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

[WolfmanJacque]

Week 4 Day 3 - Bloodied, but unbowed!

I was doing my "brisk five minute warmup" walking down a golf cart path when I got conked on the head by a walnut falling off a tree....right on the old bald spot.

That HURT!

Raised a lump about half the size of a golf ball on my noggin.

Went out jogging, feeling pretty good. Got about 3/4 of a mile down the trail, a teenage guy walking the other way yells "hey! you're BLEEDING!".

So I was. My sweatband was covered in blood on one side. Evidently I not only conked myself but had a small cut as well. Looked far more gruesome than it felt. I wrung out the bloody sweatband and finished.

I
YAM
HARDCORE!

C25K:Not for the squeamish!!

[wall]

Originally Posted by WATCH-ME-SHRINK

Pam & Wall,

Hope you guys get rejuvenated and feeling better soon.

Thank you.

I need to toughen up like you ladies. Whats the dude version of callenetics?





funny story wolf
hope you heal up

[zinny]

Originally Posted by ellybelle

Twyla - Callanetics also helps because it gives you a strong core. making running easier, and helps keep you from getting fatigued. I found it much easier to get back into running after I had been doing Callanetics for a few months. I'm 51, and the pelvic floor work also helps keep my internal organs inside where they should be Also, Callanetics helps prevent back pain. Looking more youthful is a nice bonus, too.

I'm currently doing Super-Callanetics three times a week and running 5 miles three times a week. I'm starting to build up my long runs for a half-marathon in October. Sunday I ran 10 miles (alternating running for 10 minutes and walking for 1 minute). I plan to keep alternating running days and Callanetics days and highly recommend both!


Ellyn

Wow that's impressive! I'm 37 and can't really imagine getting fit enough to do SC and 5-mile runs on a regular basis... Were you always athletic?

[wall]

I got home last night and attempted the 30 min run again.

Once again my rt calf caused me some pain and completly shut me down, forcing me to stop and hobble at the 27 minute mark. By then I had run 3 miles though so at least that was a positive.

Def day of rest today, no exercise...and maybe not try to run again for a couple. Ill jump back on the bike tomorrow.

[myanv]

w3 day 2 down

My knee is starting to act up. It doesn't hurt but it feels loose. It is so weird and I am not sure if my knee is just weak or I am developing a problem. My cousin suggested that I start taking glucosamine but im not sure if the "glucose" in glucosamine is actual glucose. Anyone take this before?


Wolfman way to keep going lol. That must have been a huge walnut!

[ellybelle]

Originally Posted by zinny

Wow that's impressive! I'm 37 and can't really imagine getting fit enough to do SC and 5-mile runs on a regular basis... Were you always athletic?

I wouldn't have thought I could do this much either.

I've run off and on (really, mostly off) since I was in my twenties. A couple of years ago, I started feeling really terrible (this was after about 15 years of no real exercise). I was tired all the time and had quite a bit of joint pain. I started running on a track, but couldn't seem to progress much without getting hurt. About a year after that, I started doing Callanetics. After several months of Callanetics I started running again and found it much easier. I was able to get off the track and on the road for a very nice 5 mi loop. I've been pretty consistent and have been able to restart myself after lapses. Most important, I feel much younger than I did a couple of years ago. I've also noticed that I don't feel well after the first couple of days of a break, so I guess I'll have to keep exercising.

There's a good book called Younger Next Year that makes the case that exercise is critical as one ages. It is excellent for motivation.

I usually read the Callanetics thread (hi Twyla!) but I like to read the running threads as well.

[fatima_mystique]

Hello Everyone,

I am interested in doing the Couch to 5K challenge. I am going to start on Monday. I usually do low carb but I find that I do not have much energy to do any exercises. It seems that a lot of you have had much success with the challenge and LC. What is a typical meal for you on the days that you run? I was thinking about just watching my portions, clean eating, good carbs. Look forward to what yall have to say.

[Zelda3333]

Hi everyone - I'm new to posting but I've read through all your helpful posts! I've been following the C25K program since mid July, I just ran my w6d3 20 min run and can't believe that I made it as easily as I did!!! Just wanted to say hi and share my excitement, really looking forward to the actual 5K run I'm shooting for on 9/27 in Bangor!

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Hey, everybody. I'm wishing I could have run tonight, but I haven't been up to par ... enuf said ... and the excessive heat we've had wasn't at all inviting on top of that. So I'll wait this out till probably Friday. WAy too long between runs, I know.

Feel better, Wolfman. Ouch! (Sorry, but your story made me smile out loud)

Wall, I think a couple days' rest is in order for you, given what you've told us. Sometimes it's what our body needs.

Mya, take the glucosamine. It's a great supplement for promoting healthier cartilage/joints, and for people with joint issues/pain. Glucosamine is a compound found naturally in the body, made from glucose and the amino acid glutamine. Glucosamine is needed and used in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues. Production of glucosamine slows with age.

Hi, Ellyn! (Go CallanAddicts)

Fatima, I find that I need extra carbs for higher intensity cardio exercise (e.g., running) to help with endurance. I wouldn't worry too much about taking in some extra carbs on your running days. Just make sure you eat them around your workouts, and they'll get burned/used w/o issues.

