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

[Purple Sage]

I did it, 22 minutes in the workout room at the hotel tonight. Saturday is my race, I have no illusions about winning but I am going to FINISH, a 4 mile race. I did 2 without stopping tonight so I will just have to walk part of it but I want the satisfaction of trying. This is at my family reunion and my family is CRAZY with the whole fitness thing, regularly running marathons....but I am in the running at least so to speak. This is what motivated me to start C25K, since my dad is running, I was not going to watch and not participate.

Wish me luck.

[wall]

Originally Posted by Purple Sage

I did it, 22 minutes in the workout room at the hotel tonight. Saturday is my race, I have no illusions about winning but I am going to FINISH, a 4 mile race. I did 2 without stopping tonight so I will just have to walk part of it but I want the satisfaction of trying. This is at my family reunion and my family is CRAZY with the whole fitness thing, regularly running marathons....but I am in the running at least so to speak. This is what motivated me to start C25K, since my dad is running, I was not going to watch and not participate.

Wish me luck.

cheering for ya

[wall]

rainbow - day 1, heck MINUTE 1 is always the toughest for me too.

Late report in but Wednesday I did week 6 day 1. Did the warm up walk, did the 5 min run, did the 3 min brisk walk...next is supposed to be an 8 minute run...

Well, that first 5 min I was running very tight and not enjoying it but suddenly during that 8 minute one I was back in the groove and my stride, pace, breathing were all doing fine. I decided to skip the rest of the program and I just ran till I arrived back home. So I prob did about 12-15 min on that 2nd set. ???

Its been tough for me to find time to exercise this week. I'm hoping I can run again tonight but not sure, otherwise tomorrow morning I'm gonna have to reallly get hardcore and run/ride together for an extended time.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by wall

".........suddenly during that 8-minute one, I was back in the groove
and my stride, pace, breathing were all doing fine.
I decided to skip the rest of the program
and I just ran till I arrived back home.
So I prob did about 12-15 min on that 2nd set......"

See Wall run.
Run, Wall.
Run!

[wall]

Originally Posted by WATCH-ME-SHRINK

See Wall run.
Run, Wall.
Run!

hey, I did kinda go forest gump on week 6! haha

did day2 last nt. knees are sore. ill be heading to target to refill the acetomenophine pills before tomorrows 25 min run. course it prob doesn't help that I hit a steep hill while running and didn't stop. I think ill skip the hill tomorrow though.

off for a bike ride now

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Re-Post from my journal

Tonight was my first time while doing the C25K program to run a full 8 mins before beginning the walk/recovery.

I ran 8 mins, then walked 2; ran 10, walked 2, ran 4, walked 2. Yessssssssssssssss.

I think it had something to do with my pre-run meal. I was craving a toasted PB (natural) sandwich with slices of garden-fresh tomatoes and a protein shake. I'd been wanting it all day. I ate that meal about 40 mins before my run. It was perfect for fuel -- 35 carbs, 34 protein, 11 gr fat, for 334 calories. So delish too!

I seriously doubt I'll be able to make the jump from 8 to 20.....I'm perplexed as to why it's set up that way to begin with. I'll be content pacing my way up to 20 for the next few sessions.

[wall]

hey twyla, its pretty crazy to think how suddenly you go from an 8 min run to 20
ive always thought how important it is to maintain a brisk (not leaisurly catch your breath relax) walk so the transitions are smooth and not much difference.

I did day 3 week 6 this morning. Ran 25 min nonstop. Cant tell you what a mental challenge that is for me to start out and realize I aint stopping.
And what a good feeling it is to actually do it.


I hope others are finding the energy and meeting the challenge every week.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Wall, you've made an excellent point.

Reminds me of a quote I came across recently:

"The most important body part is the mind.
With the will and the know-how,
you can perform near miracles.”

Stuart McRobert

So I take it that you're saying making the leap from 8 mins to 20 is more doable than I allow myself to believe?

[psigna]

I have not ran this weekend, I did on Friday, but had no stamina. I did the first 7 minutes, then could not get going again on the next few, so I did a few minutes. We have been working on our living room floors (we are staining the concrete), so I have been busy. I plan to resume tomorrow, but plan on eating an energy meal before so that I have the endurance that I need. What are some good small ideas of food, not too filling, that some of you use for this purpose? I will try to run before supper, so I don't want to eat alot.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Pam, you could try a half banana and a small protein shake?

If you're looking at 200ish cals, good carbs:

1 med banana
1 scoop whey PP shake

219 cals

10%f/47%c/44%p

[psigna]

Thanks I will try something like that.

[wall]

I learned the body simply cant absorb all that we'd like to eat so a small bit of carbs is probabaly all we need.
If I wake up in the morning to run...I dont eat till about 10 min before hand. Just something like a big drink of "gatorade type drink" or Ive recently tried the GU type products.

But to run after eating a meal...I cant. Lke you said.
I have to at least wait 2 hrs or 3 before things settle down.

But right after running/riding. I'm all over that whey shake and replenishing.

Hope that helps.

[Purple Sage]

Well, didn't end up running. The race had to be canceled because it was on dirt roads and the night before they had flash flooding from a thunder storm which washed out roads, made lots of mud and they had to cancel. At first I was really irritated at the situation, thinking I wasted all this time training for nothing...but then realized that the training was for ME, not just for a race. So, today back to running, I am aiming for that 25 minutes this afternoon.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Finished my Week 5, Day 3.

