~~~Couch to 5K ~~~ Think you can't be a runner? Think again!

[desdemona]

Originally Posted by aloise

yes, Des, I found this on the coolrunning site. Do you do any of these stretches? which ones? and do you do them before or after (or both?)

Stay Loose

Nice link I do number 9 instead of 6. You can stretch your thighs that way as well, number 6 you can hurt yourself if you lean back too far.


The third 'wall pushup' it's easier if you can put your foot up on a curb and lean down on it like that.

[JazzyV]

WOOHOO! Week 5, Day 1 is done!

I wanted to do it this morning, but I had a bad night. Poor sleep (about 3 hours) due to storms and also hot flashes. So off I trundles to work. I came home and thought I'd give it a try. I cranked up the AC and got on the TM.

The first five minute run was a bit hard. I think I need a longer warmup, lol. But I was able to do the 2nd and 3rd without too much problem. My breathing was good. I did find that my legs got tired.

I must be getting more fit, as my resting pulse is now down in the low 50's .

I don't know about the 8 minute runs coming up, but I'll give it a shot.

Keep up the good work everyone!

Jazzy

[SunaBee]

Hey Ladies! Just wanted to pop back in - I'm so glad I started this TODAY!!!

Here's an excert out of my journal. :

I sat here this morning all bleary eyed with my first warm mug of coffee, and I'm very protective of my morning ritual, and it always includes two mugs of coffee. If I din't get exactly two, it throws my day off..lol

So, I was sitting here getting all excited about starting the C-2-5k, and I decided that although I still had almost half of my first mug of coffee, I HAD to go get my feet moving! I was just so excited to start. Found my shoes (amazingly..lol) right in the shoe box in the laundry room (where I thought they were all along. :P ).

Laced up, and decided that second cup of coffee could wait until I got back.

Peanut slept out on the deck under the stars last night, so I tiptoed past him, and hit the road.

The fog was still softly touching the hills, covered in brilliant emerald evergreens. Through the stillness I could hear the birds soft song. Jogged on the road, that runs the length of my Christmas Tree field, and it was just gorgeous.

As I ran I just got lost in the scenery around me. I live in farming country, and I past endless sprawling fields, after the first cutting of hay. Some hay was still bailed and sitting out in the fields.

There's a stand of trees, that were planted by a neighbor farm back in the early 30s, and there are old barns and out buildings tucked around them, and going by, I was felt myself getting lost in the trees.

Looks so serene and the tops endless and unreachable. Let's see, what else do I pass?... Uhmmmm fields of cows, saw a couple goats, horses...lol Oh and summer's offerings of flowers.

I thought I'd be DYING counting those seconds... Though surprisingly they went REALLY quick.

I had my speech to rehearse this morning, and I thought that maybe I should put off starting this until tomorrow, though I'm SO glad I went ahead and did it. I felt like a had a clarity, a whole awareness. Probably from just getting the good ole blood moving, and being excited about starting.

Oh and I stretched out afterwards in the shower...lol

[SunaBee]

Originally Posted by lil_joy69

woo hoo SunaBee feels good doesn't it? I knew if I could do it anyone could

Des, please feel inspired

I LOVE all the excitement in this thread.

Absolutely. Stellar.



ETA:

I didn't answer these, so I'll edit and add here. :

1) What week/day are you on? Week 1 Day 1
2) Are you repeating a week? Not yet!
3) Are you running for time or distance? Time!
4) Are you running indoors or out? Outdoors
5) How do you feel? OVERTHETOPEXCITED I DID IT!!!

[dointhis4me]

1) What week/day are you on? Week 2 Day 1
2) Are you repeating a week? Nope
3) Are you running for time or distance? Time
4) Are you running indoors or out? indoors at the gym
5) How do you feel? I feel great although my legs are tired!

Today was day one of week two and to my surprise it wasn't harder then week one for me. I was nervous about moving on but now I am so glad I did! Even on the first day of my second week I can't believe I've come this far, when I started I couldn't even jog the first 60 second interval.

[desdemona]

I found week 2 easier for some reason

[lil_joy69]

I think I must be wierd. lol ok I know I am but this is different
After day one week one yesterday I was going to do my normal walk after my weight training. Ok I've only been back walking for a week so not sure that qualifies as normal yet. Anyway I had been doing 3.5mph until yesterday when I slowed my walk down to 3.0mph and my jog was at 4.0. Well today 10 min into it I decided that today was harder than yesterday so I started jogging again at 4.0mph and my walks i dropped down to 3.2 mph.

Now my question or questions is. Is this going to hurt me to do it everyday> If so should I try to keep my off day pace at 3.5 or slow it down?
thanks
lil_joy

[desdemona]

You probably shouldn't start out jogging every day but it's something you can work up to. I know people who run every day. I do some form of cardio almost everyday, the only reason not to really is just to prevent burn out. Like the couch to 5k intro says most people stop because they start too fast.

[lil_joy69]

Thanks Des I think on my off days I'll slow down to 3.2. It's a pace that doable for me won't be harder than the cout to 5 k days

[desdemona]

If I had time I'd jog more but I refuse to do it inside and it's too hots at night. WOrking at 6am, I can only do it on my off days (which happens to be 3 days a week!). As soon as it cools off more (or I stop being a baby about the heat) I'll start jogging in the evenings again. I like morning jogging though, feels GREAT

[SunaBee]

Good morning girls.

