.

Taffy Cat: the abandoned torbie that I was worried about has staked out her hidey hole under a trash can we used as a rain barrel last year, so tomorrow I'll put some straw under there so she has something to make a warm nest in. Tonight when I went out to feed her she came out and trotted up to me, saying her rusty little "baow" all the way! I was surprised -- when she first came up she was so weak her hind end wobbled, but now she has her coordination back and can trot! Before we know it she'll be hopping up on the deck. When her sides fill in more I'll give her a worming treatment.

Champ Cat: the other abandoned cat, the black domestic long hair (he doesn't have a Persian face and he isn't floofy all over, just his tail mostly), has taken up life in the front yard with Little Boy, who has been banished to the front while Li'l Lisa has her kittens on the deck. We call them The Black Cat Gang. At first Champ hissed a bit at Boy, who's been fixed and doesn't have a combative bone in his body. Apparently Boy told him "cool down, fella, there's enough for everyone", and they've been spotted looking in the front door waiting for chow or some Big Pets.

After Hallowe'en is past we'll mount a major campaign to get Taffy and Champ new indoor homes. I think I'll take pictures of them both and take to the vet to see if they know them -- they may have just gotten lost from a home that is resigned to them being gone. Wouldn't that be a great gift, to bring these two back to their original home? Assuming of course it's a home they need to return to...