Appears I'll go for "Day 3" a few more times. But I'm not discouraged by this.

I love to run.
I love learning to run.
Being able to run.
It's a gift.

“Exercise is the chance to set free the yearning for motion that lies within each of us.
The powerful, almost addictive need we felt as children that made us run as fast as our legs would carry us.
That made us run just to see the grass blur,
to see if we could make the world spin a little faster.”
Horizon Fitness

Ran 8, 10, then 3, with walking intervals of avg of 2 mins each.

[WolfmanJacque]

My 50th birthday was Saturday, and I decided my birthday resolution was to start jogging again. I was excited when I discovered the Couch-to-5k program, the nine weeks is perfect because my little town is having a 5K run in ten weeks!! Motivation!

I did Week 1 Day 1 at the local high school track but jogging/walking laps was so boring.

I mapped out a 1.5 mile loop through my subdivision but when I did Week 1 Day 2 yesterday I thought I was gonna die because the first 4 segments are on huge uphill inclines.

I did get those podcasts people were talking about and they make it so much easier to start/stop!! (I hate looking at my watch because I'm always getting sweat in my eyes).

[ab1ht]

That's great, Wolfman. Here are a couple of resources that might help, especially as you build the distance.

USATF - America's Running Routes

Halo Headband - Don't Sweat Without It.

The sweatbands are a little pricey, but they work really well.

[WolfmanJacque]

Originally Posted by ab1ht

That's great, Wolfman. Here are a couple of resources that might help, especially as you build the distance.

USATF - America's Running Routes

Halo Headband - Don't Sweat Without It.

The sweatbands are a little pricey, but they work really well.

Oh WOW! I went to the sweatband site and they have combination sweatband/hats!! I'm getting a late birthday present!! This is absolutely perfect for me: no more sweat in the eyes and my rapidly balding head won't get sunburned in the merciless Georgia heat! Life is good

Thanks ab1ht! I owe you one!

[ab1ht]

Originally Posted by WolfmanJacque

no more sweat in the eyes and my rapidly balding head won't get sunburned in the merciless Georgia heat!

I hear ya.

I wore a sweatband on a long run one day. I got a mild tan line across my forehead.

The wife just looked at me and called me a moron.

So I was thinking the bandanna. I have no problem wearing my hat over the headband.

And you don't have to owe me. Just make a donation... (see signature)

[WolfmanJacque]

Woke up at the crack of dawn this morning (thank you, snoring wife! ) and hit the trail in a driving rainstorm. I yam HARDCORE!!

I redid Week 1 Day 2 and reversed my neighborhood course. The first two 60-second jogs were on huge uphill climbs (think: shuttle launch position) and my calves were complaining bitterly. After those two segments though, I actually got into a groove. Finished without a problem, unlike Monday.

On to Week 1 Day 3!!

[wall]

After 2 days rest...back at it tonight.

Day 1 Week 7 for me.

Hey wolfman, I bought one of these. Works great for me: Halo Headband - Don't Sweat Without It.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by WolfmanJacque

Woke up at the crack of dawn this morning (thank you, snoring wife! ) and hit the trail in a driving rainstorm. I yam HARDCORE!!

I redid Week 1 Day 2 and reversed my neighborhood course. The first two 60-second jogs were on huge uphill climbs (think: shuttle launch position) and my calves were complaining bitterly. After those two segments though, I actually got into a groove. Finished without a problem, unlike Monday.

On to Week 1 Day 3!!

Go Wolfman! We're cheering you on!

[wall]

Ran my 25 min again last night. Legs/knees back to being sore...thats a real treat (NOT).

I enjoy the quotes Twyla.


Looks like week 7 and beyond is simply a slow build up to the 30 min mark now. Not much reason for the podcasts other then an audio stopwatch with a "Go!" and a "Youve got 1 minute left". Time to invest in that combo HRM/wristwatch I want.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Wall, congrats on the 25 mins...

Glad you like the quotes. They feed my brain/soul too.

You said your knees were sore? Elaborate. Mine have been sore the last couple of times. I wrote to Betty (sugarless Betty?) for some suggestions, and she was helpful. But what have you noticed about your soreness and how do you deal with it?

And what are you talking about, the wristwatch thing?

I like the stop/go commands of podcasts too, but I want to learn to use my own music. I'm still figuring that one out.

I run again tonight. Looking forward to it.

[wall]

I believe the condition is called "Runners knee". Dr. Pribut on Runner's Knee ( Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome )

The way I deal with it is with acetaminophen. Well, thats not really dealing with it...but it sure helps me with the pain. I must run like a penguin or something with my overpronating feet. Ive started to incorporate more stretching beyond the "brisk walk". Its going to be something I figure out cuz I'm not going to stop running.


The HRM I refer to is like this: Sports Instruments - Heart Rate Monitors or this: Bike Nashbar.com - Garmin Forerunner 50 Hrm
Good for consistant measuring of how my body is performing as I'm training.

[wall]

folks have been talking about carbing up for a run

I'm going to be riding in about 3 hours. I just ate one of these as my pre-meal: