5k a day in January?

Happyoceangirl

i have found a 5k every month for the next couple of months so i am going to do all of them, it will be fun to see if i can keep improving on my official time. it also gives me motivation to keep training harder. is there anyone from the southwest florida area?

Again, I'm very impressed! When is the soonest one? Let us know so we can cheer you on!
And, great job with getting tonight's run in.

Yesterday I fell short of my 5k goal - only went for a 1 mile walk - HOWEVER, it was in the evening and I am happy that I did manage to get some form of exercise in for the day when it looked like it wasn't going to happen at all. My calendar reflects only 1 day so far this year without some form of intentional exercise! I plan to keep it that way.

This morning we did our 2.2 mile run - total was 5k including walking. Our pace is increasing... but running buddy tells me I need to work on 1) my breathing and 2) being "light on my feet". Apparently I'm running very flat footed - and breathing in and out through the mouth.

I'm open to suggestions on how to improve....

kgrutch

good job smiles for miles. i skip certain days too, the trend is what we want, one day is not going to make or break it. breathing can be tricky, some people really focus on it but as a beginner i found i try to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. i dont like to run beside anyone too because i am tempted to talk and screw up my breathing even more. sometimes i count my breaths and find a rhythm with my breathing to my steps. as far as light on your feet, lol, i felt like i was prodding along many times, still do especially if i am tired or worked 12 hours that day. i do try to visualize myself leaning slightly forward vs straight up and down so i am moving in the right direction, like a momentum kind of thing.

i did a kickboxing class (cardio) today and a "group power" class, 1 hour of total body weight lifting. getting ready to go run tonight, after baby's bath and bedtime. keep up the good work!!

Happyoceangirl

good job smiles for miles. i skip certain days too, the trend is what we want, one day is not going to make or break it. breathing can be tricky, some people really focus on it but as a beginner i found i try to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. i dont like to run beside anyone too because i am tempted to talk and screw up my breathing even more. sometimes i count my breaths and find a rhythm with my breathing to my steps. as far as light on your feet, lol, i felt like i was prodding along many times, still do especially if i am tired or worked 12 hours that day. i do try to visualize myself leaning slightly forward vs straight up and down so i am moving in the right direction, like a momentum kind of thing.

i did a kickboxing class (cardio) today and a "group power" class, 1 hour of total body weight lifting. getting ready to go run tonight, after baby's bath and bedtime. keep up the good work!!

I want to say the same to you - about keeping up the good work. You are committed and it shows. It's nice to have this thread to come to and know there's a little extra accountability. On my run this morning I focused on breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth - I found I have to start with that focus (vs. trying to gain a breathing rhythm after I've already been running for 20 minutes). It was challenging, but I'll keep working on it. I found that I had to run quite a bit slower so that I didn't get winded that way. I'm wondering if it really matters all that much? I'll have to keep working on it and in a week or two see if it's produced any positive results.

We upped our distance a bit this morning - so the run portion was about 2.5 miles, total was about 3.6 then (if my math isn't off). Then I came home and did Yoga Booty Ballet Core (needed to get kind of centered, I was disappointed in my run).. and after THAT, I did Jillian Michaels' cardio kickbox. I had some frustrations to vent. It felt GOOD to get it all out!

kgrutch

wow it sounds like you went all out, a lot of exercise!! GREAT JOB!! you almost ran the whole 3.1 miles, you are so close. well last night i had good intentions, was laying with the baby and feel asleep. oh well, i have found that this occasionally happens that i am so tired i fall asleep ay 8pm in my clothes, i have stopped getting upset about. i figured my body must need extra rest. i got up at 4am and went to bootcamp before work and just got in from running 5.5km tonight. felt good but i timed it and was slower than i thought, i ran a 5km last month and did it in 29mins 30seconds, tonight i timed 33 mins but the measurements could be off, we just did it haphazardly with the car. i am going to recheck the distance tomorrow, i cant believe that i am getting slower instead of faster. good luck with tomorrow.

Happyoceangirl

Thanks for the encouragement. I don't know why yesterdays run was so hard, i just couldn't get the lead out. Maybe it's the new pilates routine I've added in. While I've been doing lunges and other leg work, this seems to be straining different parts of my thighs. As I adjust, I'm sure my core will feel stronger and the runs, better.

As for your time being slower than before - I've come to the conclusion that some runs are just like that. Just like some are freakin AWESOME and you feel like you could go forever. (Could i have one of those soon, please? :bigsmile: )

Today my schedule was a bit weird and I ended up doing pilates in the morning and a 1 mile walk with the dogs this evening. It's not 3.1... BUT I plan to get up EARLY tomorrow morning and get a good run in.

