Robin's Couch to 5K Journal

[robinb]

I have wanted to complete a 5K run for many years and I have always found excuses. My knees suck. I'm too fat to run. I'm too old to start running. It's too icy/cold/wet/hot/etc. I don't have enough time. Yada, yada, yada.

I am trying to pinpoint exactly why something has clicked to overcome the excuses and get out there to learn run. I have been watching The Biggest Loser Couples 2 this season and Helen has been an inspiration. Like Helen I am in my late 40's and like Helen (used to be) I am now officially "obese" according to the mirror *and* my BMI. If Helen can learn how to run when she weighed a lot more than I do, I can do it too!

So, I decided to start the Couch to 5K program. I downloaded the Podcasts over at http://www.c25k.com/ to help me out. I will be doing a M-W-F program.

So ... let me up my shoes, fire up the iPhone and get a move on!

 

[robinb]

Week 1 - Day 1

Goal: I am supposed to walk for 5 minutes, then do intervals of 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking with another 5 minute cool down walk.

Actual: I started out OK but I ended up only doing every other jogging section.

Distance: Opps, I forgot my pedometer at home.

Notes: This is going to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. Both on my body and on my mind. I really didn't want anyone I know to see me trying to "run" in my awkward beginner fat-butted gate. Who should I see? My uber-fit skinny neighbor. The neighbor who DIETED when she was pregnant the last time so she wouldn't gain 20 lbs like she did on during her first pregnancy. Yeah. 20 lbs was too much for her and she was back in her skinny jeans within a couple of weeks. Witch. Actually, she's nice but I didn't want her to see me. *sigh* I did a U-Turn to avoid her but I still felt that every car that drove by me had someone in it who knew me. I have to get over this paranoia and shyness! This is SO not like me, LOL.

I'm a little sore but not too bad. Some twinges in my thighs and my hips. I think I will take Friday slow too and then start a full Week 1 workout on Monday. In the meantime I need to learn how to breathe properly because I was out of breath after just 60 seconds . Wow, am I out of shape!

 

[robinb]

Off day today. I slipped my iphone in my WDW "Where the Magic Lives" bum bag and listed to the MouseStation podcast while I walked the dog. 35 minutes and 1.5 miles later we were back and the podcast ended. I have been walking and listening to podcasts off and on for the past month.

My shins and hips are holding up OK today but my thighs are still a bit sore.

More running intervals tomorrow.

Oh ... and I also downloaded an app called "Lose It" to my iPhone. It looks a lot like FitDay but for your phone. It looks like it's easy to use so far, but I have not entered in anything custom yet.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Robin, I love your humor! I see you on the BL thread sometimes and like you I really identify with Helen and feel a lot of motivation from her.

We all have those skinny witches in our lives, I ran into one of them at my rec center recently, I was in my bathing suit, she was not! We'll get there and have the last laugh!

Keep working, you are off to a great start. I look forward to reading more about your journey!

 

[robinb]

Thanks Amy! I was on the BL thread last time but had a trip to Hawaii planned just as the next one started so I didn't join. I need to check the thread and see how long the current one is supposed to go .

Week 1, Day 2

I actually did it today. I didn't work out this morning because I didn't have enough time so I did my workout this afternoon at 5:30. Of course, that means that there are even more people around *sigh*. I walked a couple of blocks away to do my workout so I didn't see anyone I knew. Yay!

Anyway ... I completed all the running sequences today. Double yay! I took some advice from the C25K website and slowed wayyyy down. That still didn't stop my shorts from riding up between my legs. Man, do I hate that. I'll try different shorts next time. The good news was that I wasn't out of breath and I was able to finish the workout with a bounce in my step . Map My Run says that I did 1.91 miles in 30 minutes.

I think that I might repeat Week 1 next week since I started mid-week.

 

[robinb]

Week 1 is Complete!

Week 1 - Day 3

I was able to jog intervals again without losing breath or feeling tired. My left quad hurts a bit (right is OK) and my calfs are tight. I think that next time I will start to walk an easy for 2-3 minutes and then stretch my legs out before I start the program. I downloaded Runkeeper onto my iPhone to track my pace and mileage. It uses the GPS on the phone to track your location. I read that there was a free version, but only the paid version was available for $10. I figured that it was going to be worth it if I was going to use it for a few weeks. It said that I walked/jogged 1.59 miles in 30 minutes. When I look at the map it looked OK, except it had me walking in the lake at one point. Who knew I could walk on water, LOL?

Oh, and I ran into someone else I know today. My friend's mom who lives about 50 miles away and my friend's sister who lives in Boston. Both of them skinny runners. *sigh* At least I was walking at the time and not "jogging". One of these days it won't bother me.

 

[robinb]

Week 2 Day 1

I was really looking forward to this day. I even went out in the rain . Well ... in the drizzle ... but still. I went out in non-perfect weather to do my workout. That's pretty amazing for me!

I had a technical malfunction with my iphone ... my Robert Ullrey podcast stopped right at the start of the running part so I started to listen to the Podrunners podcast instead. Then I realized that I forgot to lock my Runkepper app so it reset part way through. *sigh* I went to mapmyrun and it said that I walked/ran 2.25 miles. The first few run segments were really easy so I decided to push the last couple. I was breathing hard at the end of the last one and my calfs ached. I made sure that I stretched before I ran (between my two walk warm-ups) but obviously not enough on my calfs. This whole thing is a learning experience.

I bought new shoes last week: Nike Compete's for just $35 at Kohl's. I also bought a pair of Nike shorts that are a little baggier than bike shorts but still stretchy and longer like bermuda shorts. They really helped with the thigh rubbing problem but I still think I should have a "wide load" sign on my butt .

 

[robinb]

Week 2, Day 2

Life got in the way and I wasn't able to get out for day 2 until today. Of course, as soon as I got outside it began to rain. *sigh* I waked/jogged about 2 miles and I feel pretty good. I pulled my groin muscle dancing on Saturday night. Yes, dancing. I never knew what your "groin muscle" was until I googled it this morning. Now I know and I will feel more sorry for the professional players with that injury. It feels fine to walk/jog forward but lateral motion hurts . I'm OK as long as I don't run sideways I guess!

 

[robinb]

Week 2 Day 3

I actually did this day yesterday. It went pretty good, but it was HOT here in Wisconsin in the afternoon. I will try to workout earlier in the day I think. The last couple of intervals were hard again. I don't believe that I have to job 3 minutes straight tomorrow! At least my intervals will go down from 6 to 4 .

 

[robinb]

Week 3 Day 1

Catching up ... I completed two 3 minute jogging segments on Friday 5/29 and I was very happy! Unfortunately ... keep reading next ...

 

[robinb]

Week ? Day ?
May 27, 2009

After crowing to David about completing two 3 minute jogs he asked me: "What about me? I thought I was going to run with you!" so ... I said I would go back to Week 1 with him and do the program with him. Even though I had asked him to join me at the start. *sigh*

One thing let to another and we didn't get out until yesterday . Even that almost didn't happen. At 4pm he said "I'm going to the Great Dane Brewery for a couple of beers." I said: "Huh? I have been waiting all day to run with you." He said: "I can't download the music to my MP3 player." Me: "OK, you can use my iphone and I'll just tag along with you." Him: "What about meeting my friends?" Me: "They'll still be there in a half an hour."

So we start out together. I have the dog on her leash and he has my iPhone. This is how I imagined it: We would walk and jog together, pacing each other side by side. Two peas in a pod. Husband and wife (and poodle) getting fit together.

This is what really happened.

I had forgotten about how competitive he is when it comes to being physical. He might be tubby, but he can out walk/jog/bike/etc me any day of the week. And any time that he can, he does. For instance, when we bike together he sprints ahead and then he waits for me to catch up with him. Just as I get to him he starts riding again since he has now rested! I don't get to rest unless I throw a hissy and make him wait with me. Arrrg! I don't know why I forgot about this little character flaw of his but I did .

Anyway ... he starts out walking at a very brisk pace. I walk at about 3.5 mph and he was going a lot faster. The dog and I tried to keep up with him but when I had to step aside for a neighbor he pulled ahead. He continued to walk briskly and I continued to try to catch up. And then the dog had to poop. By the time she was done he was a good block ahead of me and he was not looking back. I didn't have a chance to tell him to strech during his warm up. He was gone. I didn't have a chance to remind him to turn around when he was done with the 4th interval. He was gone.

And I had no watch and no podcast.

I tried to jog (a block behind him) whenever he jogged. That worked for 2 intervals as he lengthened the distance between me and him. Then he was simply too far away. So I decided to continue down my regular route and jogged at random intervals. I still got a workout in but boy was I mad!

I got home and he met me at the door. He said: "You disappeared."

Wish me luck. I think we'll try it again tomorrow. Maybe I'll put the leash on him instead of the dog.