Yesterday was Wk 1 Workout 1, and this morning my legs are burning.

Last night, I read through this whole thread and there is a LOT of encouragement here! It was a great read, starting out.

Have a great morning, and for anyone running today, "Come on!!!! You can do it!!!!!

[SunaBee]

Originally Posted by desdemona

If I had time I'd jog more but I refuse to do it inside and it's too hots at night. WOrking at 6am, I can only do it on my off days (which happens to be 3 days a week!). As soon as it cools off more (or I stop being a baby about the heat) I'll start jogging in the evenings again. I like morning jogging though, feels GREAT

Des, I LOVE early morning jogging (I say this after doing it only once.. hehehe). I just love early mornings, and the beauty in it's stillness.

Besides, its empowering later on in the day, floating on that could of confidence, thinking, "I did it!!! I did it!!!"

I think a rest day inbetween is also good to give your muscles a rest. I know a lot of professional trainers who advise this as well.

[desdemona]

in terms of toning/lifting yeah you need a day of rest. Cardio you can do daily once you work up to it

[SunaBee]

Originally Posted by desdemona

in terms of toning/lifting yeah you need a day of rest. Cardio you can do daily once you work up to it

Yes, the bolded print above being KEY.

We think the same thing... lol

I was talking about a day of rest when starting out.

[aloise]

did day 3 of week 1.

however, I am going to have to start keeping my gym stuff in the car, towel, shoes, headband. I decided to run some errands before going to the gym (as I am too sweaty to do them after).. and I got to the gym, and realized I didn't have my jogging bra on, I didn't have a towel, no headband. but... I decided to do the workout anyway.

I realized I couldn't jog as fast without the firmer booby trap, and ended up having to discretely support the girls by keeping my fists just below like a shelf. I don't think I was too obvious as most people bend their arms and keep them close to their chest when they run! Then I used a paper towel to clean up the equipment, and wipe my brow. It worked out ok.

but.. I don't think I will forget my stuff next time! LOL

gosh.. I hope it is cooler next week.

[Cablegriz]

Aloise,
The great thing is that you JUST DID IT! Regardless of your obstacles! congrats!
Thats awesome and you should be proud of yourself for getting your run in!
Bethy

[aloise]

Originally Posted by Cablegriz

Aloise,
The great thing is that you JUST DID IT! Regardless of your obstacles! congrats!
Thats awesome and you should be proud of yourself for getting your run in!
Bethy

thanks, Bethy! Like Sunabee says, the enthusiasm here is exciting.

well, I'm looking forward to jogging along with everyone in this group.. virtually (as in cyberland), if not physically.

[SunaBee]

ALOISE!!!! YAIIIEEEE!!! YOU DID IT!!!!!!

I am SO proud of you!!!!

Good morning everyone!

I'm lacing up my shoes and headed out for Week 1 Workout 2.

I am still sore from the first day. *laugh*

I'll come report in after I'm done!

[SunaBee]

IDIDITIDIDITIDIDIT!!!!

Ok, I'm a hot sweaty mess... lol

Off to shower.

I did it!!!

WEEK ONE WORKOUT TWO DONE!

1) What week/day are you on? Just finished Week 1 Workout 2

3) Are you running for time or distance? Time

4) Are you running indoors or out? Early morning outdoors (Beautiful!)

5) How do you feel? PROUD. (and sore..lol)

[Tracey40]

You did it!!!

You sound so excited it's hard not to be excited for you and get inspired to do it as well!

[DarkSiren]

Way To GO Ladies!!! KUTGW!!!!

[desdemona]

I finished week 2 day 2 today. week 2 is SO easy for me. So much easier than week 1 in my mind.

Okay so it's 90 seconds jogging and 2 minutes walking right? At the end I was at the 19 minute mark where I was suppose to walk for 2 minutes and I thought why can't I keep going? My legs dont hurt, I'm breathing fine, my body feels good, what's stopping me? Just my thoughts that I can't run? Okay. So I went an extra minute. So I went for 2.5 minutes total to finish out the 20 minutes and you know what, I could have went more.

I can't WAIT for week 3

[lil_joy69]

Today was a rest day for me so I just did my 30 min walk on the treadmill but to shake things up a bit I did the forest walk setting with max incline of 2.0 and max speed of 3.2. So it alternated settings as I walked

oh yeah I'm on week one and day two is done

[aloise]

Originally Posted by desdemona

I finished week 2 day 2 today. week 2 is SO easy for me. So much easier than week 1 in my mind.

Okay so it's 90 seconds jogging and 2 minutes walking right? At the end I was at the 19 minute mark where I was suppose to walk for 2 minutes and I thought why can't I keep going? My legs dont hurt, I'm breathing fine, my body feels good, what's stopping me? Just my thoughts that I can't run? Okay. So I went an extra minute. So I went for 2.5 minutes total to finish out the 20 minutes and you know what, I could have went more.

I can't WAIT for week 3

sounds like you are getting in better condition already, Des!

well, this is very encouraging. I will be starting week 2 tomorrow.