Couch to 5K

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I totally fell off the wagon.....I just restarted week 1 day 1 today. Stupid midterms!
 
LetItSnow said:
Just completed C25K Week 4, Day 1. Somebody please, please shoot me before my next scheduled run.
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:laugh: I know the feeling all too well. That was exactly how I felt after the first day of week 4. For the second day, I slowed my pace way down so that I was jogging about a 15 minute mile and I actually enjoyed it! So much better when you can breathe while you are jogging. Here is a video of me in action (if you'd call it "action") 🙂:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb-stvSd6Dw
 
lyndaelyzoo, I love your artwork!!! Some really amazing stuff in there!
 
W2D2 done! I wouldn't say it's getting "easier" but my heart rate isn't up as high so that's a good indicator my body is adjusting even if my mind is telling me it's not.
 
I will be getting on the wagon for the first time on Monday! Downloaded an app and everything. I first cut my eating indown for the last two weeks to a more manageable level as the first step. (I was eating about double what I should - hmm..wonder why I was gaining weight?) :idea:

I've also made a goal to lose 10% of my body weight before classes start in the fall. I have already lost 2% but I don't expect it to continue to go that quickly once I start excercising and adding some more muscle to the mix!
 
heylodeb said:
I will be getting on the wagon for the first time on Monday! Downloaded an app and everything. I first cut my eating indown for the last two weeks to a more manageable level as the first step. (I was eating about double what I should - hmm..wonder why I was gaining weight?) :idea:

I've also made a goal to lose 10% of my body weight before classes start in the fall. I have already lost 2% but I don't expect it to continue to go that quickly once I start excercising and adding some more muscle to the mix!
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Good for you! I know what you mean about it not going as quickly...my first 5% of my bodyweight came off suuuuper easily and quickly. To get to 10% it's taking a long time but I only have about 2 more pounds to get there. I'd like to be at about 15%, maybe 20% by vet school. If that will happen I have no clue, but it's something to aim for!
 
Bigcatlover said:
lyndaelyzoo, I love your artwork!!! Some really amazing stuff in there!
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Thank you! I really appreciate the comment. I love to paint and have become somewhat obsessed with it. The only thing I don't like about vet school is that I don't have much time to paint (although most of my notes are drawings!😀).
 
You guys are amazing for sticking to this running program, or even starting it in the first place. I fail! I wanted to start it, but I've been a lazy bum - too tired after work, and too lazy on my days off. I've been bad about even going to yoga, which I had been doing 2-3x/wk and hadn't been in two weeks, so last night I just about died in class. Crazy how fast endurance goes away with even a tiny break from exercise..
 
dyachei said:
Dr. doesn't want me running anymore- possible meniscus injury. So I have to bow out. But I may keep riding bikes (way lower impact).
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For goodness sake, take care of your meniscus! I sure took mine for granted until I blew it out playing soccer. After two unsuccessful repair surgeries, it was gone and I had to have a donor cadaver meniscus put in 😱 Total. Nightmare. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. If you get bored biking, my doc said swimming was great too 👍
 
rayray13 said:
For goodness sake, take care of your meniscus! I sure took mine for granted until I blew it out playing soccer. After two unsuccessful repair surgeries, it was gone and I had to have a donor cadaver meniscus put in 😱 Total. Nightmare. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. If you get bored biking, my doc said swimming was great too 👍
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Just waiting for the pool to open. 🙂
 
EllieGirl89 said:
I'd like to be at about 15%, maybe 20% by vet school. If that will happen I have no clue, but it's something to aim for!
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BE CAREFUL. My doctor told me that if women get much lower than 20% it can really mess with their reproduction (idk if you want to have kids) and with their hormones (which can be a pain in the arse). Of course, it depends on the woman how low she can go without bad effects but the general consensus is not much lower than 20%.
 
withoutane said:
BE CAREFUL. My doctor told me that if women get much lower than 20% it can really mess with their reproduction (idk if you want to have kids) and with their hormones (which can be a pain in the arse). Of course, it depends on the woman how low she can go without bad effects but the general consensus is not much lower than 20%.
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I think she meant 20% of her original body weight when she starting dieting/exercising. Not 20% fat content. 😉
 
Haha, yes, I did mean about 20% of my original body weight, about 33 total pounds. Thanks for your concern, withoutane 😉 I'm down 14 so we'll see if the rest actually happens, but I'm pretty comfortable with my diet and exercise regimen right now and the weight is coming off slowly but surely so I'll see how long it keeps up.

