Couch to 5k

[ColleenG]

Way to go indimom! You're a super star!

 

[TMcDwyer]

Way to go indimom! You're a super star!

How are you feeling Colleen???

 

[ColleenG]

How are you feeling Colleen???

My knee is feeling a lot better. Tomorrow I am going to try to do a 2 mile walk and see how it holds up. If that goes well then Wednesday I will try to run a bit. I'll do what the doc said and run a lap, walk a lap. I can finally walk up and down the stairs like a normal person again. I can hop on it without any pain. Although, I did just take some more advil and have the pain patch on it. Icing seems to really help so I've been trying to do that at least twice a day. DH just started doing C25K so I can't let him kick my butt!

How has the weather been out by you? It's just been hot here. We had a few days break from the crazy heat. Now it's just normal NJ in almost August hot and humid. Usually the evenings aren't too bad so I try to get out then.

 

[JaxJags08]

I need a Conga Line of Bananas:
We ran two full miles this morning, total time: 23 Minutes!


I'm 38 and I don't think I have ever run a straight 2 miles in my life. I am just so excited that I can do this!!!

Keep up the good work everyone. If you are like me and have never, ever been a runner, not even in your youth. You can do this!

Awesome job!!!!

 

[JaxJags08]

I finished Week 7 today I did 2.5 mi in 29:10. On to Week 8!!!

I'm off to look for 5k's in my area. And after this weekend, the registration price for the Princess half goes up, so I may be registering really soon!

 

[TMcDwyer]

So I blew off my run (W7D2) this morning. We had to take DH to the airport at 4 am and when we got home I went back to bed. Lily has gymnastics this afternoon so I will just run on the treadmill while she is in class. Better than nothing right???

 

[JaxJags08]

So I blew off my run (W7D2) this morning. We had to take DH to the airport at 4 am and when we got home I went back to bed. Lily has gymnastics this afternoon so I will just run on the treadmill while she is in class. Better than nothing right???

Totally don't blame you - I would have crawled right back in bed, too!

I think a lot of people do this on a treadmill, so it should work just fine and will be a good use of your time while waiting

 

[TMcDwyer]

Totally don't blame you - I would have crawled right back in bed, too!

I think a lot of people do this on a treadmill, so it should work just fine and will be a good use of your time while waiting

Yeah, I am just afraid I will get bored...

 

[JaxJags08]

Yeah, I am just afraid I will get bored...

Yeah, you probably will I'm starting to get bored of my same route, so I couldn't imagine being on the treadmill each time because I'd be even more bored. Though, I could probably watch tv if I was on a treadmill...

 

[ColleenG]

I finished Week 7 today I did 2.5 mi in 29:10. On to Week 8!!!

I'm off to look for 5k's in my area. And after this weekend, the registration price for the Princess half goes up, so I may be registering really soon!

Way to go! Great time!

 

[GaRain]

I completed W2D3 last night. I am a little behind due to my back injury last week. I am thinking of trying to start W3 tonight, but that all depends on the day.....

 

[gudrench3]

Two nights ago, I tried W4D1...and failed miserably. I got a cramp after the 5 minute jog. I was so disappointed.

Last night I picked myself up and thought I'd tried it again...and I was able to finish it!!! Yay!!! I was SLOOOOOW, but I was able to finish it. YAY!!!

Did yall have problems getting through W4D1?

 

[ColleenG]

Two nights ago, I tried W4D1...and failed miserably. I got a cramp after the 5 minute jog. I was so disappointed.

Last night I picked myself up and thought I'd tried it again...and I was able to finish it!!! Yay!!! I was SLOOOOOW, but I was able to finish it. YAY!!!

Did yall have problems getting through W4D1?

Week 4 was rough for me too. Those 5 min runs seemed like they would never end. Go at your own pace and you will be fine. Before you know it you'll be able to do 20 minutes and it will seem so silly that 5 was so hard. But that first 5 kicked my butt!

 

[TMcDwyer]

I agree! The first 5 min run was terrifying for me.

 

[gudrench3]

Week 4 was rough for me too. Those 5 min runs seemed like they would never end. Go at your own pace and you will be fine. Before you know it you'll be able to do 20 minutes and it will seem so silly that 5 was so hard. But that first 5 kicked my butt!

I agree! The first 5 min run was terrifying for me.

Thank yall, I feel better! Yeah, I keep waiting for the day when I start to really enjoy running. Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud of myself for finishing a workout now, and I look forward to a new one. But, when I get started on the 5 minute run, it felt like it was FOREVER. And I start wondering when I will actually enjoy it. Does that even make sense? It has been a long day!

 

[ColleenG]

Thank yall, I feel better! Yeah, I keep waiting for the day when I start to really enjoy running. Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud of myself for finishing a workout now, and I look forward to a new one. But, when I get started on the 5 minute run, it felt like it was FOREVER. And I start wondering when I will actually enjoy it. Does that even make sense? It has been a long day!

