Couch to 5k

Melbourne Marathon

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:20:22 GMT

Sunday was the Melbourne Marathon. It was a warm day for the marathoners and it was a pretty tough day overall but I did really well! It was my fourth 5k event- but I don't yet run the whole way.

I wanted a sub 50 5k because I've been lingering around there for a long while, 51.07 or so. But now that I've transformed from interval training onto straight continuous running training I just wanted to run and see how well I could go.

At 9am the heat hadn't really kicked in (got to about 29C that day), and the air was clear and the water of the Yarra glistened and there was the smell of spring in the air.

I ran 3.5k out of the 5.5k! That's a new PB for me! I did 2k at the beginning and then the last 1.5k. Woohoo for me! I think I came in at about 1.07.

So no, I don't run the whole way, and I'm still on the C25k program, but I am excelling. My body is getting better and better, hazzah! And hazzah for a winners medal!

Update & Race Report

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:53:25 GMT

I have not posted here in a while, even though I continue to read your entries and respond when I can. I started C25K last April and finished sometime in June. Since then, I've completed several 5K races, the Nike Human Race 10k (unofficial race/fun run), and I am now training with a Galloway group to run a 1/2 Marathon in December.

Yesterday, I complete the Disney Race for the Taste 10k, which has been my goal race since I finished the program. It was an amazing experience that I got to share with my dad, boyfriend, and friends. The neatest thing was that my dad and my boyfriend's dad flanked me in the finishing shoot and ran with me to the end. I really can't do it justice in such a short space, so please read my full race report for all the details.

I wanted to post this here to let everyone know that this program really works. Before I started the program, I had never run in my life (well, maybe once in gym in HS but I don't recall it being much of a success). That first minute on day 1 seemed to last an hour, but I got through it and now I am addicted to running and hope to run a marathon someday. The program not only helps you become a runner, it does wonders for your confidence. I could not have done it without the help from this wonderful community, so this victory belongs to you as well.

Thanks and keep up the great work everyone!

Conservative programme or normal programme?

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:31:23 GMT

Hi. I'm almost completely inactive, and I weigh over 130kg (or 286lb). I want to run 5k, and I am almost impatient enough to do that in nine weeks (what a great Christmas present to myself!) but I don't want to injure myself.

Has anyone here tried this conservative c25k programme? How did you find it? Was it worth taking 28 weeks, not 9 weeks? Or, alternatively, have any of you tried the 9 week programme and wished you'd taken it slower?

first official run?

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:01:34 GMT

When did you do your first official 5K (or when do you plan to do one)? If I don't repeat any weeks, I'll be finished with C25K the first week of December. There's a 5K going on in a neighboring suburb on the 13th. Is that too soon to try to do an official 5K?

My First 5K (Run)

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:50:02 GMT

I did it! In 36:08! I have never felt so alive! And technically, I jumped from Week 5, Day 2 straight to the end just to make sure I could do it in time for this event.

Inside the LJ Cut is a long long long write-up about it. It's pasted from my journal, so there are a few things in there you might be like "who is that?" But I was so very proud and wanted to paste it here to let you know what you all are in for!

OMG, I did it!

And now I will tell you about it.

So, I get there and am bleary and all BLAH. I got up at 7 because I felt like vomiting I was so nervous. So anyway, I get there before Shaunna Dunder Shaunna Dunder, and leave her a text that says "I am DEEP in republican territory. If I see one more McCain sign I will vomit." Because that was true. I also leave her a voicemail message that says "Shaunna Dunder I am here and I don't want to do this anymore and I feel like vomiting and I don't want to leave the safety of my car ok bye," because this was also true.

But then I get out and go and register and eat a banana and Shaunna Dunder Shaunna Dunder comes over and finds me. We walk down to the starting line. This is where OH NO! MY IPOD IS FROZEN! I CAN'T RUN WITHOUT MUSIC! I CAN'T! So we both play with it, and it is dead. Then I start worrying about my iPod. Because I cracked it last weekend at VT. What if I broke it? I don't want to have to take money out of my savings to buy ANOTHER IPOD - which would be my 3rd, since my first was a 60GB and it was stolen, and now I have an 80GB, but then I think, "Dude, NOW they have 160GB for less than Frank paid for THIS one, so maybe that's cool."

I put my number on crooked. I inform the people around me that it's rude to have headphones on in a 5K. We read this on Friday. I think that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I mean, I ran with headphones on, just so people would ignore me - and my iPod wasn't even working.