In other news, I had my first run outside today! W3D3 done!
 
Great job everybody! Week 1 Day 3 is going to wait because this is what is outside today:
"Windy. Rain and scattered thunderstorms. East winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts to around 45 mph."

Yes. I'm a wimp. But if I have a 30mph headwind on top of my already slow pace I am afraid I might start going backwards!
 
I went to the running store today. They put me on a treadmill and videotaped my feet so I could see what they saw. I run so funky lol. I have flat feet and tend to over pronate. They fit me for shoes and insoles. I ended up leaving with a pair of Brooks. I can't wait to get them broken in and back to running. I described the knee pain I have been having. The girl at the store said it sounded like tendonitis. After watching me run, she was like "yep, that's why your knee hurts." I haven't run all week because of the knee pain but tomorrow I am getting back out there. I haven't decided if I am going to try to go back to week 3 or start week 4 back over. I guess we will see tomorrow.
 
Update: I haven't really "fallen" off the wagon as much as stepped off it intentionally for a bit. Our son was born two nights ago, which kept me occupied, and I will be out-of-commission medically for a couple weeks. So I'm envious of y'all that are continuing, and I'll be eagerly back on track as soon as possible. 🙂
 
LetItSnow said:
Update: I haven't really "fallen" off the wagon as much as stepped off it intentionally for a bit. Our son was born two nights ago, which kept me occupied, and I will be out-of-commission medically for a couple weeks. So I'm envious of y'all that are continuing, and I'll be eagerly back on track as soon as possible. 🙂
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Congrats on the new arrival!
 
LetItSnow said:
Update: I haven't really "fallen" off the wagon as much as stepped off it intentionally for a bit. Our son was born two nights ago, which kept me occupied, and I will be out-of-commission medically for a couple weeks. So I'm envious of y'all that are continuing, and I'll be eagerly back on track as soon as possible. 🙂
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Wow! Congrats!!! 😀
 
Congrats on the little guy, LetItSnow!

I just came in from finishing W4D1, and I'm slowly recovering/sweating to death on the couch with the A/C cranked up. I didn't run between classes today because I forgot my school ID and therefore wouldn't be able to get into the gym. So I waited until I got home, and, knowing if I sat down I'd never get back up to do it, I immediately changed clothes and went out to run. It was fine until the second 5-minute segment. I got a HORRIBLE side stitch, which is unusual for me, so the last 3 minutes or so were torture. I managed not to throw up, to finish the segment, and limp home. I was quite the pathetic sight.

So. While it was nice to run outside, I need to plan that better. If I'm going to run outside it needs to happen early in the morning, late at night, or when it's cloudy. It's not hot out today, but it is warm and the sun is shining, so that didn't help a whole lot when I was trying to slog out those last few minutes. Second, I am not much of a water drinker, and for the first few weeks when the workouts weren't too terribly difficult that wasn't a big deal. But I think my side stitch and my subsequent dizziness and nausea were a result of dehydration. I definitely need to up my water intake from now on.

But all in all, I survived and will trudge along again on Wednesday! As of this morning I'm down 15 lbs and 12.5 inches from when I started 7 weeks ago. As of now, I'm going to try and make myself do some crunches and push-ups.
 
EllieGirl89 said:
But all in all, I survived and will trudge along again on Wednesday! As of this morning I'm down 15 lbs and 12.5 inches from when I started 7 weeks ago.
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Wow. Not accounting for inexact weighing and water loss that'd be around a 7000 calorie/week deficit, right? Pretty damn impressive.

Way to go, EG!
 
After not running for a week because of knee pain, I decided to re-do week 3 instead of continuing week 4 where I stopped. What a good decision. It surprised me how much not running affected me. It kicked my butt.
 
Off the wagon. Salmonella 🙁 stupid spinach. Re-re-starting again wednesday if I can.
 
LetItSnow said:
Wow. Not accounting for inexact weighing and water loss that'd be around a 7000 calorie/week deficit, right? Pretty damn impressive.

Way to go, EG!
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There was definitely a lot of water loss at the beginning; the first week I dumped off 5 lbs and the second week I lost 3 lbs and then it kind of tapered off and evened out after that. I wasn't *that* overweight, about 12 lbs over what is considered "normal" for my height according to BMI charts. I'm doing Weight Watchers and according to my calculations, converting "points" into "calories," I'm eating roughly 1300 calories per day. Before I was DEFINITELY eating, I'd say at least 2500 a day so getting rid of >1,000 calories plus exericising a lot more and making better choices about what makes up those 1300 calories (lots of lean protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables) has had a huge impact. Thanks for the support! I feel so much better not having the extra 15 lbs to lug around, especially when exercising. It's amazing how big a difference it makes!
 