Makes total sense! Only a new runner must be able to understand. I really started to like running around week 5 of C25K. Before that the part I liked best was finishing. It was grueling while I was doing it, but once I finished I felt like I was able to accomplish something.

 

[indimom]

Two nights ago, I tried W4D1...and failed miserably. I got a cramp after the 5 minute jog. I was so disappointed.

Last night I picked myself up and thought I'd tried it again...and I was able to finish it!!! Yay!!! I was SLOOOOOW, but I was able to finish it. YAY!!!

Did yall have problems getting through W4D1?

Oh, yeah, that week is a BIG change and it was definitely a struggle at first.

Week 4 was rough for me too. Those 5 min runs seemed like they would never end. Go at your own pace and you will be fine. Before you know it you'll be able to do 20 minutes and it will seem so silly that 5 was so hard. But that first 5 kicked my butt!

Yep, I agree. You'll be amazed at what you can do in another week or two.

Thank yall, I feel better! Yeah, I keep waiting for the day when I start to really enjoy running. Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud of myself for finishing a workout now, and I look forward to a new one. But, when I get started on the 5 minute run, it felt like it was FOREVER. And I start wondering when I will actually enjoy it. Does that even make sense? It has been a long day!

I think "getting bored" is a big part of the struggle. You start to think too much about how you "feel." Do you have any good music or podcasts you could listen to while you run? Might make it a little easier.

Makes total sense! Only a new runner must be able to understand. I really started to like running around week 5 of C25K. Before that the part I liked best was finishing. It was grueling while I was doing it, but once I finished I felt like I was able to accomplish something.

Very True! And even when you can feel yourself getting stronger and able to do the longer runs you can have an off night. Don't let it get you down.
The weather right now has been a real struggle for me. We did 22 or 23 minutes on Sunday with No Problem At All, it was early and still around 80.

We ran again Monday night, and I was struggling right out of the gate. We only managed 17 minutes and it was hard, hard, hard. But, it was 97 degrees and super humid, probably well over 100 degrees heat index. I felt awful about the run. It preyed on my mind all day Tuesday and Wednesday.

BUT, we went again last night. It was cooler and we stuck to a shaded walking path. I did 22 minutes easy and we had a much faster pace (around 10 minute miles). I think I could have gone 25 minutes, maybe even longer, I felt that good. But my running partner was having knee issues, so we cut it off at 22. I was amazed at how great I felt.

Just keep pushing on. You can do it. If the length of the run is weighing on you and making it harder (not physically, but mentally) look for something to keep your mind busy while you run. It helps me a lot to have a friend. We talk about our day; and the more we have to talk about the easier the run is for me. (Although, she had to do almost ALL the talking Monday night, I was just trying to keep breathing. ) I've told her no more phone calls just to gossip, she has to save any funny stories about the kids or complaints about work until our runs!

Keep up the good work Everyone.

 

[JaxJags08]

Two nights ago, I tried W4D1...and failed miserably. I got a cramp after the 5 minute jog. I was so disappointed.

Last night I picked myself up and thought I'd tried it again...and I was able to finish it!!! Yay!!! I was SLOOOOOW, but I was able to finish it. YAY!!!

Did yall have problems getting through W4D1?

Yes! Jumping to 5 minutes was daunting. I remember feeling a stitch in my side and slowed down so I was able to finish. Just keep taking it slow and don't worry about pace too much.

Makes total sense! Only a new runner must be able to understand. I really started to like running around week 5 of C25K. Before that the part I liked best was finishing. It was grueling while I was doing it, but once I finished I felt like I was able to accomplish something.

I enjoy it some while I'm running, but it is TOUGH! Sometimes while I'm out there I ask myself if it is going to be this much of a struggle every day since I'll be upping mileage until the Princess Half. But I love that feeling of accomplishment when I'm done! I sometimes doubt my abilities too much, but I love proving to myself that I can do things that I never reallly thought I could.

I did W8D2 today using 4:1 intervals. My muscles were just beat from doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred yesterday and I only had 6 hours of sleep last night. I've been thinking of introducing intervals for a while since that is what I'll be switching to when I finish C25K, and today seemed like a good day to try it. I did well for feeling so blah, 2.75mi in 32:20. But according to the Galloway plan, 4:1 is for people with 9min miles and that is SO not me!

 

[ColleenG]

I went out tonight for a long walk. I think I did almost 4 miles. At one point the GPS on my iMapMy Run app wasn't working. At the end I tried running a bit and my knee didn't bother me. Tomorrow I'm going to try doing an interval run and see how it goes. I'm just so happy to be finally getting over this hurdle .

 

[GaRain]

Since my schedule got all messed up with my back hurting last week, I decided to just draw out week 2 a couple of days and repeated.
I was able to pick up some speed and did a 17.1 minute mile (improved over 18 min.) and completed 1.7 miles yesterday!
Sweated my tuckus off!!!