After a chorus of "I'm scared, I don't want to do this anymore," the guy shoots the gun to start. And it is a dud. And he shoots it again. And it is a dud. So he just says "ok go on the whistle!" And we go!

But I can't get started because walkers are in front of me. There should be a rule that walkers are in the back. Now that I'm a runner and thus, elite, I should go first. I mean, if time was an issue (and it's clearly not), I'd have been jacked.

So I start to run. And I'm panicking, because I can hear myself breathe, I don't like it, there are people watching, and wait. My pants. My pants. No. My underwear? MY PANTS AND UNDERWEAR ARE FALLING DOWN. Ok. Adjust them. Wait. They're still falling down.

The ENTIRE first 1/4 mile, I'm messing with my pants (but still running). I didn't road test these pants. I tried on a L (Old Navy yoga pants), but I can't stand when they hug my butt - I don't want people to see it jiggle, so I got an XL. The XL gave me some length, so I was ok with that. And maybe they'd shrink or something. Well. They're definitely too big to run in. I paid $20 for running pants I can't run in. $20 for exercise pants (pance) is a lot of monies in my world. You're going to sweat. Who cares?

So I decide at this point I should just turn around. I don't want to do this anymore. I don't have my iPod with my Runnerz Mix that I prepared so carefully with songs such as Sexy Back, Where's Your Head At, Booti Call, My Humps, and Gimme More, just to name a few of the ridiculous titles I thought would ensue laughter inside my soul as I ran. I can't even keep my damned PANTS (PANCE) on. What am I supposed to do? Just hold them up while I run 3.11 miles?

And then the clouds open and Jesus (who looks like Johnny Cash) descends a staircase and says, "Stacey, you MUST run this 5K. It's what you are meant to do. And if you don't do it, you fatass, you can't have any pizza at the finish line."

So that doesn't REALLY happen, but I DO realize I would feel like a douchehat if I don't do it. I mean, I WANT to do this. This is probably the last 5K of the season. Who knows if I'll be in shape next year? I hope I will be. But just, I don't KNOW know, and so, I should seize the day, right?

Thus, remember earlier how I said "What am I supposed to do? Just hold them up while I run 3.11 miles?" Yeah. Well that's what I decide to do. So I'm running, and the first 1/2 mile is actually sort of hilly, and I'm already panicking because how on EARTH will I run back up that little slope at the end? I've never ran up a slope before. I don't know how to run up slopes. I didn't remember this from last year.

And this lady, I'm ON her. And she can probably hear my in-in-in-in, out-out-out-out breathing, and I'm breathing harder than I normally do, and I feel like I'm running faster, and I feel so bad for this poor lady, and this kid - he's running in front of me, walking behind, running in front, walking behind (nevermind that he won a trophy for that shit - his time was like 47 minutes or something). I want to stab him in the neck with a tranquilizer. WHERE is his parent or guardian? If I had a kid, I would not let them torment new runners in this way.

One mile. 11 minutes? What? I can't run a mile in 11 minutes. This is wrong. Their clocks are slow. I look at my heartrate monitor timer - yeah. 11 minutes and some change. Holy SHIT FACE. I can NEVER keep this pace up. I've never done this, and I can't keep going this way. Over a bridge. Under a tunnel. Around the gazeebo. No thanks! No water for me! I can't stop (this reminds me of the 8th grade in which I was type-cast to be the BITCH (yeah, the teacher SAID he type-casted) in the school play, and I had to put on some shoes and say "I CANT STOP RUNNING!" and run into the audience. To a fat 8th grader who can't run, this is HORRENDOUS. But I did it, and possibly still have those shoes - they were Adidas Gazelles - remember those? Man those shoes were sweet back in the da - ok sorry)!

Ok here's the turn around. I should be getting a stitch soon. A CAMERA? AT THE TURN AROUND? REALLY? I'm still holding my pants (pance) up! Don't take my pict - oh thanks. And MOVE lady, or else I will RUN YOU DOWN (here, I have to actually walk three steps around the turn-around cone, or else I would spin out of control like a race car, and this bothers me because technically I did not "RUN" the whole time then, but what CAN I do? HIT the lady in front of me?"

