Couch to 5K (week 1)

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  • ljc1057
    ljc1057 Posts: 357 Member
    For the past two days I've done week 3 of C25K and working on speed. Actually yesterday I did it twice, 2 miles out and 2miles back. On each of the 2 miles I ran a quarter of a mile 3 times at 12 min miles. Much faster than the 16 min miles from the 5K. :smile: It actually took me 3 days to figure out how to run faster. I am not an athlete at all, but by the end of yesterday's workout I felt like I'd got it. My back is a little sore this morning proving I'm using muscles I don't usually use. We're on fall break so I have more time. Going on a bike ride today and going to see my youngest two this afternoon. And, it's my birthday today. :smooched:

    Jpotvin - Good luck on the move. That is so stressful. Hopefully it will be smooth. Is your husband at his training?

    Max - I'm sorry we aren't giving you much support on the B210K. Hopefully the knees will hold out. That's a big jump in the running time.

    Meokk - I'm sure you don't have a lot of time with a wedding in a few weeks. I'd love to hear more about the plans.

    Sundinsgurl - I hope the cold will pass you by. That is definitely no fun. Get rest if it does. I want to be in Hawaii too! :drinker:
  • JPotvin
    JPotvin Posts: 108
    I managed to get the boys and myself out of the house this morning for a long walk....with a very short jog thrown in. Walked over to Walmart...shopped, then ventured over to the watershed where I jog, walked one lap, and jogged another, then finally walked home. Just so tired...perhaps my youngest should start sleeping through the night...will be very glad to move...he can start then when he has his own room!

    My husband is not at training yet...he leaves the 20th, we leave for a vacation to "home" the 21st. Our stuff gets packed on the 18th, moved out of our house on the 19th, and we will have it delivered when I am back from vacation on the 26th....crazy. But thank god I don't have to pack!
  • sundinsgurl
    sundinsgurl Posts: 1,157 Member
    Still not feelin that well but went to the gym for a run today anyways. Only had time for a 31 min run - I payed attention to the distance and I ran 2.67 miles - so still short of the 5K its just so hard to get it in when I only have a short time period between work shifts.

    JPotvin - sounds like you are very very busy right now, luckily you dont have to pack! Good job for getting in a few runs a week :)

    ljc - HAPPY BIRTHDAY again :) that is a great idea to go back and try to improve your time, already your improving your time soo much!! Your doing great. Next time you'll blow the 5KM out of the water

    Max - sorry to hear that your knees are sore! Prolly a good idea to switch up your routine anyways - I am trying to figure out another challenge to do as well. I am considering the Insanity program - but I enjoy running so much now!!
  • Max_Power
    Max_Power Posts: 84 Member
    I should probably clarify on my knee problem, they don't really hurt much, but they tend to "pop" a lot for the day or so after my run. It's hard to describe, and not as painful as it sounds, but like cracking your knuckles but it's my knees. So it's not so much pain but I'm just afraid of doing damage. I know they say if you don't cool down properly after a run lactic acid (I think?) can build up in your joints and cause stiffness, but I always walk at least 15 minutes to get home after running, and I walk on my off days. Who knows. The weather was so nice today I couldn't bring myself to use an elliptical inside so I gave running a shot and it was fine. Afterwards my knees didn't feel as bad as they did Tuesday, so hopefully I can keep it up. I just hope I can get all the way through B210K before moving on to something else.

    ljc- that is an interesting idea about going back to week 3 and working on speed, I could definitely benefit from that. Plus, I know higher intensity intervals are great for burning a ton of calories. Hmmm... I'll have to think about that one. Maybe some shorter durations of higher intensity would be better for my knees than the steady pounding for 45 minutes of running... slowly. Thanks for the idea, and I hope you had a great birthday!
  • sundinsgurl
    sundinsgurl Posts: 1,157 Member
    Had an hour soccer practice today.. more so just practice scrimmage so there was some running involved. Not sure if I will run or do the elliptical tomorrow at the gym.. I guess I will decide when I get there

