My C25k Diary (Will Update as I do each session)

Styggian

Session 2 Week 7 done.

Today's session was a repeat of the last session:

5min warm up
25min jog
5min warm down

After spending the weekend recovering from work and loading up with carbs, I was in a lot better shape than last Saturday.

Still tired, but like a old veteran of x2 25min sessions, my mindset was different from my early sessions, instead of worrying about what lay ahead and what could go wrong. My focus was on the pre-session check:

- Despite the cold only wear one sweat top, as I would soon warm up
- Laces secure, but not too tight.
- Drawcord on my track suit bottoms, secured and snug.
- House keys secure and not rattling
- Tablet secured in carrying holster
- Earphones in and secured 'in position' with my woolly hat

Out of the door, then "Batteries to power, turbines to speed" (Podcast on, then into the 5min warm up walk)

Of course my left knee wanted a mention in this post, so it started to act up, I just ignored it and the ache went away.

Then the run phase started, for the first 3 minutes it was quite difficult, I just focused on finding a steady pace.

The 5 min point was announced and I was level with my first session.

At 12 1/2 mins I was slightly ahead.

At 20 mins I was about 5 metres ahead.

At one minute to go Laura invited me to speed up, had to restrain myself from going full speed, (got a long day ahead of me), so just increased the speed slightly. I was very satisfied with this 25min jog.

With x3 25min jogs under my belt, I can judge I have more in the 'tank' but it's not a huge reserve, thinking ahead to participating in a 5k race, will definitely need to do more stamina training.

But am quite happy at being able to continuously run for 25mins

Next session is on Wednesday, as am attending a informal Christmas meal on Tuesday, will be interesting to see if the processed sugar in my system has any effect on the session

Runaroundafieldx2

Well done

Feels great doesn't it?

Styggian

@Runaroundafieldx2

It feels fantastic, I really want to see what I can do when am not so drained. Am so close to running for 30mins continuously can't wait to do my first park run and build up my strength and stamina for a organised 5k race

Thanks for your positive input, always appreciated

martaindale

Great job. Sounds like you are making great progress!

Styggian

@martaindale

Thanks, am very happy with the program so far, the results are great, really wish I had started it earlier, when I did not have a job

Thanks for looking in on me, it's appreciated

Styggian

Session 3 Week 7 done.

Today's session was, again a repeat of the last session:

5min warm up
25min jog
5min warm down

My preparation routine is now automatic, so the first thing I register, is the cold and rain as I exited the house.

The warm up walk, after a few steps I noticed the underside of my left foot is wet, took me a few moments to work out why as I had not stepped into any puddles.

The damage caused by the glass penetrating the sole of my trainer on a previous session combined with the walking motion, caused water to be sucked up into my trianer, the universe reminding me of what a lucky escape I had.

Back to the session, and into the jog phase. Of course my left knee wanted a mention in this post, so it began to ache, but this time the pain disappeared within a minute.

Today I decided to try and beat my 5 minute marker, so I lengthened my stride and passed the usual 5 minute point by about 10 metres.

Maintaining this new pace, I surpassed all my usual markers. Getting so far ahead, that I had to add extra to my usual route for the warm down period.

The hardest thing about this session was having to explain to my father why I did not take an umbrella with me, as it was raining.

Don't think he understood my reasoning, but was glad that none of the neighbours saw his idiot son go out in the rain for 40 minutes without an umbrella.

Looking forward to week 8, which is basically a repeat of this week, but 28 minute jog sessions instead of 25. Six more jog sessions and I will have completed the program

tirowow12385

I love running under the rain, it's water after all and it cools you down while your body heats up as you run. The route I run is usually pack with people unless it rains so I get the place all to myself and I can just run shirtless without a care in the world lol.

Runaroundafieldx2

I love running in the rain.

The baking heat in summer is much worse. It zaps the life out of my legs

Styggian

@tirowow12385

Thanks for your comments much appreciated.

Hope I get to love running as much as you do, am still getting used to it.

I tend to run in the early morning, so I have most of the city to myself It's easier to to cross roads, without the cars and pedestrians.

The good thing about a few people on the running route, is the buzz I get when I overtake them

Styggian

@Runaroundafieldx2

Can't wait to see the difference between Winter & Summer running

martaindale

You are making great progress! Might be time to get another pair of shoes!! I need very few excuses to "need" another pair of shoes!

Styggian

@martaindale

Thanks for the motivation.

As to a new pair of shoes, in the ideal world, I would agree with you, unfortunately my finances are not in the ideal world, so am going to have to suffer a soggy sock, now and again ;-)

Styggian

Session 1 Week 8 done.

Today's session consisted of:

5min warm up
28min jog
5min warm down

Did not have the greatest of start, to the morning, was so tired from last night's shift, that after switching the alarm off, I went back to sleep.

So when I finally got up, looked out the window and saw rain, contemplated delaying the session, but thought "this is England in December it's always going to be raining".

Getting my gear on was not so automatic, for some reason my brain kept interrupting with "but it's raining" so when I came to the gloves, decided to leave them behind, logic being "one less thing to get wet".

Finally out of the door, turned my podcast on, but when I tried to secure the tablet in the carrying holster the elastic band snapped!

It was going to be one of 'those sessions'. 7 seconds into the warm up walk I had a soggy left foot, the improvised water suction system still worked on my left trainer. Used the warm up time to look for a discarded elastic bands but was not successful.

Onto the jog phase, the tablet tried to find a new owner, but I managed to catch it before it leapt out of its holster, most of the session was spent negotiating pedestrians, cars and making sure that my tablet did escape out the carrying holster.

All this distracted me from the run, on the plus side, I did not notice the usual aches and pains, so my left knee does not get a mention in this post, no doubt it will try harder to get some attention on the next session

I have only two conscious memories of the run, at the 5min point I was a few paces in front of the usual marker and at the end I had to make a loop away from my home as I needed more time to get the warm down walk in.

Laura told me to walk and congratulated me for completing 28 minutes of jogging down walk, I smiled, I was happy again.

As I walked, I noticed a elastic band on the pavement was about to pick it up but saw that it was broken, a few steps later saw another but it was the wrong size, now I spotted many bands but they were all too small for my needs.

It seemed that a truck carrying elastic bands had crashed nearby, sending the bands back to their natural habitat, there had to be one the correct size or should I collect a few and join them?

Then ahead I saw one the correct size, using all my skills learned by watching Pokemon cartoons I captured it, then I saw another, got that one as well, the universe takes and gives.

Next session on Sunday, am hoping for a less interesting time

tdiamond88

Just read through all of your journey and loved it! I just re-started C25K myself and will definitely not be hesitating to repeat weeks but love seeing how you handled the mental challenge of it.

Runaroundafieldx2

Congratulations.

I like running in the rain, much better than the heat!

I tend to find the runs when I have to force myself out the door end up being great runs for some reason.

Styggian

@tdiamond88

Thanks for your comments much appreciated, I find updating this post and reading people's comments is a great source of motivation and knowledge for me.

Good luck with your own C25k journey, let me know how you get on

Styggian

@Runaroundafieldx2

Thanks for your comments, much appreciated.

This was an unusual run for me, that the actual run barely 'registered' with me, just seemed to be sorting minor problems out.

That being said, am really happy that I did it

fraukazi

Well done @Styggian for not letting the distractions stop you from running! In my opinion that is what makes a runner much more so than pace or distance.

Styggian

@fraukazi

Thanks for your positive words of encouragement, they are much appreciated.

Am enjoying the program and looking forward to completing it, then work on my next goal

Looking forward to the day I participate in a organised event, got eye my on a weekly park run event, suspect it will be in the New Year

GrumpyHeadmistress

Awesome job @Styggian! If you like C25K then you’ll love Parkrun. It’s like being surrounded by loads of Lauras encouraging you along.

You mentioned in one of your posts that you sometimes find the first 3 mins or so the worst. Someone once told me about the “nightmare 10”. Essentially it’s first 10mins or so of every workout which most people hate. Your body doesn’t like expending energy, it’s running on one sort of “emergency cardio” system and stuff is basically reluctantly working. If you can get through that first 10mins, your body settles down and switches systems into one that’s much more efficient and comfortable. And apparently the same thing is true for most cardio, no matter how fast or slow you are.

Styggian

@GrumpyHeadmistress

The "Nightmare 10" Based on my experience so far, I think it's an actual phenomena, mine seems to last 3 to 5 mins, to be honest I had put it down to 'old knees'. Hoping to to get one of those 3D printers for Christmas, so I can print myself some new ones, preferably a sports turbo version, with red stripes on the side

Thanks for the motivation, you have given me another reason to do the Parkrun

Styggian

Session 2 Week 8 done.

