Post-Poned

This blog will resume being active in January...

People told us we were ambitious for starting our running routine around the holidays and the coldest part of the year. I think the main reason we failed our first attempt was being home with no access to a gym. Mary Kate and I will start training again when next semester starts and me can use the school gym and stay out of the cold.

and hey... we didn't want to miss out on a perfect New Years Resolution!!

Sweatin' to the Oldies

Thursday was a very cold, dark wintery day. After class Kendall and I decided that we did not want to leave the apartment again to walk to the gym (a little bit lazy? yes.). So we decided that it was best to do a work out video in the comfort of our warm apartment. So we did half of a Richard Simmon's work out video. Wow. Very bizarre, but not a bad work out. The difficulty came when Richard Simmons did some crazy dance moves that we could not duplicate. However it was quite the experience and I must say it was better to not be outside in the cold! And at least we worked out...we were so close to just going to Walmart and skipping the workout.

Wednesday = Successful!

Wednesday was a success this week. As you might remember from earlier posts, Wednesday is rest day! So yesterday we rested. Success!

We Will Not Give Up!

As you know Kendall and I have taken a little Thanksgiving break. Somehow it just sort of happened. Oops. But we will not give up! This week we will start running again and hope that we didn't loose too much ground. The race isn't until April so we still have time. It's all a learning process! Check back later in the week to hear about our actual running (something you haven't heard about in a while)!

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of our readers!!

I plan to spend the day stuffing my stomach with delicious food and being thankful for everything I have been blessed with.

Speaking of which, I'm thankful that I have a best friend like Mary Kate that will let me talk her into doing something crazy like this. Love ya girl! :)

Here's some food for thought :

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

~Kendall

Lacking Modivation

So here I sit in my apartment looking out the window as the sun gets lower and lower in the sky. I know there is time for a run if I go now (or if I had gone an hour ago like I planned) but I can't. I'm just not motivated. Kendall's not here to drag me out for a run with her either. Well, maybe tomorrow!

The Start of the Food Eating Holidays!

As Kendall mentioned in her last post, we have both been slacking this week. However, not without good reason! I was doing great up til Thursday. I ran Monday, which was great. I ran Tuesday morning and for a number of reasons, including cold rain, I had an absolutely terrible time. Wednesday was rest day. And this leads me to Thursday, the start of the food eating holidays.
Thursday was Lottie's annual Thanksgiving dinner. We got in line early so we could beat the crowd and actually get a table. Then we stuffed ourselves silly with food (Lottie does Thanksgiving quite well) and needless to say there was no running Thursday.
Friday arrived and I headed to Philly to visit some friends who are at Messiah's Philly Campus. There we had Thanksgiving dinner #2! Again, no time for running and the belly was just too full!
Saturday I walked all over Philly seeing the sights and shopping, so I'm counting that as a "workout". Walking a couple miles should count for something right?
Today is Sunday, and what do you know?! ...... It's rest day again!
I'm hoping this coming week will be a better one! If not for running it will be a great food week. It's Thanksgiving #3 on Thursday!!

Running? Riiiiiighhht....

We are so sorry if you have noticed that the blog has been rather silent the past couple of days. Mary Kate and I broke our glorious running streak by taking two rest days in a row (Wed & Thurs), and then I left on Friday morning to drive back to Massachusetts for an extended Thanksgiving break, and she drove with a few friends to Philly for the weekend. So I'm almost positive that neither of us have gone running in a few days.

After church today I had some lunch and then decided to take a nap before my run to let my food settle. I think a few people tried to wake me up, but I didn't get out of bed until 4:10 when the sun was already setting. I jumped up and got my running outfit on and picked out some earmuffs and mittens. My brother was supposed to come running with me, but when I woke up the house was empty, so I figured everyone else must have found something to do while I was sleeping.

I stepped outside and immediately retreated back into my living room. Massachusetts is COLD! After a short pep talk and left the house, jogged out of my driveway and up to the end of the road. Then I turned around and headed straight back home. There is absolutely no way I am running on this Thanksgiving break. Even with a coat and layers on, the freezing cold air and my asthma make it impossible for me to breathe. I may just have to wait and start over when I get back to school in a week, because at least I can go to the gym .

It's about this time every year that I am reminded of why I envy our furry friends, the bears. How about if this year, after Thanksgiving, I crawl into bed with a full stomach and hibernate through the rest of this terribly cold winter?

11/16/10

Mary Kate - went running in the rain and did not enjoy it

Kendall - went to the gym and did 25 on the treadmill. Did not enjoy running but felt glorious walking out into the rain to cool off on the way back to the apartment.


This whole running business is not the easiest thing for us to get used to, so once again we would like to thank everyone on and off campus that has been so encouraging :)

The Runners Wave

I RAN THE FARTHEST I HAVE RUN SO FAR WITHOUT STOPPING...1.4 MILES!!!!! Can you tell I'm a bit excited?! Oh and I wasn't even running at a snails pace. Today was a great run!
A few other things made today memorable. For your easy reading I will construct a list:
1. (Check back to the first sentence in this post...it's in all caps...yes that HAS to be my #1 for today).
2. The Runners Wave - As I was going along today I passed a few other fellow runners and they waved to me! It was kind of like when two people riding motorcycles pass each other and wave. This little simple wave seems to be a common thing among runners as I was waved at 3 times! I think I like it!
3. I'm not in pain right now...no sore muscles or moaning. This is something that I hope continues!
4. The weather - While it is getting chilly it was still pleasant to run because the cool air is like an air conditioning system. I don't have to feel like I'm burning up or sweating to death. This is a good thing.
5. The energy - When I get back from running I have this unexplainable energy. Who would have thought that running and using all that energy would actually produce energy and keep me from needing a nap!
Well that's all for today. Hopefully tomorrow will be just as great as today was! :)

Week One Summary -Kendall

One week has passed since Mary Kate and I embarked on this endeavor .. I ran 5 out of 7 of those days. Here is a little summary of this week from Kendall's perspective:

Monday- The"Honeymoon Period" in my relationship with running begins! The jog was great and optimism was high!

Tuesday- The VERY short "Honeymoon Period" ends. Well folks, that was quick. Jogging was less fun today. Legs = incredibly sore

Wednesday- Was supposed to be my day of rest but it was a beautiful day for a run so I went with one of my other roommates. Sandy showed me a new route that is completely flat. My happiness lasted until I realized how slow I was when she disappeared into the distance. So sore I could barely get out of bed.

Thursday- Rested

Friday- My run was really bad because I felt sick to my stomach. The good news is my soreness was completely gone.

Saturday- Run was decent

Sunday - Rested

Today - I did 25min on the treadmill and a 5min cool down. I enjoyed not being out in the cold. Another thing to love about the treadmill - the person next to you may be a faster runner, but they will never be able to pass you :)

I've added another goal for myself - Toned abs by my 21st birthday (2/21).

Kendall's Thoughts about Running

Why did I decide to do this again? Ever since I can remember I have hated running. I guess I wanted to choose a real challenge for myself to see if I have the will to overcome it. I'm sure it will take some time before I enjoy this and am seeing the results, but here are my top complaints:

1. Time passes very slowly when I run. From the time I leave my apartment to the moment I get back, it takes LESS than 20min. WHAT??! How is that possible?? I am almost positive an eternity and a half passed while I was huffing and puffing down the road. Which brings me to my next complaint:

2. Running is boring. Even being outside, I am constantly thinking "Is this over yet"? I wish there was an autopilot function for my brain. I'm thinking I might download some Books on Tape for my ipod..

3. Running is competitive. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a competition as much as the next person. I just don't like it when I am destined to lose. I'm still a beginner at this, so naturally I move at a snail's pace, but every time I meet another runner on the road it is a contest whether it means to be or not. One runner is always faster than the other. So, in my case, I get to watch the other person pass me, and disappear into the distance. When will it be my turn to leave somebody else in the dust? :)

Okay, had enough complaining?

Thanks for reading!

~K

Cinderella..

So, you've seen Cinderella, right? You know that part at the end where the two adorable mice are trying to bring Cinderella the key so that she could unlock herself from the attic, run down the stairs, and live happily ever after? They look up and the stairs blur together in that stereotypical dizzy fashion? After my run today I look up the stairs to my apartment and saw that exact scene in my head, except it was me scaling the stairs and my happy ending was a shower, not a prince.

Running didn't go well for me today. I felt sick the whole time and it was discouraging...

Thank you to all of our supporters.. If we can do it, you can too!

~Kendall

Seeing improvement already!