Around the cone. Run, run, run. PASS this fucking lady and this fucking kid. I'm tired, how can I - IT'S SHAUNNA DUNDER SHAUNNA DUNDER! "I'M LOSING MY PANTS - MY PANTS!" I try to tell her, and in the confusion as we go past each other (she's on her way TO the turn around and I'm past it, so we're coming at each other), she tries to high-five me and says something involving "CAINE!" but she just succeeds in high-fiving my shoulder because I CAN'T LET GO OF MY PANTS (PANCE)!

Ok. So Shaunna Dunder Shaunna Dunder's behind me. That's cool. I can't have a walker pass me, so that's cool. But eventually I'm going to get a stitch and I'll probably have to stop, because I can't run this fast in the real world, and that SLOPE at the end!

Past the gazeebo - NO WATER PLEASE!, under the tunnel, over the bridge.

Where's my stitch? I feel pretty good...there's probably less than 1/2 mile left. I might be able to do this. I MIGHT BE ABLE TO RUN THIS WHOLE THING. Calm down.

Oh my god, that is a big slope. I am not sure that I can do this.

Past the final marker guy...and I kinda want to die, and he yells "LET'S GO HOKIES!" I smile really big, because I'm wearing my Hokie shirt and Hokie hat, and I'm not a Hokie, but I love one, so I feel all proud for a minute, and I can't stop running, because he yelled "LET'S GO HOKIES!" and I'm sure Hokies don't just stop running when there's less than 1/4 mile left now...

UP THE SLOPE. THIS SUCKS. My in-in-in-in out-out-out-out (and sometimes in-in-in-in out-out-out) turns into in-in-in out-out-out, then in-in out-out, and OH MY GOD THERE IS THE FINISH LINE, JUST FUCKING GO AND YOU CAN STOP AND HAVE A DRINK AND A PIECE OF PIZZA AND CALL IT A DAY.

36:08. WHAT?! I can't run it in less than 40 minutes! How did I run this in 36:08? HOW DID I RUN THE WHOLE THING AT ALL? WITH FALLING-DOWN PANTS (PANCE)!? AND NO POD?!

The guy asks me to take off the tag on the bottom of my number, and I try, but my hands are shaking, so I just said, "you, I don't have anything left," and he laughs and rips it off, and I AM DONE.

And at this moment, I sort of want to cry. And as I write it, I do. Because I am NOT a runner. In highschool, when we had to run a mile for gymclass, I would be tormented for days and weeks, and I would feel sick. I don't believe it took me any less than 16 minutes for ONE MILE then, and I KNOW I didn't run even 1/4 of it. And that was when I was even some semblance of an athlete (true, I just hit the ball hard like a boy, so they couldn't return it because we played schools that sucked).

This is more than weightloss, it's more than cute shoes and an armband for my iPod. It's about pushing myself more than I thought I could, and it's about knowing my body could have done this weeks ago - my head just wouldn't let it. It's about wanting to live longer and healthier. It's about seeing how much FARTHER I can go, and how FAST I can move.

So my time was 36:08, and I was maybe 6 up from the bottom of female runners. But I WON. I wasn't racing against anyone but myself (and Shaunna Dunder Shaunna Dunder, because if she would have beat me, while walking, I would have been a little disturbed).

NOW what do I do? Well. I'll probably go BACK to Week 5 or 6 of Couch To 5K. I already am AT the 5K. But I can go back just for formality and finish it. And I'm going to best my time next year. And I'm going to run 10K next year. But for the time being, and for the rest of the winter, I'm going to continue and enjoy this body that I have discovered inside the body I THOUGHT I had. I thought I had bad knees (and I do). I thought my heart wouldn't work that fast (it does).

And so I'm home, I'm going to take a nap with my boyfriend and cats, and go out with friendly friends later on. I'm going to go through the mountains of things that I BOUGHT for myself on the way home. Because I'm SICK of worrying about money, and I WANTED to buy something for myself. I'm taking the next three months OFF of my "$500 into savings" routine (unless I DO get a parttime job, which I'm fairly certain I won't) to relax. If I want a fucking frozen coffee drink, I'm going to fucking buy it. I bought a $26 sweater today, and I felt SO GUILTY, because I do not buy $26 sweaters. I spent $200 today. Some for others, but mostly for me (two new pairs of sweat pants, several button-downs, a pair of PJs for my mom, a sweater, a vest, a turtleneck, long-johns for cold football games, a bag, 3 sweater vets (that are little boy's sizes, but they fit, and they're adorable)).