    Max - just try your best to get through the B210K.. maybe take a few more walking days in between and see if that helps the knees at all?
  • JPotvin
    JPotvin Posts: 108
    Well, I finally made it though 3.1 miles and only had to walk for a total of 2.5 minutes. My husband is the best...he took the boys in the jogger for a walk while I ran with the dog...I gave up on the dog after about a mile and a half since she kept stopping to pee....so I dropped her off with my husband and boys and kept going! We have a great route to run where we are right now, nice quiet area at the watershed...1 lap is .7 miles. It is a perfect 5k once you get past the one set of lights, .5 miles to the watershed, do 3 laps, and head back uphill to the lights. :) I was tired...but so happy! Feeling better, have my energy back, hurray!
  • Mangoaddict
    Mangoaddict Posts: 1,236 Member
    Hi everyone, hope I can join this group. I will be running my second 5k race this october 23rd. I am currently at week 4.1
    A little out of shape since I didn't run at all this summer. I was busy entertaining family and friends from overseas. I am back and want all the motivation I can get!!!! Thanks all!
  • JPotvin
    JPotvin Posts: 108
    Happy Sunday Everyone! Went for a run late this morning after the coffee had kicked in and ran 3 miles...best time yet...and I only had to walk for 1 minute! Woohoo...I actually feel like I am getting somewhere :) Hope everyone has a great weekend :)
  • annecolorgreen
    annecolorgreen Posts: 116 Member
    Aloha! :happy:

    Thanks so much for thinking of me!! I had an AMAZING vacation! While I know everyone can't manage an opportunity like that, my recommendation is NOT to put "big" things like that off to the future...we don't know what the future holds. Case in point, my parents had ALWAYS planned to go to Hawaii for their 25th wedding anniversary--my mother died the night before that deadline. The "Hawaii" fund went to pay for hospital/funeral bills instead of their dream trip. From another "post-trip" perspective, many, many, many, many of those on the cruise component of our trip were very elderly. While I'm sure they had a good time, there are just so many things to do/see that some weren't capable of due to physical limitations. I saw two people fall--falls are never good.

    The Taco Maui 5k was such a great experience! My husband backed out on me (he was going to walk) but I met a group of girls from St. Louis and one decided she wanted to run intervals with me! (4 min run/1 min walk) She started out strong, but then I had to hold back and walk more than planned to keep her with me (she kept telling me to go on, but it's always more fun to be with someone else). In the end, we were doing 2/2 intervals with a little burst at the end. At the end, just as we crossed the finish line, she threw up!!! :laugh: Sorry, but I did laugh! I apologized for pushing her so much and she said, "no, thanks for the encouragement". We have a pretty funny pic of me laughing as I crossed and her getting ready to hurl. OK...TMI...I know!

    Since coming home, I have run in TWO more 5k's--improving my time with each one. In Maui, I was at 43 something, last week my time was 38 something, and for the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure yesterday, I hit 36:21. I am still doing intervals and planning to continue that. I'm reading Jeff Galloway's book about running a half-marathon and he is a big proponent of doing just that...no matter the distance. During the Komen race, I had one spurt where I forgot to watch the time that I ran 5.5 min but kept on intervals other than that. The MOST fun thing about that race was all the encouragement! There were school bands playing, cheerleaders from local high schools and dance teams, and many others. Another thing was that we crossed over and back on a bridge (across the Ohio River) and it was fun watching for people from our running group as we passed each other (that's when I lost track of time). Crossing the bridge was fun too :smile: .

    My knee: is doing very well. I have very few instances of pain. In Hawaii, I hiked, climbed, swam, and ran with only two occurrences of pain. I lost a pound on vacation!!!!!!! (I brought a knee brace but didn't use it) My last time was Tuesday after a training run (I was walking).

    A new problem: dizziness. I went to hot yoga Wednesday and could hardly finish due to dizziness (unusual for me). I had another vague episode when I was leaving a work meeting on thursday. Probably just tired and maybe a bit dehydrated but I hope it doesn't continue!!

    (at this point, I'm going to apologize about not getting on here sooner but my grandchildren got here a week ago Saturday and life has been busy and somewhat stressful since their parents are splitting up--one is 18 mos and the other 4 mos)
  • ljc1057
    ljc1057 Posts: 357 Member
    Anne - such good advice about not waiting to do things. It sounds like your trip was awesome! I got a laugh out of the girl hurling at the finish line. Great job of the three 5Ks and going better in time on each. The Race for the Cure is a really uplifting race. I had only done (walked) the one here before, so going to Houston for their's was interesting. Definitely different than our's. Some things I liked better. The one in Houston had a "survivors" finish area where my sister went down a shoot (for lack of a better word) that was lined with people cheering. It was quite a long distance too. Our's is October 30 and my sister and her family are coming up for that one. I was planning on running, but I don't think my sister will, and I'd like to be there with her.

    This morning I rode my bike on our new Greenline, which is a 7 mile rails to trails path. I went all the way out and all the way back and hardly felt it. It was really beautiful, a little crowded at times, but nice. It took me about 100 minutes.

    JPotvin you are doing awesome!

    Welcome Mangoaddict! Love the name. :smile:
  • Max_Power
    Max_Power Posts: 84 Member
    Sounds like everyone is doing well. Anne, welcome back! Glad to hear you had fun with your 5K... er, 5K's! Glad to hear your knee pain is getting better as well, especially because I've been experiencing some myself. I've backed off a little, and decided not to keep pounding away at the B210K this fall, I will try it again in the spring. For now I am still going to do a few days a week of interval training, but with shorter high intensity intervals. Some days I will switch it up with an elliptical machine, and I'm also adding in some weight training.
  • annecolorgreen
    annecolorgreen Posts: 116 Member
    I tried to do a training run tonight and failed miserably. I couldn't seem to catch my breath. I ran inside on a treadmill as it was 89 degrees outside. I thought it would be better inside (and was, I'm sure) but my performance sucked. I finally threw in the towel. Ugh.
  • Max_Power
    Max_Power Posts: 84 Member
    Don't worry about it Anne, it happens! I know I had a few "bad runs" when I least expected them. There are days when I look forward to my run all day, am fresh off a 2 or 3 day rest, and just run out of gas before I even get going. I still haven't figured out exactly why that happens, but it does! Try again in a couple days and I bet you'll have your best run yet!
  • JPotvin
    JPotvin Posts: 108
    OK....so I have officially signed up for my 1st 5K....November 13th....Pretty excited! I thought I was going to have to run it with the kids in tow...since my husband will be gone...but lucky me...that is the weekend my mom is coming to keep me from losing my mind! She said she will come Friday so she can be there to cheer me on (and watch the kids)! Yeah!

    Feeling really great about my progress. Ran/walked through 3.0 miles yesterday with the double jogger in 34:52. I knew from about a minute and a half in that I may not finish...(Max and Anne...I totally understand).

    Hope everyone has a great day!
  • Mangoaddict
    Mangoaddict Posts: 1,236 Member
    Starting week 5. My race is October 24th (on my daughter's bday!!)....she's running too :)
    I will run 2 more next year, God willing. I am also walking and swimming on my days off. Sure am feeling strong right now!
  • ljc1057
    ljc1057 Posts: 357 Member
    YEA JPotvin on signing up for the 5K. You are going to do awesome! And good luck Mango!

    I have a weird injury. I rode my bike for 1.5 hours last weekend, which I hadn't done in a long time. I could "feel" my left knee, but it didn't hurt. It doesn't hurt at all during the day, even when I worked out this week, but it hurts when I'm in bed. So bad that I need to get up take take some ibuprofen. It's weird that it doesn't hurt at all during the day. I'm going to take today, tomorrow and Sunday off and see if it's better by Monday.
  • JPotvin
    JPotvin Posts: 108
    ljc--That is a weird injury...keep us posted!