And, btw, I agree.... if you're falling asleep with the baby, your body is telling you something! Good for you, understanding you need the rest... you'll do so much better if you're not beating yourself up. :flowerforyou:

kgrutch

thats very true, if your leg muscles are sore or tired, forget it, very hard to go fast. today i did so many lunges and squats that i may have to take advil before i run tonight, i did go last night 5.5 k and my time was faster becuase my husband was running behind me and i felt pressure to keep up the speed. i also did a spin class this morning, i love switching it up, keeps things interesting. i had 3 people today at the gym tell me that i was looking good, so nice to hear compliments when you have been working so hard. i plan on having a little wine this evening so im not sure how my running will be, lol.

i had someone else tell me today about trying pilates, do you like it, do you have a tape or do you take a class. my trouble is with doing it at home, i have very little motivation and a 3 year old jumping on me. i might try a pilates class at the gym.

Happyoceangirl

thats very true, if your leg muscles are sore or tired, forget it, very hard to go fast. today i did so many lunges and squats that i may have to take advil before i run tonight, i did go last night 5.5 k and my time was faster becuase my husband was running behind me and i felt pressure to keep up the speed. i also did a spin class this morning, i love switching it up, keeps things interesting. i had 3 people today at the gym tell me that i was looking good, so nice to hear compliments when you have been working so hard. i plan on having a little wine this evening so im not sure how my running will be, lol.

i had someone else tell me today about trying pilates, do you like it, do you have a tape or do you take a class. my trouble is with doing it at home, i have very little motivation and a 3 year old jumping on me. i might try a pilates class at the gym.

Wow - I'm not sure I would even attempt running after doing a lunge and squat marathon. Awesome that you're getting positive feedback for workign so hard - that always helps! As does having a running buddy to keep your speed up. We were CRAZY this morning - left while it was still dark out to get the run in b/c i had an early morning meeting. Got the 5 k in. Woo hoo! And, I really challenged myself to keep up with running buddy - so my lungs were challenged as well. The breathing is getting better. It's hard to breathe rhythmically but i think it will be worth the work in the end.

For the pilates - i researched online to find a good instructional video and read reviews on Amazon. I got the Pilates Workout for Dummies - it has a beginner and intermediate workout. I would probably prefer a gym class though... my thought is to do the DVD for a couple of months and then see if I can find one at the Y... Hope you have / had a great day!

kgrutch

great job, thats early to be that energetic!! congrats on doing the whole 5k, how do you keep track of how far you are running? do you time it or just run.

i decided to run an 8k on Jan 30th, i have never even run that far but i know i can do it, just may not be that fast. i am soo excited, its fun to have a run to look forward to.

do you live in florida, i think you said you live somewhere warm before? i am in fort myers, florida. do you know where that is? i think my husband is skipping our run tonight so i will need motivation to get out there by myself. my goal is the gym 5 x week and run at night 5 x week and i am at those numbers so even if i miss tonight i will be within my goal range. good luck this weekend with the runs.

kgrutch

i ran 8k last night, didnt stop. i was so excited because that is the longest i have ever ran in one sitting. i guess i will be able to do my 8k race after all!!

Happyoceangirl

i ran 8k last night, didnt stop. i was so excited because that is the longest i have ever ran in one sitting. i guess i will be able to do my 8k race after all!!

Wow!! Awesome job! So proud of you..... !!!! Where is the 8k race on Jan 30?

Also, your question from your previous post... i usually carry my ipod with me and it has a clock on it - so I can keep track of how long it takes. As for distance, if I don't have the distance of the route memorized, (ie if I add in a new stretch of road), I'll go out in the car and see how long the route is. And, your other question... i live in Hawaii... so temperature wise, it's usually nice enough to run out. I've heard of Ft. Myers, but have never been there. (Never been to Florida at all, actually).

I did a solo run this morning (running buddy wants to do Tues, Thurs and Sat this week) and I did the 5k run, with a total distance of 4 miles (with the warm up /cool down walks added in). Felt great! Will be going back out tomorrow.....

Are you doing 8K again today??

kgrutch

nice, hawaii, i have never been there either. im sure it is beautiful. the 8k race is here locally, fort myers. it seems like they have some kind of race at least twice a month, they are cheap to enter, like $20 or 25, raising money for some charity. the 8k race is for habitat for humanity.

so you have got the whole 5k, great job, you were quick to advance. i saw some friends out walking last night and i told them too, just push a little more each week and you get up quickly. i didnt think i could do 8k and i did it without problem. last night i just did 5k. tonight i might try the 8k again. i went to the gym this morning and did legs (weights) and 1 hour fight club class. we will have to see if my legs will hold out for the long run tonight.

Happyoceangirl

nice, hawaii, i have never been there either. im sure it is beautiful. the 8k race is here locally, fort myers. it seems like they have some kind of race at least twice a month, they are cheap to enter, like $20 or 25, raising money for some charity. the 8k race is for habitat for humanity.

so you have got the whole 5k, great job, you were quick to advance. i saw some friends out walking last night and i told them too, just push a little more each week and you get up quickly. i didnt think i could do 8k and i did it without problem. last night i just did 5k. tonight i might try the 8k again. i went to the gym this morning and did legs (weights) and 1 hour fight club class. we will have to see if my legs will hold out for the long run tonight.

Yep, it is nice..... especially in the winter! No more sub-zero winters for me. As for the 5k... I started with the Cto5K program and got to where I was able to regularly do 5k.... I maintained at that but had problems really going much farther or faster. When I got a running buddy, (just after Christmas) - my distance shortened because she needed to build up to 5k at once... I was a bit worried that I'd be backsliding, since I'm not going as far, but I end up running faster b/c we're together than I would alone, so it seems a fair trade off. Yesterday I think we went just about 2.5 miles - just a guess though. And today I was so busy that the only exercise I fit in was Pilates. Tomorrow is a run day though...

How about you? How's it going?

kgrutch

i have done 5k last 2 nights but couldnt get myself to the 8k (legs sore from weights). this morning i did the treadmill at the gym, i run inclines and sprints, i think that really builds my endurance for the 5k runs. i would try that if you feel like you are not making progress. on the treadmill i run 1 minute at 5 incline, 1 min at 8, 1 min at 12 and then 1 min at 15% incline ( a killer) rest one min then do it again. i then run 1 min sprints (different inclines weekly) and rest for 1 min in between, i do 5 sprints. great workout!!

Happyoceangirl

i have done 5k last 2 nights but couldnt get myself to the 8k (legs sore from weights). this morning i did the treadmill at the gym, i run inclines and sprints, i think that really builds my endurance for the 5k runs. i would try that if you feel like you are not making progress. on the treadmill i run 1 minute at 5 incline, 1 min at 8, 1 min at 12 and then 1 min at 15% incline ( a killer) rest one min then do it again. i then run 1 min sprints (different inclines weekly) and rest for 1 min in between, i do 5 sprints. great workout!!

Hi there... just noticed, 8 days until your 8k!!! Getting excited? Your advice about how to increase speed sounds helpful - I would be happy to have use of a treadmill because although I may want to speed up on the road, I dont have to or face falling down, know what I mean? That extra element of "keeping up" would be a help. For some reason, I am soooooooo tired the past couple of days. We walked instead of ran yesterday (but it was 3.1 miles) and today... I'm searching for motivation. Hopefully I will find it. Maybe i can borrow some of yours? You seem to have plenty!:happy:

kgrutch

well thanks for the compliment aboiut the motivation but i have to push myself along too. i went to buy some new jeans today and that is always motivation, i bought some 4's and some 6's and i felt so good in them that i want to make sure that i keep this size. it feels so good to be thin and lean. that is my motivation. i also have 3 kids 15, 14 and 3 so i tell myself that i need to keep healthy to see them grow up and see the grandkids. whenever i feel like i cant go farther or faster sometimes i ask myself "if my child was about to fall off a cliff could i run and save them?" of course you would be able to, then i speed up. sometimes my body feels so tired, i started tracking the workouts and amount i run on my calendar and i noticed every tuesday i was exhausted and actually miss my run at night. it is interesting to see what patterns develop. it also helps to motivate me to see everything i have done. my morning motivation (at 430 am sometimes i feel like i can barely move) is getting my coffee. i buy coffee EVERY day, im addicted but it gets me moving.
i am getting exctied about the 8km run, still havent done it very times. but i plan to rest the day before and eat a good breakfast so hopefully i will have enough energy for a good run.

kgrutch

just wanted to give the update, ran my 8K today and it was sooooo much fun. i am really addicted to running at this point, i could do this every weekend. i ran it in 41 mins 45 seconds ( did the 5k part in 26 mins, which broke my old official record of 29:30). i even got a trophy for third place in my division. what a surprise. there is a 5k around my area almost every weekend so i am going to try to do at least 1-2 month just for fun. i may try for the half marathon in march but wow, that sounds like a big goal. i still havent got my mind wrapped around it. hope things are still good for you.