Oh! And P.S.? I did all of this on my first week of another step-down on anti-depressants. I'm now at 20mg on Sundays, 10mg every other day. And I feel fine. I think the cardio is a HELP to my withdrawl symptoms. I am going to look my new shrink and my doctor in the eye when I'm done. The ones who told me how difficult and near-impossible this would be (not that they didn't BELIEVE in me, but they were very cautious with telling me SURE! DO IT!), and I'm going to say - I'm off it. Give me something for periodical anxiety that I can take when I feel alarmed, but I am NO LONGER on your shit. And it will be a GLORIOUS day.

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:57:07 GMT

I just recently started C25K. Tomorrow is W1D3 for me, and so far it's going well. I'm a little sore, but it's probably because I'm getting my muscles used to continuous leg exercise again, and because I run/walk for 50-something minutes instead of 30.

I have a question for you all:
What time of the day do you prefer to run both on work days and off days? Tomorrow I'm going to try to run first thing in the morning. I did this in high school and I remember liking it more...or at least, finding exercise easy to tolerate.

Yay :-)

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:36:45 GMT

I ran 15 minutes, then 10 minutes with a 3 minute walk inbetween on Weds. and then 25 minutes today. I forgot how awesome it feels afterwards. I came up with the perfect schedule for me, run right before I would go eat dinner. That way I have a chance to completely get back to resting heart rate and relaxing mode before I study again. It also gives me a chance to do a couple hours of studying beforehand so I'm not freaking out.
Also, I'm starting to record my Antropology lectures (darn humanities credit!!) so I can listen to that and prepare for the upcoming exam. Its a bit harder to do this for math and physics, but I figure anthro is perfect for this.

Thanks for all of your encouragement, it means so much that I have this many people backing me up!!
O, and thanks for being mean and not shying away from that request, it was really motivating!!!

Happy Running!

My next step.

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:33:13 GMT

I've taken quite a bit of inspiration from reading your posts over the last months. I can barely believe that a little over two months ago I couldn't run more than 10 seconds without pain. I never thought I'd be a runner. And yet I ran my first 5K last Sunday morning in 40 minutes flat. I know that isn't fast, but it was fast enough that I'm proud of myself. My boyfriend, who's been training with me, ran it in 32:20.

Anyway, in order to get better at this whole running thing I need to get better at breathing while running. My legs can take it. They can go faster. I want to be able to do more, but my breathing just can't keep up. How do I get better at that? Is there anything in particular I can do to focus on this particular aspect of running?

I've signed us up for another 5K in two Sundays and I want to significantly beat my 40:00 time if I can. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have!

So I ran a 5k on Saturday . . .

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:12:35 GMT

I ran my first 5k on Saturday. My first "real" one, I mean. I did a virtual 5k a few months ago, and finished right at 45:00. This one was an actual one that you get a number and official times and whatnot.

It was up in Rome, GA, in the mountains at Berry College as a part of Mountain Day (family, friends, and alumni get together for events and a picnic, fun times). I was a bit nervous because since my break from running, I hadn't be able to pass the 12 minute mark and I know I have a problem with hills. Also, the race was at 8am, and I normally go running much much much later to give my body a chance to wake up and get some calories in me.

The day of the race I get up at 7:00 and we're out the door by 7:20, a pbj in my belly, a water bottle in my hand. We get there in time to register, get our numbers, and remark how insanely cold is it that morning. We stretch, do a few minutes of warm up walking and are called to get ready.

My sister and I already have an understanding. She's athletic, I just got off the couch last spring, she'll do her pace with her friend she's been training with. I'll be quickly outpaced and see her at the end.

The whistle blows and we start. As expected, they outpace me before the first .1 of a mile. In face, most of the crowd outpaces me before the first .5 of a mile. It's very disheartening. And then we get to the first hill.

Now, in my training, I don't currently have any hills in the program. I'm first working on distance, being able to run that 30 minutes straight again, and then working up to actually running 5k in that 30. It was part of my game plan to walk up all of the hills and run down them and on all flat surfaces. I've actually timed myself. I walk faster up hills than I run up them. And running up them kills my endurance and makes me slower all around. So I walked up the hills.

By the time I get to the first hill, I'm winded. I'm discouraged. And I'm outpaced by most of the pack. But that's okay. I'm out there, I'm running a race. I'm not in bed. I'm in the frighteningly cold air, abusing my lungs, running with dozens of Berry College's deer and Canadian geese all around me. It's pretty, and I'm getting to the last few chapters of Terry Prachett's Small Gods on my IPod (I get bored with music, I know I'm a freak. I listen to books on tape while I run). And I started to ignore the Wallmart Brand jelly that was making my tummy feel bad, and the air that was making me remember my asthma. And then I passed my parents, who took pictures of my pain.

Overall, throughout the race, I felt good. I even had enough in me to sprint to the finish line like the zombies were after me for that last .1 mile. Mostly because I saw the clock say 39:XX and I really wanted to make that under 40 time. I ended up with 39:43, 119th out of 123. I WAS NOT LAST! I really enjoyed myself and am looking forward to my next race. I don't know when it is yet, but I know I'm doing the Peachtree Road Race 10k next July, so at least that's a long term goal.

Also, I don't know if it was the race or what, my next running day, I was actually able to run the w5d3 20 minutes, followed by a 3 minute walk and another 10 minutes. (I know some people will look at this as over pushing myself, but I have already completed the c2k5 once, and I'm been doing extra intervals on my 3.6 mile route. My legs can do the distance, it's working my heart back up to the steady pace). I feel so good right now.

Week 4

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:20:50 GMT

Well, I finished Week 4 last night. I found the first two days surprisingly easy, but that was a week ago. I got a mild case of bronchitis last week and obviously had to stop running. Last night was my first night back. Instead of going on to Week 5, I think I'm going to redo Week 4 to build up my stamina. I'm just excited I'm getting stronger and it's getting easier!

Uh Oh

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:29:57 GMT

So I need encouragement, bad.
I don't know how many of you are in college, but it is so so so hard to keep up with this with everything else going on. So two weeks ago I got really sick (stupid cold) and there was no way I could run. Then the next week I had a physics exam, which wouldn't have been too bad except I transferred late into it, so I had to catch up. This week I have some other problems, and a killer math exam next week. Mondays are my busiest days 9-5, with lots of homework for the night, so I can never run then. What do you guys suggest I do?!?
Please feel free to be mean, if that's what you think it takes!
P.S., I was on Week 8 :-(

W2D1

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:24:32 GMT

So today was week 2 day 1 of couch to 5K. I was a bit worried I would not be able to get through it since I did it after cleaning 2 bathrooms top to bottom. However it was tough my manageable. I can tell my overall fitness level is improving because on my off days, I an walk at a much faster pace that I could even 2 weeks ago. I have some killer blisters but new shoes aren't in the budget for a while so I'm managing for now. Overall, I'm pretty proud of myself and know if I stick with this I'll be running the 5K as advertised.

W5D3 AKA BEAR

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:22:32 GMT

WOW. W5D3 was tough tough tough. I think I need to learn to pace myself better. It wasn't so bad during the first 2 days of W5, but of course I had a walk break or two. Running 2 Miles straight requires being a little smarter.

But, I guess the tougher the run, the better I feel about having accomplished it. Legs feel like jelly, but life is good.

Now on to W6...

Graduation!

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:17:16 GMT

Yesterday (Week 9 Day 3) I ran my 5K race with two goals: no walking and finish in under 35 minutes. I also decided I wasn't going to beat myself up if circumstances caused one or both of those to not happen.

Due to construction, the race route had been changed from the one with the killer hill to the route around my neighborhood that is used for a few other annual races and while there are still ups and downs, there is nothing scary. So for the last few runs before the race, I ran the route (or as much of it as I could in the allotted minutes) to get used to the ups and down, and was glad to have the hilliest bit right at the start. On W9D2, it started raining just as we got going, and by the time I got home, every inch was soaked to the skin, including my iPod (but after careful drying, it works: yay!), and also with all the craziness, I didn't hear the 30-minute mark, so ran the whole 5K, which was a huge milestone and really got me psyched for the race. I've been using DJ Beatsmith's podcasts and since I knew I'd need more than thirty minutes for the race, was glad for his bonus "Week 10 Graduation Mix" to use, which has a 35 minute run.

I could go on with assorted details about the race, but I'll cut to the chase: I did run the whole way and I finished in 31:10!!!! 31:10! I'm still goggling over it. (And were I over 70, I would have even won my age group. 8)

I blew my goal time away and I keep thinking about those first weeks on the program as I trudged through my laps on the track and in the cemetery, completely unable to even *imagine* ever building up to a thirty minute run. It seemed so impossible at the time, and I'd just tell myself that I'd do my best and if I never made it, that was still okay, as long as I kept trying. I did keep trying, followed the program exactly (never doing more than it said to) and here I am! This community has also been such a great inspiration. Y'all rock.