Hello Blog Readers!
First I must say thank you to all of you who are reading this blog...we've already had over 100 views and it's been less than 1 week! We hope that you are either being motivated to join us in this challenge or develop your own exercise goals, OR simply being entertained by the hilarity of this whole idea!
Anyway, today I had a great run. It was my first "solo" run...a/k/a Kendall didn't come with me. Yesterday Sandy showed me a new place to run and it's totally flat so that means I won't have to use all my energy doing the hills on campus. We ran there yesterday and then today I went back to give it a second go.
I am happy to report that I only had to stop and walk once today and that I ran the entire way there (I have no idea that distance but it was not close) without stopping once! I was so proud of myself! I almost jumped up and down and screamed in congratulations to myself, but then decided against it. I really didn't want anyone to see me running. (Though my outfit and headband were cool!) Anyway, then I walked a little and finished off running the rest of the way back. This is improvement already! And I'm not as sore today!
What a good Friday! Oh and did I mention that the weather is beautiful!?!

I think I like Wednesdays!

As Kendall mentioned Wednesday is our "other" day to rest. I like resting days! But then again who wouldn't! I have been feeling a bit sore, especially Tuesday night...my body was hating Kendall for talking me into this. But now I'm not that sore anymore and ready for "Thursday...the day after the other day of rest"...a/k/a "running day again"! I think my body is getting more used to this and while it's going to take a while, it's a good thing!
Oh and special shout out to my mom who took a jog around the park yesterday! Keep up the good work!

Wednesday - The Other Day of Rest

We were ecstatic when we learned that runners take days off. Therefore, Wednesdays are going to be our other day of rest. And by rest I mean pain... I woke up this morning and thought "oh wow, all of the soreness is gone!", WRONG! As soon as I tried to get out of bed I fell over because suddenly every muscle in my body was on fire. So as I hobble around campus and go about my busy Wednesday afternoon, I can be comforted that I am feeling the "good" kind of pain that leads to strong muscles and toned legs... Or at least the kind that reminds me that I'm still human - and that I have to pay the price of my previous inactive lifestyle.

No Pain, No Gain!

~K

Day 1 and 2 - Mary Kate's Perspective

Let me first preface all my writing with this disclaimer. "Anything that said or written that is not positive towards my dear friend Kendall, should be ignored and kept in the context of 'Mary Kate is NOT a runner!'" Now that that has been said let me tell you about my first day running...ever...since it was not required for a class. Kendall suggested this crazy idea to me the other night and for some reason I went along with it. I had just seen the NY Marathon on TV and had the passing thought of how cool it would be to accomplish something like that. Then Kendall appeared with this same idea. I kinda laughed but at the same time thought "oh wow! I could do that...maybe".
I decided to not commit myself to it until after I went running for a day. Well day 1 happened and it didn't seem so bad. We took a lap around the school and I came back exhausted, but not as worn out as I expected. So I told Kendall I'd give it a shot!
We're not trying to run the NY Marathon, though Kendall did suggest the Boston Marathon and I quickly turned that down. We're thinking a 5k or 10k race for fun in April.
Day 2 was worse than day 1. I'm a little sore, but hopefully it will get better after more practice! Plus we're doing crunches so bye-bye flab and hello fit body!
Oh and one of the best parts of this thing is my super cool outfit with matching headband! Yes I like my outfit and that is what kept me going today!!

Day Two

MK and I just finished our second jog. Let me tell you that day two is not at all easier than day one. I woke up all achy and sore, and didn't feel a whole lot better on the road. We did more stretching today so hopefully that helps.

I have a feeling MK hates me for suggesting this a little more today than she did yesterday :)

Day One - Kendall's Perspective

Day one.. It's not the first crazy idea I've had, but I am usually not this successful at getting others on board. Special thanks to my roommate and best friend Mary Kate for humoring me and giving todays run a shot. :) It will be fun working towards this goal with someone else.

Todays "run" :

I'd say the best part of todays run was a tie between our awesome spandex outfits or making it back in one piece. Our friend suggested that we run over to the track and do a mile before coming back...yeah right. Mary Kate and I decided that a good start would be doing the road around campus. We jogged at such a slow pace that it must have looked like a slow motion movie, but surprisingly, it felt good! Throughout our training I am going to do a little research about running and technique, and maybe get some pointers from some track friends. I had heard that a slow jog is better than walking, so that's what I did, even if I could have done it twice as fast walking. The best thing about jogging with MK is that she and I are at the same level, going the same speed. We finished in under 20min, stretched and did some crunches. Looking forward to toned abs in our future :)

It is possible that nobody will read this, but I think it will be a fun way to keep us accountable.

I've got my jogging suit, ipod and mittens laid out to wear to chapel tomorrow so that MK and I can run after that. Day 2, here we come!

~K

Day 1 Video : Newbies on the Block

Check out the video we made in honor of our first day of running. This was about 2 minutes before we decided to write a blog of our experiences :)