Loving the Galloway Method!

Well as you know I missed our team run last week, which also included a clinic on the Galloway Method...but not to worry because Coach Mike sent us a copy of the clinic info.  If you aren't familiar with the Galloway method it is basically a run/walk method that thousands of people use (especially first timers) for marathons...clearly not the best clinic for me to miss!

Anyway...last night I read the clinic info Coach Mike sent as well as some info on the web, and decided I needed a watch that had an interval timer on it!  Sooo... I did a little research, found the cheapest one at Target (not Wal-mart surprisingly), and off I went to get my new watch!  I got home, figured out all the settings, and this morning I was ready to run!

[Side Note:] I am just not quite in shape enough to run for my entire workout, whatever time that may be, (unless it is just a single mile), which means I have already been doing some type of run/walk combination--just not the "official" Galloway method.

My current pace is about 11min/mile (give or take).  According to Galloway, this means I should be doing a run/walk combination of 3:1.  So today I gave the official Galloway Method my first shot!  I normally run the entire first mile, which I also did today, but then I switched my nifty new watch into interval mode!  I ran 5.56 miles in 62 minutes with an average pace of 11:10/mile!!!  The best part? I didn't feel like I was dying at the end!  I have a feeling me and Galloway are going to be pretty close here for the next 16 weeks! :]

$90 away from my GOAL of $2,000

I am SO EXCITED to report that I am only $90 away from reaching my goal of raising $2,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!!

Training is still going well, I am up to roughly 15 miles per week!  I was thinking about upping my runs to 5x/wk this week, but I decided to stick with 4; however, next week the schedule calls for 5 so Wednesdays I am going to start running the Wash Park Pub Run!  This is a 5K from Pub on Pearl around Wash Park and back!  Afterwards you get FREE dinner from Whole Foods and your first beer is free!  Beer and I haven't been too good of friends since I started training, but I think I might have just ONE this Wednesday! :]  So far I have lost 4.52% of my starting weight! So excited, and I really do feel so much better!  Love the endorphins!

Only $540 away from donating my hair to LOCKS of LOVE!!

So tomorrow wraps up the end of Week 5 and I am only $540 away from my goal of $2,000, which means I will be donating my hair to Locks of Love after my race (if I get this last $540 before raceday)!

Well, this week was full of firsts...Yoga...Body Pump...a new best pace...and a new longest distance!

My week looked a little something like this:

• Monday = 30 min run + 60 min Yoga
• Tuesday = 40 min run
• Wednesday = 60 min Body Pump
• Thursday = 30 min run
• Friday = REST
• Saturday = 50 min run
• Sunday = hopefully 30 min elliptical

Let me just say...I had NO idea I would sweat that much during Yoga...seriously...it was intense!  But I liked it and I believe I will be returning again this week!  Wednesdays are reserved for cross-training so I decided I would try Body Pump, which if you don't know what this is go ahead and check out their website!  It was fun, but I also felt like I was going to die, well, my legs did after about a billion lungs with a barbell!

I didn't sleep well last night, so I didn't make it to training this morning, but I did run my 50 minutes.  I ended up running 4.26 miles, which is about a quarter of a mile farther than last Saturday's 50 minute run!

Total milage for this week = 13.1 miles

...funny to think in 18 weeks I will be running all of that in one day instead of four!

Best Pace = 11:09/mile

% weight loss = 3.17% of starting weight

Ready to take on another week!

4 weeks and $1,350 completed!!

So today marks my completion of 4 weeks of training!  I have raised $1,350 so far through the support of my wonderful friends and family (if you have sent me a donation and you're name isn't showing up on my fundraising page yet it's because they haven't processed your check yet, but it will show up soon)!!

Yesterday I ran for the longest distance and farthest time yet!  Coach Mike made us run for 50 minutes around Wash Park (we were only scheduled for 40)!  I ended up running 4.00 miles with an average pace of 12:35/mile.  My pace increased a little, but I think it is mostly due to the fact that I have been running inside on a treadmill instead of outside.  I need to start running outside more to get acclimated to the weather and terrain.

Since I have started running/training I have really tried to sustain an all around healthier lifestyle.  I have given up Starbucks and Fastfood until my training is over, and I am eating almost every meal at home...chicken, fresh fruit and veggies, salads, and lots and lots of water!  I have lost 2.49% of my starting body weight...an added bonus of healthy diet and exercise!!

18 more weeks and $650 to go!! :]

it's getting easier, finally!!

I think I'm going to up my running to 5 days a week instead of 4.  Our training schedule has 4 mandatory days (including our Saturday team runs) and then an optional 5th run day--so I think I am going to try and get that 5th run in each week.


My pace group, which is named "Durango", is still at 30 minute runs each week (except Saturday's which are 40 minutes), but next week Tuesday runs will increase to 40 minutes and our Saturday runs increase to 50 minutes!


I am so excited to report that I, again today, beat my best pace!  My current best pace is 11:13/mile!  Yay!! It's finally getting easier! :]


RUN DETAILS:

Route:  Treadmill

Distance:  2.68 miles

Time:  30:03 minutes

Pace:  11:13/mile

WEEKLY TOTALS:

Distance:  5.2 miles

Time:  1:00:09 minutes

MONTHLY TOTALS:
Distance:  2.68 miles

Time:  30:03 minutes

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!...to all my Sponsors/Donors!!

I have been truly overwhelmed by the support of my family and friends in helping me raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!!

A special thanks to the following people who have already donated:

• Matthew Cotter [brother]
• Debbie Verderaime [moma]
• Lonnie Strickland [former professor & mentor]
• Diane & Dayn Beam [aunt & uncle]
• Steva Gay [pet-sitter]
• Michelle Parvinrouh [friend & workout buddy]
• Clement & Colleen Cotter [dad & step-mom]
• Loys Nunez [cousin]
• Allison & Rance Block [cousins]
• Claylia (Teets) LeBlanc [cousin]
• Rich & Clay Heilman [cousins]

I still have a ways to go!  If you would like to support me you can donate online at my TNT fundraising page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/rm/denver11/ccotter or if you would like to send a check or cash donation email me at christie.cotter7@gmail.com and I will send you my street address!

Thank you all SOOO much!! :]

back on the wagon after the holiday...

I missed my first scheduled run yesterday [even though I completed a SUPER short run on my "rest day," Sunday]...yikes!  That aside, I had a great run today at the gym!  I performed at a new best pace of 11:49/mile, beating my previous best pace of 12:04/mile--so I'm improving, which I am really excited about! I think I could have done even better, but I left my good earphones at home, and had to use another pair I had in my car--they kept falling out of my ears, and I kept having to put them in, which was a bit of a distraction....grrr, but I won't complain about my improving time! :]


RUN DETAILS:

Route:  Treadmill

Distance:  2.55 miles

Time:  30:06 minutes

Pace:  11:49/mile

WEEKLY TOTALS:

Distance:  2.6 miles

Time:  30:06 minutes

MONTHLY TOTALS:
Distance:  34.8 miles

Time:  7:20:34