Zelda, way to go on that 20-minute run!

Can't wait till this heat lifts and I can go at it again.

[skeeweeaka]

Originally Posted by WATCH-ME-SHRINK

Hey, everybody. I'm wishing I could have run tonight, but I haven't been up to par ... enuf said ... and the excessive heat we've had wasn't at all inviting on top of that. So I'll wait this out till probably Friday. WAy too long between runs, I know.

Feel better, Wolfman. Ouch! (Sorry, but your story made me smile out loud)

Wall, I think a couple days' rest is in order for you, given what you've told us. Sometimes it's what our body needs.

Mya, take the glucosamine. It's a great supplement for promoting healthier cartilage/joints, and for people with joint issues/pain. Glucosamine is a compound found naturally in the body, made from glucose and the amino acid glutamine. Glucosamine is needed and used in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues. Production of glucosamine slows with age.

Hi, Ellyn! (Go CallanAddicts)

Fatima, I find that I need extra carbs for higher intensity cardio exercise (e.g., running) to help with endurance. I wouldn't worry too much about taking in some extra carbs on your running days. Just make sure you eat them around your workouts, and they'll get burned/used w/o issues.

Zelda, way to go on that 20-minute run!

Can't wait till this heat lifts and I can go at it again.

I hadn't ran since last Friday....I agree too much time between runs... Finished week 7, day 1, 25 minutes... Will have to run again tomorrow to make up for missiing out this week... Hope everyone has a great day!

TJ

[wall]

rest day yesterday, woke up today rt leg feeling better so thats good new. Ill go light tonight on the riding and stretch out more.

[WolfmanJacque]

Week 5 Day 1 today. A bit tougher than previous runs, plus I made the stupid mistake of going outside at high noon and it was pretty hot out.

Not especially looking forward to W5D2 with the 8 minute runs.

[zinny]

Originally Posted by ellybelle

I wouldn't have thought I could do this much either.

I've run off and on (really, mostly off) since I was in my twenties. A couple of years ago, I started feeling really terrible (this was after about 15 years of no real exercise). I was tired all the time and had quite a bit of joint pain. I started running on a track, but couldn't seem to progress much without getting hurt. About a year after that, I started doing Callanetics. After several months of Callanetics I started running again and found it much easier. I was able to get off the track and on the road for a very nice 5 mi loop. I've been pretty consistent and have been able to restart myself after lapses. Most important, I feel much younger than I did a couple of years ago. I've also noticed that I don't feel well after the first couple of days of a break, so I guess I'll have to keep exercising.

There's a good book called Younger Next Year that makes the case that exercise is critical as one ages. It is excellent for motivation.

I usually read the Callanetics thread (hi Twyla!) but I like to read the running threads as well.

Thanks this is very helpful, both for the moment and in establishing goals! I have been on and off with Callanetics but didn't realize that it could be so powerful in establishing a base of strength and flexibility that it would allow running to be easier.

[zinny]

Needed to take a few days off from running due to a stomach bug...but got back in with W3D1 today. I really felt that the 1st 3-minute run was longer than previous runs, but the subsequent ones seemed so quick and easy!

Normally I go in the morning, but today I went at 6 pm, it was a veritable highway of runners, walkers, and doggies...

[zinny]

Originally Posted by fatima_mystique

Hello Everyone,

I am interested in doing the Couch to 5K challenge. I am going to start on Monday. I usually do low carb but I find that I do not have much energy to do any exercises. It seems that a lot of you have had much success with the challenge and LC. What is a typical meal for you on the days that you run? I was thinking about just watching my portions, clean eating, good carbs. Look forward to what yall have to say.

I'm on week 3 of the program, which I'm really enjoying! I normally do my C25K in the morning, so before I head out I've had some water and raw veg juice and maybe a small piece of fruit. I've been trying to include more fresh pineapple (they're less than $1 here) and ginger for their anti-inflammatory properties (and also cause I like the taste) since I began... and more water... On the days that I run I do seem to have a surge in appetite late afternoon, which is usually satisfied with a snack like a banana and raw almonds. If you're already walking, I don't think that your body will really "need" something dramatically different...just listen in!

[myanv]

Originally Posted by fatima_mystique

Hello Everyone,

I am interested in doing the Couch to 5K challenge. I am going to start on Monday. I usually do low carb but I find that I do not have much energy to do any exercises. It seems that a lot of you have had much success with the challenge and LC. What is a typical meal for you on the days that you run? I was thinking about just watching my portions, clean eating, good carbs. Look forward to what yall have to say.

I usually eat an apple(or some other kind of fruit) and/or a kashi granola bar. They are kind of high in carbs but they are made from 7 whole grains so they digest slower. Plus they don't add extra garbage to the bars like corn syrup or binders. I don't really eat heavy breakfast before exercising.

I have noticed that if I drink a couple cups of water before I run, I feel better. More than anything, I think it is will power. Most days I start running and I feel like "dang im just not into this today" but you just gotta keep going.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Me again. The butt-dragger.

