I have to make this quick because I'm at work... I have decided that in order to kick this running experiment into high gear I need a really worth-while goal. It's great to lose weight, get in shape and to do something for myself - but there's nothing like making a commitment to somebody else to get yourself going (at least for me).
I've decided to take a leap and sign up for an 11 kilometer race in the North of Israel which circles the Tavor Mountain. The race is called Hakafat HaTavor and it takes place on May 11th. I have 6 weeks to get myself to 11 kilometers. It's not going to be easy, but I have some good motivation. I am going to run this race as a sponsorship for a worthy cause, Yeshivat Ohr Simcha. Yeshivat Ohr Simcha in Kfar Chabad is a wonderful organization housing hundreds of boys between the ages of 6 and 14 who have been orphaned, abandoned or abused.
At Ohr Simcha, they are housed, clothed and educated and their physical and psychological needs are taken care of regularly by doctors and professionals.
I have been there and met a number of the children who live and learn there. I was very inspired by the people who work there, whether it be the teachers or mentors, or the young married couples who live in an apartment within the complex and act as foster parents to 11 boys (in addition to the 2 biological children they are raising).
In all, they're doing a great job, but they need all of the support they can get.
Click the button below to join the cause and 'Chip In' to help sponsor my run.
And most of all, WISH ME LUCK! Because I have a HECK of a lot of work to do!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Winter Work Week
It has most unfortunately been a very long time since I've posted. It's not that I've been lazy... well, maybe it it, but that's not the complete reason - I've just been extremely busy. It has been a very crazy few months at work, sometimes working over 60 hours a week (ahem, with no over-time, I might add). On top of work, I was also immersed in the numerous extra-curricular activities I masochistically involve myself in, such as Women's Flag Football and community theater. Not only have I not had time to write, there was a good chunk of time (also due to the crazy weather we've been having - 40 degrees F and snow storms in Jerusalem in March!) that I didn't run at all.
I have to admit, I was pretty ashamed to start this whole thing and then take a huge leave of absence, but I'm happy to say that I started running again a few weeks ago and am incredibly surprised by my progress. That being said, it has definitely not been easy.
I find it very difficult to run outside. Firstly, asthma makes it more difficult to run outside than indoors because it tends to aggravate my allergies. The cold weather is a whole other issue. Perhaps I just don't have the proper running gear, but just 1.5 Km running in the cold and I feel like my head is going to explode, starting from my ears. The pain is indescribable, so it suffices to say that I wasn't able to get much done.
I decided to join the gym. I figured for 50 bucks a month, if I can work up my legs and my lungs on treadmill, I'd be that much more prepared to face the outside world. The gym I joined is called Curves. It's an all-women's gym that is based primarily on a 30-minute workout cycle combining alternating cardio and muscular exorcises using special Curves machines. It's actually an interesting idea and has been pretty successful, considering all of the locations they now have all around the world.
At the Curves I am a member of, in addition to the cycle, they have a treadmill, elliptical and offer a bunch of classes, such as Zoomba and pilates. In all I've been pretty satisfied; the only real problem is that there is only ONE treadmill. I mean, it's not all that bad, because I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes (which I spent doing the Curves cycle to warm up), but being that I went before work, that also meant I had less time on the treadmill, and therefore inhibiting my running advancement. The other thing that sucks is that there's actually no TV by the treadmill. I end up listening to music or watching a show on my iPhone, but it's a lot easier to lose myself in the (stationary) running if I have a big screen in my face distracting me (I am easily enamored by shiny things). Oh, the only thing I really have to look at aside from the white walls is one of those motivational posters with the corny quotations - those always crack me up. It's a girl running on a dirt path and the line is: 'Commitment' and below it, it says "Determination is often the first chapter in the book of excellence." It's probably the the most trite thing I've ever heard or read, but then again, I guess it's sort of true. Plus it beats staring at a white wall.
Let's get down to business....
Bottom line - although I haven't been able to maximize my time exorcising these past few weeks, I was still able to increase the distance I can cover in a single run, and even my speed. After a few runs, I went from dying at 1 Km, to comfortably running 3K. I never actually thought I would be able to run that far in one shot. Now I hate to sounds corny, but in this case it sort of feels good to be able to prove yourself wrong. Then again, let's not get ahead of ourselves... I know 3K is really not very far to run. I'm not trying to kid myself or anything, but progress is progress.
Hey, it works for me!
I have to admit, I was pretty ashamed to start this whole thing and then take a huge leave of absence, but I'm happy to say that I started running again a few weeks ago and am incredibly surprised by my progress. That being said, it has definitely not been easy.
I find it very difficult to run outside. Firstly, asthma makes it more difficult to run outside than indoors because it tends to aggravate my allergies. The cold weather is a whole other issue. Perhaps I just don't have the proper running gear, but just 1.5 Km running in the cold and I feel like my head is going to explode, starting from my ears. The pain is indescribable, so it suffices to say that I wasn't able to get much done.
I decided to join the gym. I figured for 50 bucks a month, if I can work up my legs and my lungs on treadmill, I'd be that much more prepared to face the outside world. The gym I joined is called Curves. It's an all-women's gym that is based primarily on a 30-minute workout cycle combining alternating cardio and muscular exorcises using special Curves machines. It's actually an interesting idea and has been pretty successful, considering all of the locations they now have all around the world.
At the Curves I am a member of, in addition to the cycle, they have a treadmill, elliptical and offer a bunch of classes, such as Zoomba and pilates. In all I've been pretty satisfied; the only real problem is that there is only ONE treadmill. I mean, it's not all that bad, because I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes (which I spent doing the Curves cycle to warm up), but being that I went before work, that also meant I had less time on the treadmill, and therefore inhibiting my running advancement. The other thing that sucks is that there's actually no TV by the treadmill. I end up listening to music or watching a show on my iPhone, but it's a lot easier to lose myself in the (stationary) running if I have a big screen in my face distracting me (I am easily enamored by shiny things). Oh, the only thing I really have to look at aside from the white walls is one of those motivational posters with the corny quotations - those always crack me up. It's a girl running on a dirt path and the line is: 'Commitment' and below it, it says "Determination is often the first chapter in the book of excellence." It's probably the the most trite thing I've ever heard or read, but then again, I guess it's sort of true. Plus it beats staring at a white wall.
Let's get down to business....
Bottom line - although I haven't been able to maximize my time exorcising these past few weeks, I was still able to increase the distance I can cover in a single run, and even my speed. After a few runs, I went from dying at 1 Km, to comfortably running 3K. I never actually thought I would be able to run that far in one shot. Now I hate to sounds corny, but in this case it sort of feels good to be able to prove yourself wrong. Then again, let's not get ahead of ourselves... I know 3K is really not very far to run. I'm not trying to kid myself or anything, but progress is progress.
Hey, it works for me!
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