Week 7: I'm lazy and broke.

I haven't exercised since last monday. I ran in the cold weather and got sick. Then I ran out of money so I couldn't pay to go to the gym. So pretty much...this week was an epic fail. Also I am going out of town tomorrow and won't be back for a week. Two days of which I will be at the beach in a bathing suit. So why haven't I exercised? Cause I am lazy. No other excuse. LAZY! I'm taking my running shoes with me tomorrow. Lets hope I actually use them.

Week 6: Uphill Battle

Monday morning at 5:30am, I met my host brother in the yard for an early morning run. If you know me at all, you know I hate getting out of my warm bed for the sole purpose of exercise. But for some reason, I had agreed to not only go on a run at 5:30am, I had actually agreed to go on an uphill run at the crack of dawn. Not my best decision. So we walk for a minute to warm up and then the uphill battle begins. It started off well. I was keeping pace and wondering why I hadn't brought my ipod. Then the mountain began. I don't know what strange shift of the universe encouraged me to partake in this early morning torture, but there I was falling slowly behind, turning beat red and wheezing like a 90 year old smoker. We finally reached our destination and I almost passed out. My host brother was not even sweating. Then again he is 20 and a physical education teacher, but he should at least be sweating. Sheesh. So I whined and writhed as my inside slowly calmed down and then we started back down the hill. Of course, coming down is always easier and I had never been so happy to see the end of a run. Not only did I finish a solid minute after my host brother (as if that wasn't bad enough), he then proceeded to quote Forrest Gump by saying "Corre Kate Corre!" (For those on the short train, "Corre" is spanish for "run".) Ridiculous.

Later that morning, I had to hike to a school. Yet another uphill battle that left me sweaty, exhausted and practically begging for someone to put me out of my misery. The soreness I experienced the next day is indescribable. I had never felt so sore in my life. AND I got a cold from running in the chilly morning air. AND my paid for month at the gym is up and I don't have the dinero to pay for another month until payday next week. So I am having a bit of an exercise fail. But I told my host brother by Friday I should be feeling better and we should go for another run. Not at 530 am...but getting out there and doing it is what matters. We shall see how it goes.

Week 5: Before and After...Shame?

So you know how some people take before and after photos of their "body transformation". Well for some strange reason, I decided this would be a good idea for me. Motivation ya know. Wrong. I took photos a month ago and then I took another set one month into my "training". I think I look worse. How is that even possible? I've been going to the gym at least three times every week for the past month! And I look worse?!? Seriously. Not cool. So I have decided that before and after photos are not what I would call "motivational"...more like "depressing". Then there is the fear that if anybody steals my computer there will be pictures of me in my underwear for the world to see. So the moral of the story is...don't photograph yourself in your undies.

As far as training goes...it is a slow process. But patience is a virtue and I have 5 months to go. Lets do this!

Week 4: The Hump

Seriously. I hate exercising. I had a bad health weekend. Lots of beer and some bbq. Gotta get back on the horse this week. I NEED to start running. There is no way I am going to be able to complete 13.2 miles if I don't start using my running shoes.

Goal for this week: Stop making excuses.

Week 3: Get it Together Caitlin!

So the rainy season has begun. Rain is not my exercise friend. It is actually not my friend at all. Well, that isn't true. It is my lazy friend. It makes me lazy. Hard core. I actually took a nap yesterday for the first time in four months. Not a good sign. Literally, it is raining right now as I type. The next four months are going to be exactly like this. Therefore, I have to be twice as motivated to get off my butt and go to the gym. Running outside is pretty much out of the question. I work in the mornings when it isn't raining and by the time I get home in the afternoons and eat lunch, the rain clouds have set in. Needless to say, I did not complete my week 2 goal of running outside four times. I did go to the gym, so there is a positive. I ate healthy for the most part. Another positive.

Week 3 Goals:
Gym: five times.
Keep a food journal.
Dance in my room when I'm bored.

Wish me luck amigos!

Week 2: Keep on Truckin'

Week 2 Goals:
Run a mile on the track at least four times.
Lift weights in the gym at least three times.
Make wise food choices.

I have decided to post an update every week on my training and let everyone know how I am doing. I think every day may be a little excessive and not to mention time consuming. So that is the plan for week 2. I hit the gym this afternoon after a weekend off. Shouldn't have skipped two days straight, but it was my lazy weekend. Getting back into the groove of things. Wish me luck!

Day 7: Early morning moving

Today is going to be a busy day for me, so I decided to wake up early and head to the gym. Now, if you know me at all, you know that me and early morning workouts are not friends. There is something about dragging yourself out of the warm, comfy bed to put on gym shorts and torture yourself that just isn't appealing to me. So this morning, I literally laid in my bed for thirty minutes having another internal debate. These arguments in my head are becoming very common. Finally, the angel beat the devil on my shoulder and I hit the gym.

There is something to be said for early morning sweat sessions. It makes you feel more accomplished and gives you the energy to face the day (and sometimes, here in Guatemala, you need alot of energy to face the day). It isn't even 9am and I have already been to the gym and had a healthy, fruity breakfast. I realize that I should probably start everyday off this way...but actually doing it is a whole different matter entirely.

So I am one week in to Caitlin's get-your-butt-off-the-couch-and-get-in-shape exercise regimen. I did some sort of physical exercise every day this week. Not a bad start. I think if I want to get in shape for this half marathon, I am going to have to step up the running a little more. That can be my goal for week #2. My poor thighs. Wish me luck!