That shall apply for today only, mind you.

It was still hot, muggy outside this evening, but I didn't want to have to wait ANOTHER day to run.

I gave in to temptation last night and sinned: I ate a piece of blackberry pie. I paid for it. I always do. Crap carbs are NOT worth it. Felt tired and lazy this morning. When I eat clean, it's like a brand new engine inside me, purring like a kitten, and I function and move with the ENERGY of a kitten. When I eat crap, I clunk along.

Soooooooo, tonight I only ran 18 mins total.

(By way of mitigation -- not that I deserve it -- I had done 20 mins of HIIT and 20 mins of UB weights about 2 hours before my run, which may have used up some of my juice....?)

So C25K for tonight: 31 total minutes, including warmup and cool-down walks

Pathetic, Twyla.

Snap out of it!

Okay. I'll draw on the inspiration of others on this challenge, and the NEXT run, I'll be ready!

[skeeweeaka]

Morning all,

Just finished Week 7, Day 2 of my C25 program. I must admit that I am getting apathetic about the program, especially since I'm not seeing any weight loss, but will continue. Today I did a 30 minute run and did six HI intervals....felt very fatigued after that....total 3.5 miles...

TJ

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by skeeweeaka

Morning all,

Just finished Week 7, Day 2 of my C25 program. I must admit that I am getting apathetic about the program, especially since I'm not seeing any weight loss, but will continue. Today I did a 30 minute run and did six HI intervals....felt very fatigued after that....total 3.5 miles...

TJ

TJ -- May I interject the challenge here for a moment and beg the question: Are you measuring, tracking body fat measurements, and are your clothes fitting better?

Just keeping your perspective in line, K?

[I'llBeFrank]

Originally Posted by WATCH-ME-SHRINK

Respectfully clipped ...

Mya, take the glucosamine. It's a great supplement for promoting healthier cartilage/joints, and for people with joint issues/pain. Glucosamine is a compound found naturally in the body, made from glucose and the amino acid glutamine. Glucosamine is needed and used in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues. Production of glucosamine slows with age.

Watch Me Shrink and Mya: Thanks so much for this tidbit of info! I struggle with low back sprains and this may help me out some ... it can't hurt!

Hi everyone!

Though I didn't follow the C25K program by week, I did start running the end of June and could barley get 9 minutes (1 mile) in without sucking wind. By loosely following the C25K schedule and cross training on an elliptical, I am finally hitting the 5K mark without stopping.

It may take me 36 minutes to run that far, but forcing myself to slow way down is the only way I can get full time in. Dropping from a 9 minute mile to an 11+ was what helped. Speed will come with time. (I Hope. )

I've read some of your posts and It's wonderful to see so many accomplishments, great job everyone!

[WolfmanJacque]

Week 5 Day 2: two 8 minute jogs separated by a five minute walk.

What an odd day. I was driving to the lakefront trail, was about a mile away and I felt my blood sugar crash. This was VERY odd, my blood sugar crashes during extreme exercise once or twice a year but has never done this otherwise. I pulled into McDonalds and bought an Egg McMuffin and an orange juice and was fine for the rest of the day. Egg McMuffin to the rescue! My brother the half-marathoner swears by Egg McMuffins as the perfect pre-jog mix of protein/fat/carbs. It seems to have worked.

I went for a walk yesterday and my left knee felt tender warming up. I debated not running today, "listen to your body" and all that....but I decided to go. I was glad I did...the pain and tenderness disappeared the moment I got into serious motion.

The trail was PACKED with people. Cyclists, walkers, runners, dog walkers, it was a traffic jam!

To top it all off, a 20-something girl blew by me at 100 or so mph (only a slight exaggeration) and my Polar monitor started picking up HER signal (my "heart rate" went from 130 to "190" in an instant and there was no way in hell I was going that fast!!). Had to estimate my average heart rate today. I was disappointed, the Polar F6 watch is supposed to be "individually mated" to prevent this sort of thing from happening.

Anyway, I've now done two 8 minute jogs. I'm cautiously optimistic about my upcoming 20 minute jog on Monday. Beginning today, I'm starting to calculate my pace per mile. It's very slow right now, up until now I've concentrated on surviving the length of time, not the distance.

I feel very good about myself today....plus I finally am under 300 pounds for the first time in 2 years.

[zinny]

Week 3, day 2. Soon I will need to go earlier in the morning--today I could feel that the sun was strong in my face.

I feel "something" behind my knees--not even sure what the word for this body part is. It's not pain, exactly, more like it's opening up but not in a good way if you know what I mean! It happens sometimes on one leg, sometimes the other, never for longer than a minute or two. It's not dramatic but I think it's probably not good. Anybody have any idea what this is called or what to do about it?

Had a Very deep tissue massage yesterday--I kept asking for more and more pressure on my calves. The therapist said he had never applied so much pressure to any client before It felt great and even better today! I've been doing a lot of stretching this week, following Runner's World Yoga tips, and some Callanetics, and it all feels much better this week.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]