So, um... what do I do now? :)

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:53:28 GMT

Today was the first time I have ever EVER been inside of a running store.... I went in, and explained to the lady that I had no idea what kind of shoe I needed, pronation, etc....and she was extremely nice!! I was scared- I admit it. I was scared cause I am overweight and I know it, I didnt want to go in and be surrounded by tons of skinny, fit people looking at me like "what is she doing here?" or worse yet- watching me jog so I could see how my foot hits!! But it wasnt like that....

She asked me to step on the shoe-measure thingie...she looked at my shoes...she looked at my arch on my foot as I put pressure down on it. She said I had a high arch but used my entire foot with almost no pronation- she said that my shoes showed that my foot rolled well and I had no abnormal wear patterns. She recommended several shoes and I tried on all of them. I fell in love with a pair of Asics gel-landreth running shoes. They were the first ones I tried, the ones I compared the others too, and the ones I kept coming back to! LOL!! I bought/invested in running shoes....a first for me! Oh sure, I have bought sneakers cause they were awesome looking or gorgeous- but for the specific purpose of comforting my body as I continue to jog? never before...

I cant wait to jog in the morning! :)
(crossposted)

C25K Question

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:24:16 GMT

Is it okay to attempt a run twice in a day. This morning I attempted to run W7D3. I did it outside at the gym. I stopped short 8 minutes. This evening I would like to attempt and hopefully complete it on my treadmill. Is this okay or should I wait another day or two?
TIA

playlists?

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:53:59 GMT

I just joined this community and I'm thinking about starting C25K (after my sinus infection is gone).

I found the podrunner playlists, but I am not sure I want to listen to that for 20+ minutes at a time...
I noticed some people in here posting their own playlists of songs, but I was wondering if any of you creative folks have put them online as an mp3 download or could email them to me.

This podrunner thing... I've just been listening to it at my desk to see how I feel about it... and I'm about to rip my hair out. I need something with real instruments and words.

And a little background... I'm one of the least athletic people I know. The most I've ever really done was take a couple dance classes in college for fun. I have NEVER run, ever. Never really played sports or anything either... my cardiovascular health is in the toilet, I'm sure.
Plus, I could stand to lose 15 pounds or so. I did really well with changing my diet for a few weeks and lost about 5, then gained about 3 of it back since I've let it slip :( Gotta get back on that!

Five minutes of running! Hazzah!

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:32:37 GMT

*bounce bounce bounce bounce* << me bouncing off walls.

Ok so I've been on this comm for a long time. And it's taken me a LONG time to get where I am. Because of my weight I think it's taken me really long to try and get longer and longer with running but I haven't been able to run more than 3 minutes.

I thought I was running slow for what I was doing anyway which is why I never went slower, at 7.5km. But after talking with someone else on this comm I realised I could still go slower and perhaps be better so I downed it to 6.6km which was almost walking but still a run.

I ran for FIVE WHOLE MINUTES! YEEEHAAA!

*does the I am awesome dance*

For all you guys out there I know you know how I feel, but just imagine only being able to get to this point after 12 months of long, hard work.

first check-in - wk2 day3

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:35:51 GMT

hello! i haven't checked in here yet, but tomorrow i'll be completing the final day of week 2.

once i finished the nightmare of highschool i learnt to enjoy exercise again after years of mortal fear - i'm now 22 . still, i always hated running & wasn't quite sure why, but i've recently discovered that strapping myself into two sports bras enhances my enjoyment considerably :/

my BMI/measurements seem to be okay so i'm mainly doing the c25k because i want to charge up my fitness & energy and get places faster.

a few of my friends and i started the c25k together and are doing our jogs on the same days of the week, which is working quite nicely. we've started really looking forward it - it seems impossible that i could ever run for twenty minutes, let alone thirty, but i'm pretty psyched for it!

yessss.

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:41:26 GMT

week two, day one.... ugh.

i skipped the week one, day three workout because on my visit back to my college (where i would be a sophomore) i decided to practice with my rugby team. From what I understand, the coach went crazy with the running -- we did about 2 hours of jogging/calisthenic type stuff.... so i figured a day without c25k wouldn't hurt.

And then Saturday! Saturday's a rugby day! We played against Shippensburg, and got our butts handed to us, but I was lucky enough to play the whole 80 minutes. For those of you who don't know rugby, which is probably most of you--that's ok!-- you run, tackle, ruck, and scrum (haha!) for 80 minutes. Without pads, without helmets....

Which left me with a bruise the diameter of a baseball on my quad, which made running today kind of painful. And my calves!?! WHAT?!?! After about halfway through they buuuurnnnnnt burnt burnt. I guess the switch from good shoes, to crappy cleats, back to shoes, from concrete to grass to concrete again so quickly bothered my foot problems. Whatev. A sinus infection causing a pounding headache above my left eye didn't help matters. Looks like my next run is Thursday. Tu, Th, Sa..M, W, F. boo.

This week's playlist:
5 min : !!! - There's No F'ing Rules Dude
90s run / 2 min walk x 6
1 : Across The Universe Soundtrack - Revolution / Ben Folds - The Luckiest
2 : Eric Prydz - Call On Me / Gary Jules - Mad World
3 : Ben Folds - The Ascent of Stan / Keane - Parachutes
4 : Maroon 5 - Sunday Mornings / John Legend - Ordinary People
5 : Jay Z - Big Pimpin / New Radicals - Get What You Give
6 : Panic At The Disco - Lying.. / Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah
5 min : Coldplay - Viva La Vida

W5D1

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:35:48 GMT

W5 really seems intimidating. This is the first week where each day progresses, and the end of the week has a true milestone associated with it. No intervals. No Walking. This ends with a pure 2 mile run with no stopping. 2 miles. No Walking.

W5D1 down. Getting closer to W5D3.

c25k....a goal attained!

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:42:28 GMT

I jogged 5 minutes straight!!

This is a first for me....did a total of almost 2 miles in 30 minutes (which isnt that great but considering I used to be at 1.3 miles in 30 min I *AM* getting better!!)

I am so damn proud of myself...I have NEVER jogged 5 min straight before- EVER! Not even in highschool!! This is a huge goal achieved for me! I felt almost squat & muscular when I was jogging- I felt like my legs were bRiCkS! LMAO!

(now if I could just drop some weight! LOL)

---crossposted

question....

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:11:27 GMT

I started the c25k but Im wondering if I am doing it wrong....

I have been doing this for about a month- I get out, do a brisk walk to warm up and then jog. When I jog, I go for a 'bit' and then have to stop to a walk to catch my breath. When I have it, I do it again and keep repeating. I usually get in about 1.3-1.5 miles in my walk/jog

I have been following the coolrunning website and what I want to know is that if the pod casts make that much of a difference in your running?

I havent downloaded them (yet) and wondering if I should keep doing what I am doing till I am comfy enough to run longer -OR- should I download the podcasts so that I am able to get to that point where I can jog/run 5 minutes straight ....cause according to the c25k program, if I have been doing this for a month now (3 times a week) I should be getting close to being able to do that.....

after my jog/run/TRUDGE this morning- that was tough! I did everything like I normally do except when I got to my long stretch...I thought "here is my 5 minutes! lets go" and I tried.....but I had to stop on my long stretch and walk and I know it wasnt 5 minutes- there was no way it was! cause I didnt make it thru a long song on my ipod.

Kinda frustrated....dont see how I will get in a 5 min jog much less 20 minutes next week. Just not there yet..and I know it says to repeat weeks if needed but Im wondering if I am hurting my progress by doing my own pace?

W4D1

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:45:24 GMT

It's nice to be able to run again. My leg cramps seem to be gone, so I'm a free man again.

W4D1 seemed to be alot harder than I had expected, but I did it. Of course, one of the reasons may be that I have a hill for the 1st mile of my run. During previous runs, the hill was pretty much during the "walk" part. This time, this hill was during the "jog", and pretty much as soon as I crested, my ipod said "Walk, 5,4,3,2,1". I guess it just makes me feel that much better having been able to do it.

My run routine is pretty much a 2 mile circle. I think the begining of W5, it will be time for me to jump it up to a 3 mile circle.

running/jogging/walking with kids

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:14:48 GMT

Those of you who run with older toddlers or preschoolers, what do you use? Does your kid bike while you run? Does your kid sit in a jogging stroller? If so, have you found one that's tall enough for older kids? Yesterday my 2 1/2 year old was showing me how he can get his entire head out the back of the jogging stroller. :-P I guess that's the end of his naps in that sucker.

He's about 38" tall, but I don't know his seated height. He's still too young to bike while I jog (he goes fast enough, but stops to investigate everything).