Today's session consisted of:

5min warm up
28min jog
5min warm down


Preparation fairly automatic, I could hear the rain, but this is England in December, no surprise.

Out the door, tablet now secured in the carrying holster by two elastic bands, in fact so secure that I could not access the volume button.

The warm up walk passed without incident, then onto the 28min run, stared was a bit too fast, so slowed it down to a very steady pace. The left knee made a valiant effort to stop me, however after 3 mins, the pain was gone.

It was early morning so I had the City to myself, or so I thought, the remnants of night club crowd were still waiting for taxis, I had to admire their dedication to fashion, the rain may not have been heavy but the wind was straight from the arctic, very fresh.

Once past the nightlife, went back into run mode, my main focus was keeping out puddles. However the improvised suction system on my left trainer, still worked efficiently, so was running with a soggy left sock.

Am amazed at the distance I now cover, again had to make a detour to fit my warm down walk in. Arrived home slightly soggy and ready for a huge breakfast

Next session Tuesday

Runaroundafieldx2

Well done

Treat yourself to some new trainers for Christmas

Styggian

@Runaroundafieldx2

Thanks

On my shopping list

AmyC2288

You are doing so great! Your dedication to keep up with the program even in the outside elements is awesome. You should be very proud of yourself

Styggian

@AmyC2288

Thank you very much for those positive comments.

Am definitely pleased with my progress, looking forward to my first Park run

Styggian

Session 3 Week 8 done.

Once the alarm went off getting ready for the run was automatic, one slight change, last night my left calf seemed stiff after work, so this morning I rubbed a 'deep heat' cream on both my legs.

No real science knowledge for this just thought "prevention better than cure", a placebo action so I would not worry about it.

Once out of the door, I found the weather dry but very cold, therefore my 'brisk' warm up walk was very brisk . Even with the brisk walking my upper arms, chest and back, seemed to be getting cold, was looking forward to the jogging just to get warmer.

As usual I started the run phase a bit too fast, as it was my last 28min run decided to slow down just a bit and see how far I could go till the 5min point.

I surpassed the usual distance, covered by the first 5mins of jogging by about 20 to 25 paces, but my breathing was getting laboured so I slowed the pace down.

Time flew by and all of a sudden Laura announced 5 mins left and I was already at the 5min warm down point, so had to put a extra detour on my usual detour

Once the run was completed walked back home, very pleased that I had survived the pace increase. Next session Thursday

My left knee did not get a mention on this post, it's going to be furious

martaindale

Sounds like you had a good run!! Great job!

Styggian

@martaindale

I did, thank you

Styggian

Session 1 Week 9 done.

Today's session consisted of:

5min warm up
30min jog
5min warm down

Run prep was was done on 'automatic pilot'.

Once out of the door, the first thing I noticed was the cold, so I did a 'brisk' warm up walk, no real problems, just my head playing with me, my first attempt at 30 mins jogging.

One part was stating “I have done x3 28mins sessions and felt there was enough left in the 'tank' for another two mins”. The other part of my brain was saying “it's the first time you had to do 30mins, you really don't know if it can be done!”

Laura interrupted my motivational internal dialogue and said run.

At the 5min point I was well ahead of my usual marker, decided I was going a bit too fast slowed down to a steadier pace.

Was expecting the left knee to give me dome pain, but it was OK, however was that a ache in my right knee? Whatever just ignored it.

When the 25min time check was announced, I was surprised hoe fast it had come and how much distance I had covered. I was well beyond the 5min marker for my usual warm down walk.

A detour would have to be made again, at this point my left knee made itself known by giving me a sharp stabbing pain every time my foot hit the ground. So close to the finish, I did not really want to stop.

Because of the pain I was 'limp jogging', wondering if I should stop & walk, was glad that it was early morning and no one could see me, I must have looked like a drunken crab trying to walk in a straight line and not making a very convincing job of it.

Fortunately after a couple of mins the pain went away, but I had missed my detour turn and had to run past my house, once the run was complete, I turned around and went into my 5min warm down walk.

My first 30 min run completed, I was very happy I know now that I can run for 30 mins