    Yesterday I had a great running day! I took the boys with me (double jogger) and ran/walked my 3.1 miles in 33:15...I couldn't believe it. I actually went back home, and double checked the route on gmap pedometer! Still got 3.1m....so delighted! Hope everyone had a great week and is looking forward to the weekend...:bigsmile:
  • ljc1057
    ljc1057 Posts: 357 Member
    Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. I haven't been running, but I have been walking. I've started walking for 30 - 45 minutes during lunch. That seems to work best for me right now. Then a few days a week staying after practice to do some cardio. The knee hurt yesterday, but other than that its been ok.

    How's everyone else doing?
  • sundinsgurl
    sundinsgurl Posts: 1,157 Member
    Heylo everyone!!! Also just checkin in.. was really sick last week so didnt do a whole lot of anythng. This week I have gotten back to working out. I ran on Tuesday and today.. had a soccer game Wednesday and did the elitpical yesterday. When I run at the gym I usually do 26-30 mins because I have sch a small time constraint to get it in and make it to work on time

    Hope everyone is well!!!
  • dothompson
    dothompson Posts: 1,184 Member
    Today I completed week 5 day 3! I was really worried about running for 20 minutes without stopping, but I did it and honestly I felt I could have gone farther.

    This is an amazing program, I feel strong and am starting to enjoy this. I never thought I'd say that.
  • Today is week 1 run 3 and i'm sort of looking forward to it. I just feel sooo sore the day after a run. I'm hoping this will get better as I get further along in the program.
  • ljc1057
    ljc1057 Posts: 357 Member
    Dot - Congratulations on the 20 minute run! I agree, it's an amazing program and you're doing awesome!

    Tracee - Keep going. It will get better. It's not easy, but definitely doable.

    Sundisgurl - I'm glad you're feeling better.

    This past week I walked during my lunch 45 minutes. I managed to get in 2.25 miles and wasn't too sweaty. It actually was a wonderful break from work. Might even try some running when it gets colder.
  • Max_Power
    Max_Power Posts: 84 Member
    Hi everyone, glad to see you're all still working out. I decided to stop running a couple weeks ago, partly due to my knees bothering me and also because I wanted to incorporate more strength training to build up some muscle before doing P90X this winter (which I think tones more than builds). I started going to the fitness center in my office building after work and doing elliptical and then lifting weights. Last week was extremely busy at work, working 12 hour days trying to help our sales department land a big project. Unfortunately I had absolutely no energy for exercise after work, and to make matters worse I ate lunch at McDonald's a couple days and we ordered pizza one day. :( Not a good week at all, but I am ready to get back on track this week!

    By the way- I definitely AM planning to run again next summer, most likely start with B210K and then maybe a half marathon training? I will definitely plan a 5K race, and then who knows what else! Hopefully if I continue to lose weight over the winter with healthy eating and P90X I will be a little lighter when I start running again and it will be easier on my knees.
  • I am getting ready to start week 4 on Tuesday and am very nervous about it.
  • I just finished week 1. I've modified it a bit since I'm pregnant (I'm not running obviously lol). I feel great though and can't wait to start week 2!
  • Mangoaddict
    Mangoaddict Posts: 1,236 Member
    I completed my 5K today (second one in 6 months!) My official time was 38mins 35 sec.
    It was hard but it was an amazing day!!!

    You all can do it. Keep doing the couch to 5k program. It changes your life.
  • Nice job!
  • dothompson
    dothompson Posts: 1,184 Member
    Great job Mango! You're an inspiration.
  • sundinsgurl
    sundinsgurl Posts: 1,157 Member
    Today was the first time I ran a whole 5KM!!! I only have a certain amount of time between work shifts - so with a 5 min warm up and cool down I can only run for 30 mins. I went to the gym tonite instead and got in 35 of running and thats how long it took me to do 5kM :):):) Felt sooooooo great
  • fitbot
    fitbot Posts: 406
    k, so i run 5 km 2-3 times per week, thanx to this program and now am trying to figure out how to improve my times. I think it is more psychological than anything but i have a hard time with proper sprinting / increasing my speed.

    my time right now is 35 min for 5km.
    I do 2 min comfortable pace followed by 1 min of increasingly faster sprints. i usually need to stop and walk for 2 min at between the 15 and 20 min mark.

    I am still not doing this effortlessly.

    any pointers on how to improve time?
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