Couch to 5K (week 1)

sundinsgurl

Today I ended up goin for a run/walk with my friend who is also doing couch to 5K - however she is staying on Week 1 for a bit till she feels more confident. So I did Week 1 with her. I will start my Week 3 tomorrow FOR SURE!! I am actually very excited for Week 3 since goal30Lori and Max_Power are saying its easier than they thought

I also completed Level 2 - Day #7 in the 30 Day Shred

abbiez

completed w1d2 this evening. it felt so much easier than day 1!!! i wanted to do it again (but didnt, my legs are so sore). my shins have been hurting and upon recommendation of MFP members i went and bought some running shoes ($96!!!!) they were expensive but when i ran in them i felt different! more stable and i felt like a REAL runner :-D I also went on a little spree at walmart and bought some new workout clothes (LADIES: they have danskin stuff on sale!! i got two pairs of shorts, a pair of pants, 3 workout tees and a tank top, plus a pack of socks for $56). spent way too much money today...

cant wait til friday for w1d3.. and then sunday for w2d1.. :-D

Max_Power

W3D2 today, and not surprisingly it seemed a little harder than D1, but I still made it. I think D1's are a little easier coming off of 2 days of rest, but I'm still looking forward to D3 on Saturday. Today was the first day I did it without a podcast, I wanted to listen to a morning show on the local sports talk station. I had no problem keeping track of the time, although I did feel like I was looking at my watch a little too often. I greatly prefer listening to my own thing than the canned podcast music though, so I will probably continue this method. I realize it wouldn't work for everyone though.

Soon I will need to start figuring out the actual distances I am running. I know it can be time or distance based, but I would like my final run to actually BE 5K! I've got several weeks to go before I need to worry about that though... Keep running!

sundinsgurl

I am also doing the timed versions instead of distance right now. Also, I enjoy running with my own music and just keep track of the time.

Completed Week 3 Day 1... 3 minutes does seem a lot longer than 90 seconds lol but I got through it felt great!!

meokk

Completed week 1 day 3 this evening and feeling pretty good. I'm more tired than the last 2 sessions but less sore. My runs were faster today as well. I don;t think I've really improved in 1 week but maybe I'm just more confident. The first few days I think I ran quote slowly because I was not sure if I could finish. Now I know I can but we'll see about week 2 which I'll start either tomorrow or Saturday.

How did everybody else feel after week 1?
Once you get to week 3, 4 etc do you still feel sore?

ljc1057

Just finished W3D1. YEA!! It wasn't that bad. I've been running inside on the treadmill. First it's not light out when I have to workout before work in the morning and second it's been so hot here (over 100 augh!) I'm looking forward to an early workout tomorrow outside. Hopefully it won't be too hot.

TammyK777

had a few bad days, physically and emotionally, but got back at it today! I repeated W1D3 and feel good!

goal30Lori

had a few bad days, physically and emotionally, but got back at it today! I repeated W1D3 and feel good!

Way to go Tammy! You can do it!!!

ljc1057

W3D2 and felt it more in the legs, but really not that bad. It was easier than W3D1. I've been working out at a park on a running trail, but this morning I ran/walked down by the Mississippi River. It was fun to go something different. I've been using DJ Beatsmith's podrunner intervals. I can do this!!

sherri79eaton

Hey everybody, just wanted to let you know if you have an ipod touch or Iphone, there is an app called "get running", Its .99 and it has the intervals on it for all the 9 weeks and a bonus is that you can play your ipod while using it and it just lowers the volume when voice comes on to tell you when to run/walk and how much time you have left in each interval!! Its great I am loving it, I am on W1D3, which I will do tonight! Week one has not been as hard as I thought it would be, I am a 281 lb girl, so If i can do it anybody can!!

Max_Power

Finished week 3 this morning! Day 3 was harder than W3 days 1 or 2 by far, on the last 3-minute interval I did not think I was going to make it. I was using the Ullrey podcast and when his voice came on to say "one minute left" and I was expecting him to say I was done, I wanted to quit. But I didn't and I was glad I finished that last minute. I definitely realized today that I am not running very fast at all, but I know that will come with time. I'm still very heavy (just dropped under 250 yesterday) so I know I just need to work on my stamina, and hopefully keep dropping some weight so I'm not so hard on my joints before I worry about pace.

Anyways, looking forward to week 4 on Tuesday morning! 3 minutes is going to be the "easy" interval!

ljc1057

Just did W3D3. Had to catch up because my 5K is Sept. 18. I downloaded the Ullrey podcast. Probably because I'm used to the DJ Beatsmith, I think I like it better. I like the beat and the change of the tempo between runs and walks better. However, the Ullrey is better explained. I'll think I'll use both for variety. Little nervous about week 4.

Max_Power

Little nervous about week 4.

That's what I meant too... But I'm looking forward to the challenge, we can do it!

suzyharlan1

Just finished W1D3. Looking forward to W2. I'm starting out jogging pretty slow because my knee gets sore sometimes so I'm being careful. So far, so good though! I'm hoping to jog/run/walk in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure 5K in October. I think that's doable. Thanks for the Get Running info for iphone Sherri. I just downloaded it and will try it. Sounds pretty great.

hroush

How I figure out a guestimation of how far I've gone is using google maps. you can choose walk mode, choose your start and end points, and then drag the route until it mimics yours. This is also a good tool when you want to go for distance. They only bad thing as far as i can tell is that it only breaks it down into tenths of a mile.

desireebutts

Good luck to you! I hate running!!! I think it's awesome that you are going to run a marathon!!

pinbotchick

Just wanted to wish all luck and encourage you to stick with it!! I graduated in Feb and wasn't quite up to 5K but kept adding 3 min a week until I could do it... I ran several 5K then proceeded to 10K. I'm now training for the Detroit 1/2 marathon Oct 17th.. I ran 8 miles this morning at a slow pace but at least I did it...

meokk

Completed week 2 day 1 this evening. Running with a bit of a headwind it felt much harder than week 1 but I managed.

Pinbotchick - you are quite the inspiration!!! I hope I have your determination to continue once I graduate.

NEED ADVICE - didn't buy an HRM Yet so guessing my cals burned. What would you all guess ????? I'm about 40 lbs overweight have not exercised regularly for years. THANKS!!!!!!!

ljc1057

I usually guess too. I come up with an average speed (which is a walking speed) and then just put the distance I did. However, I did find this website the other day. I think I under estimated my calories burned, but that's ok.

http://www.runtheplanet.com/resources/tools/calculators/caloriecounter.asp

Good luck and wtg on W2D1!

SillySkittles

Love hearing everyone shooting down their weekly goals! Keep up the awesome work everyone!!!

dothompson

Just did W3D1 this morning! I handled the 3-min intervals much better than I thought I would. I was also glad that I finally started feeling the burn in my legs more than my lungs. My lung capacity must be improving, and now I will finally have enough endurance to be building strength in my legs. Can't wait to do it again Thursday morning!

I did W3D1 today also, and I feel the same way! It's like it's easier than week one, which is totally amazing to me!! Looking forward to the next one!

Thanks for the encouragement from both of you. I did week 2 day 2 this morning and I have to admit that the 3 minute intervals are worrying me. I'm going to take stock in what you've said and know that I can do it.

Thanks again!

scottc

I'd love to join! I'm starting week 2 day 1 today.

Kincar

I'd love to join too. I am on W1 (started mid-week last week) and feeling really good. So glad I started running again. My goal is to keep at this. My challenge will be going back to work next week. I'm an elementary school teacher. Finding the energy/time to exercise during the school year is hard.

goal30Lori

I'd love to join too. I am on W1 (started mid-week last week) and feeling really good. So glad I started running again. My goal is to keep at this. My challenge will be going back to work next week. I'm an elementary school teacher. Finding the energy/time to exercise during the school year is hard.

We can do it!! I also return to work next week(albeit only casually) after my maternity leave....

ljc1057

Welcome Scottc and Kincar! :flowerforyou:

I'm already back at work - well I have been all summer because I work in the office at a school. However, it means two things - longer hours and FOOD. Already there is all kinds of food in the faculty workroom. I've stayed away!

sundinsgurl

Completed Week 3 Day 2 today.. felt easier than day 1 I am really enjoying this.. cant wait to get Day 3 down so I can move onto week 4.

So glad to see that so many of us are sticking to it!!! Also really nice to hear that people who have completed it are working on training to run farther!!

ljc1057

I agree Sundisgurl. Love the group! Just did W4D1 and I survived. YEA!

sundinsgurl

Completed final run/walk of week 3 - onto week 4 :)

Max_Power

Did W4D1 this morning, and once again I felt great! The worst part was actually a blister on my foot from breaking in my new running shoes over the weekend, but after a few blocks it didn't hurt much.

I think part of the reason I was so intimidated was because all the intervals are now in "minutes" instead of seconds. Sounds weird I know, but "90 seconds" sounds so much easier than "3 minutes" or "5 minutes". But once I started the 5 minute interval, I just blocked out of my mind that I was running for X amount of time, and instead I was just running. I wasn't thinking about how many seconds I had left, I just ran until the podcast said to stop. I hope the next two runs go as well, but I'm worried about W4D3 because Day 3's have been my hardest so far.

goal30Lori

Did W4D1 this morning, and once again I felt great! The worst part was actually a blister on my foot from breaking in my new running shoes over the weekend, but after a few blocks it didn't hurt much.

I think part of the reason I was so intimidated was because all the intervals are now in "minutes" instead of seconds. Sounds weird I know, but "90 seconds" sounds so much easier than "3 minutes" or "5 minutes". But once I started the 5 minute interval, I just blocked out of my mind that I was running for X amount of time, and instead I was just running. I wasn't thinking about how many seconds I had left, I just ran until the podcast said to stop. I hope the next two runs go as well, but I'm worried about W4D3 because Day 3's have been my hardest so far.

Yay! That's fantastic! Week 4 intimidated me too for some reason... I handled the three minutes okay, but for some reason 5 minutes scared me! You know what else is scary.... I listened ahead to week 5.... On W5D3, we run for 20 minutes straight!!:noway: