Just breathe!

Intervall Training with Sue. Controlled breathing throughout it. Heart-rate never went higher than 170. Walked half of the time. And - get that! - it didn't take much longer to cover 2 miles than yesterday. I guess it's amazing... Now I only have to get about double as fast and I'll might even reach the finish line in time to get timed - ha! In case you haven't noticed it yet: I'm not a patient person. So, normally I'd just screw it and get back in old habits - breathing shallow, getting completely exhausted and NOT faster. Ever! I've done that for the last 5 years but I'm not doing it anymore. I'm going with Sue. I'm running, I'm breathing, I let it go... Feels actually good. And wait until you'll see my abs, legs and arms... Madonna will be my shadow - said Maria - what would be the world without friends! So, I'm getting wiser too. Already.

Stick with me!

LIVE AND LEARN

RAIN, RUN, BEAUTY AND DEENA

2.2 miles, pouring rain, 25:20 min, average heart-rate 162, 272 cal burned. Started with a pulse of 92. Did you know that Deena Kastor's pulse is 35? Sounds like she might be always asleep if not running. That is probably why she is such a good runner... So, should I start sleeping 20 hours per day and spend the rest on running, cross-training, eating... hmm, what about kids, husband, friends? Not to mention other things one can do in life??? Okay, I'm exaggerating. However, I tried to breath into my nose and out of my mouth until I looked at the watch and realized it might take me half an hour to run those two miles if I'd continue doing it. I somewhat speeded it up, (well, "speed" might not be a term related to my running - ha), and that was when my heart-rate monitor started beeping like crazy - right in front of the Funeral Home of Lenox: 182

I should probably bring it back to the Arcadian Shop. The nice sales guy had mentioned that my heart rate should be calculated for an about 20 years younger person. That's how it's done for long-time athletes... I'm wondering, was he mistaken about my athletic past or about my (Madonna) age? Was he thinking Jane Fonda??? I better get back on the road... or back to bed? Beauty sleep?

I WISH I WOULD KNOW I KNEW HOW IT WOULD FEEL TO BE FREE

Deja Vue

ABS class this morning at 8. Brought me back in time. Aerobic classes in Berlin. Were actually fun! But that's over. Yoga is the new aerobic, I guess. Or IntenSati. Well, not where I live. So, sit ups, push ups, butts, abs and a little cardio. That was it for today. Pouring rain anyway.

DISCO! LISTEN! DANCE!

Interval with Madonna

Sunday is my day of rest. Physically. Mentally I'm thinking of the purpose of my blog. Proving that a woman at about Madonna's age can still become an amazing athlete. (Could I change my birthdate to 05/25/MADONNA?) Amazing might be not the right word. My best run so far was a 10 k on Thanksgiving Day - the Turkey Trot at Simons Rock. I didn't come in last because the woman in front of me had to pee half a mile before the finish line. When I told my friend he almost peed his pants because he thought that was a joke. Well, it was not. My pace was 10:17 and I've never topped that afterwards. That IS funny, I know.

So, I want to become stronger, faster and it wouldn't hurt if my abs will look great. I'll eat three meals per day, train 2 days in the studio, run 4 days wherever my legs will carry me and I'm going to hide my scale although I doubt Madonna would do that. But I trust my friend Sue who is so strong that even my teenage son highly respects her. Which could give me another reason for running... FOLLOW ME!

Song of the day: Just Breathe - Pearl Jam

Ready, SET, and go...

Okay, I got my heart rate monitor today. Arcadian Shop in Lenox. Sue told me I had to get one. She is my personal trainer at Lenox Fitness Center. Since last Friday. Never had one before. She also suggested I should get rid of my scale. Hmm. Have to think about that one. Feels like abandoning a friend... However, I'm aiming for a Half Marathon on Memorial Day. Can you imagine? A marathon in Lenox? The guy at the Arcadian Shop was enthusiastic: " and it is a qualifier for Boston!" Right, exactly what I was looking for - ha, ha... But still, pretty cool, uh??? So, I'm planning on getting ready for half of the fun which seems still A LOT - more than 10 miles! Running in the dark, the rain, the cold, the heat, rarely in a cornfield, rather in muddy Kennedy Park, chased by dogs of all sizes... Did I mention I'm scared of big dogs? Well, that would be another blog, I guess...

First song: You're beautiful - James Blunt