Beginning runner using C25k

wulfax wrote: »

Yesterday (10/07/2014) I started the C25k program and I wanted to make a series of posts detailing this journey (I will also post it in my blog, but I hope what I have to say here will help someone) because prior to my ‘run’ yesterday I was feeling very discouraged. But first, a little background to put some things in perspective.

I turn 40 next month and have been overweight for about 17 years, from about the age of 23. I spent from age 18 to 28 in the US Navy. At my most fit, around age 21, I weighed 174 lbs. and had about 9% body fat (by Navy measurements). When I was 23 I was in an accident that resulted in my lungs being damaged and I went from full 100% capacity to about 40%. Because of the damage to my lungs I did not stay as active as I had been (but kept taking in the same calories) and I was also put on medication that contributed to my weight gain. At my heaviest, around 2001 or so, I weighed 332 lbs. (had depression issues, in a bad marriage). Eventually I ended up losing weight (not that I was trying, even with my sedentary lifestyle my body was not meant to be that heavy) and by Jan 2013 I weighed 290 lbs. (so 12 years to lose 42 lbs.). Then in June 2013 I moved from the Seattle area to the Phoenix area and just due to the heat and a (slightly) more active lifestyle I dropped another 20 lbs. and when I made a conscious decision to try to lose weight on Sep 1st 2014 I weighed 270.2 lbs.. I now weigh 255.

Another important piece of my background is that I **NOT** a long distance runner and never have been. In my opinion long distance is anything over 100 meters. Going back as far as I can remember I have never been a distance runner. In 9th grade I ran 1.5 miles in 9:40 (in gym class), but I would run 100 meters then walk a bit, repeat. The one and only time that I ran a complete distance was to graduate from boot camp, and I ran 1.5 miles in about 9.5 minutes or so (we were not allowed to walk). I did 10 PRTs in the Navy, and in every single one I would run, walk, run, walk, and repeat. I was always a good speed runner, in 11th grade I did the 100 meters in 11 seconds, not a world record or anything, but not too bad (in my opinion at least).

When I first decided to lose weight I decided that I would get my calorie intake under control before I worked on my calorie burn. So from Sep 1st to Sep 8th I concentrated on my diet. Then starting September 9th I started walking. My first week I walked 8.87 miles (only 5 days that week), the next week 16.9, then 13 miles, then last week I walked 16.6 miles. Originally I decided that I wanted to get my weight under 240 lbs. before I started running (I didn’t want to hurt my joints or my feet). But when I was out there walking and listening to my music, a song would come on, it would pump me up, and I would want to run. So I decided, screw it, I will try to run.

The above background is to lay the foundation to why I was disappointed and/or discouraged before starting the C25k program. When I started looking around for some type of running program a few weeks ago I found C25k and I thought it was awesome because it catered to how I used to run (the run then walk program) but just worked on getting the running portion of the workout longer and longer. So last Friday (10/03/2014) I wanted to do a preview of the program for myself, just so I would have an expectation of how I would feel when I did it. So I took a couple of puffs off my inhaler and went out to do the program. It was a disaster. Within the first run period my calves were burning and my shins were killing me. I think I only made it through 5 run periods before I couldn’t do any more, and to be honest of those 5 run periods I think I maybe only completed the first, I quit early on the other 4.

Have to admit, I was disappointed. So I did what I do and did some research for ‘beginning’ runners. Once again big disappointment. Some people’s advice for beginning runners were ‘go out and run for 5 minutes, see how you feel.’ 5 MINUTES!!! I couldn’t get through 60 seconds. I subscribe to mapmyfitness and on their Couch to 5k program; the first thing it has you do is run 10 minutes. 10 MINUTES!!! What the crap! Most of the information I found about beginning to run was a lot like that. These are NOT beginning runs!

I did see some common threads on some of the sites though. One of them is that you should be able to carry on a conversation when you are jogging. Could it be that even though at my fastest ‘run’ I was only doing about a 14-15 minute mile (and was averaging probably around a 16-17 minute mile for the runs) I was just going too fast for what my body could handle? As it turned out the answer was yes. I slowed down and was able to complete the entire C25k week 1 day 1 program. So, if there are people out there like me, and running is killing you and everywhere you look people are saying you go run 5 or 10 minutes and you can’t do 30 seconds, slow down.

On one of those sites I looked at (I cannot remember which one) there was one of those inspirational posters. It had a picture of a fat guy chugging along on a track, his belly hanging out of his shirt and sweat pouring off him. The caption read, ‘No matter how slow you are going, you are still lapping the guy on the couch.’ I am taking that to heart.

wulfax wrote: »

Strangly enough I was thinking about the hand clenching last night when I was out. I carry my phone with me (apps for C25k, mapmyfitness, and my music) in one hand and try to alternate it back and forth, but being right handed I feel more comfortable with it in that hand. I think I need to get one of those arm bands that I can put my phone in so I don't have to carry it.