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

[aloise]

Originally Posted by desdemona

You know, I was thinking about it and you know...I don't know any 'fat runnners', you know people who go out and run 3 miles every other day... and that will be me soon!

Hard to imagine Maybe I'll drop a size or 2 in the process

well, that brings up a very good point that I'm sure many of us would be interested in. Have any of the people doing the couch to 5K found it easier to drop any weight?

inquiring couch potatoes want to know...

[aloise]

and.. did week 2 day 3 today. It is funny.. I was a bit tired at the beginning.. but something kicked in that last couple of laps and I felt like I could have gone a little longer.

I don't know about week 3, though.. seems like quite a jump to go from 90 seconds to 3 minutes of jogging..

[desdemona]

Aloise, you can do it! I really enjoyed week 3

[JazzyV]

I thought I'd bring this over from the Playground, in case you guys don't go there.

Originally Posted by stews

Prayers for SunaBee's Dad. They are in the process of moving to another state. He was at the new area and her mom is in WA still. I believe he is there helping to get their new house ready to move into (it was flooded and they can't move in until it's taken care of...mold and such, I believe). he's been staying in a trailer.

Nobody has been able to reach him and suna found out that nobody had heard from him in days. Her sister called someone to go check on him and they found he had had a massive stroke. He's in the hospital now, is paralized on 1 side, can't talk, etc. They don't know if he's going to make it or not.

Suna drove all night to bet there with him and arrived safely, thank goodness. Please remember her dad and her family.

Jazzy

[JazzyV]

Here's an update from SunaBee this morning.

Originally Posted by SunaBee

Oh goshhhh.... Thank you guys so much for this thread. It really helps to know he is in so many peoples prayers.

I haven't slept since Thursday night, aside from one hour this morning. I'm not sure what I'm running on, aside from sheer hope and coffee fumes.

My sister called me around 7:30 Friday night and I drove through and got into Boise around 5:00 Saturday Central time.

Dad is on life support for his breathing and for his heart. His heart is really sick, and aside from a roller coaster of high/very low heart beats per minute, his heart also keeps stopping.

We know his right side is paalyzed. He know he was alone for 2-3 days before someone found him. *cry* We know he has bleeding on the brain, though to the extent, yet of that we don't know.

This is the hardest thing ever.

Dad has always said that "if he were a vegetable", he would want no efforts taken.

However, he's STILL THERE!!!! He's NOT ready to give up. You can see it in his eyes and feel it in his grip.

A good deal of the time he is incoherent, and the nurses were unable to get much to next to none of a response from him.

He could barely open his eyes, and cannot really move much.

When I got there, I held his hand, wanted to kiss the top of his bald head though was afraid and still am afraid I'll fall on top of his bed trying to the way they have him and all his machines set up. *small grins*

His communication has been when I lay our fingers against each other, I could feel him "ripple" his against mine. *grins*

Then, sometimes, he would run his fingers over my palm, then cup my hand with his - then he's be out again.

He could barely open his eyes and when I look into them I STILL SEE my dad. His soul.... He's VERY much still there!

Around 2 am this morning, he learned something new... He could trail his hand over mine, *finding* his way over my arm, to gently lay his hand on my side -It's his way of giving me a hug.

His communication now is in holding my hand and sometimes squeezing it, though he can't answer questions this way... *yet*

His eyes are starting to open wider and I'll stroke his head while talking to him. When I look into Dad's eyes, I tell him, "I KNOW you've got a LOT to say!!!..." And I tease him, trying to add humor to his day, as I know he would have done for one of us. I told him, I said, "Sheeshhhh... They have these straps on you, so that stops the two of us from running around and getting in trouble...... though we can thumb wrestle! Though, uhmmm, probably not, because I'd probably STILL lose." and I laughed. He has mostly been unresponsive, and cannot cummunicate on demand, though when I said this, his hand reached, his thumb finding mine and he moved his thumb around mine, ready to wrestle! THAT is INCREDIBLE for him!!! I cried I was so happy for him.

My sister and I tell him, "You've still got a lot left to do... Your not ready to give up. You've a LOT of strength left!", and Jenn said this one time, he grabbed her hand tight and shook it hard. I know that took everything out of him, though he was DEFINETELY agreeing!!!!!

He's NOT given up yet and as long as he continues to fight, I will be determined to fiercely protect that right as HIS choice. He MUCH too strong to give up. He's much more to see and do yet. He even has another new grandbaby JUST born in Tennessee. My sister told him about Rhonda and the baby, and his eyes were barely opened, and his hand grasped and shook very firmly - his way of showing how happy he is for her.

I love my Daddy and I KNOW he is STRONG and he wants to live, trying SO hard to communicate with us, and I am SO proud of him!!!!

Thanks again for the continued wishes for strength, support, and prayers.

To say there's something about tramautic situations such as these that bring out the worst in people would be a gross understatement. It's a lot to process and I feel like I'm still trying to absorb it all. Amazing how even when someone is dying, how some people can STILL not look beyond themselves.

I just know my first and only focus is my Dad, and I will fiercely protect his rights, his dignity, and his respect.

The last couple days have felt an eternity.... I'd give away my eternity for that of his.

He is my rock, my big guy, and he's one heck of a fighter!!!!! It's NOT done yet.

Last night, around 3 am, he was awake and aware, and we were talking. I held up my fingers to sign I love you.... I helped him hold up the same, and he concetrated really hard for his fingertips to find mine, and it was really special.

Goshhhh... I'm really sorry this is all a ramble, though emotions and lack of sleep will do that I guess!

I'm at the hotel room right now, just ran in here to grab a few things, then back up to ICU.

THANKS AGAIN for everything... I know he would thank you too.

I'll update you more later....

[Salamander]

JazzyV, thank you for posting about Suna. Her Dad is in my prayers. to Suna. It's so scary when a parent is ill.

I reran W5d2 today because I wasn't able to complete the last 8 min running. Well today I did! In fact, i did 9 minutes, then I walked 5 and ran a bonus interval of 4! I felt like a real runner today, as I passed several other runners and got a hi or smile from all of them. Nobody appeared to be judging me on looks or how slow I was going... we were all just happy to be out there doing our best I was wearing a visor instead of baseball cap and I think it helped me stay much cooler.

great job to Aloise, Desdemona and JazzyV!!!!! we are all runners!

Sally

[desdemona]

Good job runners we are!

[JazzyV]

Happy Labor Day!

Yesterday was fun. A very large turnout for the Steelers 5k. L.C. Greenwood, former Steeler great, was walking with me for a while, but he's tall and soon outdistanced me. I ran a little in spurts, but mainly walked.

I wasn't sure my legs would be up for C25K this morning after walkin the 5K yesterday. But I just finished Week 9, Day 1 running 35 minutes on the treadmill (it calls for 30 minutes). I'm in the final week!

I will start to work on distance a little, but slightly speeding up as I'm able to for a few weeks. Then I will start lengthening the time.

Jazzy

[desdemona]

So how has this helped your weight loss jazzy?

[JazzyV]

Desdemona: I did start C25K to kickstart my weight loss, as I've been stalled for 3 months. Sad to say, no change in the scale except for being down 1/2 a pound. You do have to resist eating more; I know I'm hungrier the day after I run. However, I see big body changes. My rear end and legs are definitely slimming down. I would like to see the scale go down too, though .

Jazzy

[desdemona]

well inches are nice too I guess

[nolagina]

Morning all...
I did week 4 podcast today. I've been repeating the weeks a lot. However, I've reworked my training schedule and will be doing C25K two days a week consistently. I should be able to move forward without repeating the weeks as much.
I expect to move to Week 5 next week....

Congrats Jazzy on the 5K! Jackiebrown4 did a killer 5K in NC yesterday - sounds like mostly hills, eek!

I hope to do a 5K early next year....

Have a great one all.. I'm going to work on posting more consistently here...

[SunaBee]

Taking a break to update everyone here, then I'm headed back up to ICU.

I just really wanted to say thank you for your support and prayers.

I did just update Dad's thread, which you can access through the link in my siggy.

I did mention there what I'm going to do with my running too....

[JazzyV]

Suna: I'm glad to read that your Dad is making progress. We'll keep praying for him and the family!

Jazzy

[desdemona]

I forgot my update yesterday...*bad des*!

I did week 6 day 1. I added a minute to each jog portion and subtracted a minute from the walk portion. So I did 6j/2w/9j/2w/6j

As to others who have said this day is harder than the 20 minutes straight...Yeah I can see that. It felt rough today, more so the first half than the second.

[Salamander]

I am still in shock, because yesterday I did W5D3! I ran 20 minutes straight! I'm pretty happy with my performance, giving myself a big It sounds like w6d1 is harder even though it's back to intervals? I'll be attempting that tomorrow!

[SunaBee]

Thank you Jazzy... Just starting the day here. They are going to fly him out to Portland this morning sometime, for surgery scheduled this afternoon.

Again, THANK YOU!!!!

[aloise]

Sunabee, so sorry about your dad. I hope the surgery goes well.

[desdemona]

Originally Posted by Salamander

I am still in shock, because yesterday I did W5D3! I ran 20 minutes straight! I'm pretty happy with my performance, giving myself a big It sounds like w6d1 is harder even though it's back to intervals? I'll be attempting that tomorrow!

It could have just been me You'll have to let me know.

Grats though, week 5 is a BIG DEAL!

[nolagina]

Good evening runners!
I did Week 4 today and feel as if I'm ready to move on to Week 5...
I've been repeating since I have been doing C25K a couple of times per week.

It's been great progressing through the program...

[JazzyV]

Woohoo! Week 9, Day 2 is done! One more day and I'll graduate!

I ran for 35 minutes, and I could tell I'm getting better. Still slow, but it's becoming more fluid. And I get into it and can go faster after the first mile or so. Maybe I'm cut out to be a distance runner, lol.

I'm going on to a program called one hour runner. The first 3 weeks is running 30 minutes 3 times a week, and I'll work on distance a bit then. After that the runs start to lengthen until by the 10th week you can run one hour.

Jazzy

[desdemona]

well don't desert us when you graduate

[Salamander]

I just completed W6D2. No problemo!

Jazzy, great job on getting through! I hope you will keep checking in when you start the One hour runner program.

Nolagina, week 5 really kicked it up a few notches for me! You'll love it I'm sure!

[JazzyV]

Week 9, day 3 of C25K is done! I'm dripping wet, as it's hot and humid here. I ran for 35 minutes, about 2.2 miles for me since I'm slow.

Jazzy

[desdemona]

Grats jazzy! I'll be doing week 6 day 2 TOMORROW (I got off a day due to low iron/energy levels/TOM yesterday). I'm working with my trainer tonight. If I feel up to it after I may go jogging. He's going to make me do squats/lunges and the like though so tomorrow morning is ambitious enough.