EllieGirl89 said:
But all in all, I survived and will trudge along again on Wednesday! As of this morning I'm down 15 lbs and 12.5 inches from when I started 7 weeks ago. As of now, I'm going to try and make myself do some crunches and push-ups.
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:bow::clap: Just wanted to say how inspirational this is - and motivational. I am also trying to get down to about 1300 cal a day right now. For the last few weeks I have just been recording what I have been eating and let me just say: 😱wow. It is surprising how easy you can trick yourself into thinking you are eating healthy.

Although not technically C25K, I am slowly increasing my distance while trying to maintain my speed right now. One thing I found after completing the C25K was that I could run the whole 5K, but was not too thrilled with my times (damn that competitive nature...). So my goal for the next 5 weeks is to increase my distance by 10% a week without losing speed. So far so good, but the increase this week was only 2.0 -> 2.2.
 
Packen said:
:bow::clap: Just wanted to say how inspirational this is - and motivational. I am also trying to get down to about 1300 cal a day right now. For the last few weeks I have just been recording what I have been eating and let me just say: 😱wow. It is surprising how easy you can trick yourself into thinking you are eating healthy.

Although not technically C25K, I am slowly increasing my distance while trying to maintain my speed right now. One thing I found after completing the C25K was that I could run the whole 5K, but was not too thrilled with my times (damn that competitive nature...). So my goal for the next 5 weeks is to increase my distance by 10% a week without losing speed. So far so good, but the increase this week was only 2.0 -> 2.2.
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Thank you! And just for clarification, when I say "when I started 7 weeks ago" I mean when I started Weight Watchers 7 weeks ago, not C25K. Although I'm sure C25K has been a great addition! It IS crazy how easy it is to not really think about all the junk you're eating. I didn't really notice it until I started WW and started tracking everything-even the healthy food can add up fast if you're not watching portion sizes!

Your running plan sounds great! I'm never really thrilled with my times either, though with the two 5Ks I've run I have really just had the goal of finishing, not really going fast. My natural time is somewhere between a 32 and a 33 minute 5K. My plan is, after I've finished the C25K, to continue to do the CoolRunning plan that takes you from running 30 minutes to running 60 minutes. The hope is that by increasing my distance to about twice what it was before I'll be able to run the shorter distance a few minutes quicker.
 
Alright - so I may be a MAJOR slacker - but I have succeeded in actually setting up my app. Now - I just need to actually work out today! I'm going to try to go during my lunch. Update this afternoon! 🙂
 
It looks like I am out again. I have completely demolished my knees. I'm not entirely sure how (it happened on a non-running day, so that wasn't it), but I have had progressively worse pain over the past few days. Can't run, can't climb stairs (can barely step off a curb to be honest), and can barely walk.

So... this may require a doctor.

I was kind of looking forward to starting week 3, so this is a bit of a disappointment🙁.
 
hintofblue said:
It looks like I am out again. I have completely demolished my knees. I'm not entirely sure how (it happened on a non-running day, so that wasn't it), but I have had progressively worse pain over the past few days. Can't run, can't climb stairs (can barely step off a curb to be honest), and can barely walk.

So... this may require a doctor.

I was kind of looking forward to starting week 3, so this is a bit of a disappointment🙁.
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Oh no! I hope you're ok. Definitely go see a doctor. I went to see a podiatrist when I suspected tendonitis in my left ankle and am so glad I took time off to let it heal. (This was when I was training for the 3 Day. Incidentally I broke my pinkie toe a few weeks before the event and couldn't participate anyway). And even then, it flares up once in a while. Taking care of your health is the number one priority.
 
W4D2 today! It felt way better than day 1, although admittedly today I WAS running on a perfectly flat, climate controlled track 😳 My pace was good though, pretty much a 10:00 the whole time so I was pleased with that! I was SO sore from Monday's strength workout and Tuesday's yoga that I skipped weight training today for fear I won't be able to ride well in my lesson tomorrow. Excited to wrap up week 4 and move on to week 5!
 
Congrats Let it Snow! I just finished Week 5 part 2 and feel great!! My pace is ridiculously slow (4.5 mph), but at least I am enjoying it and not completely out of breath when I'm jogging. Hopefully I will be able to increase the pace once I build up the endurance
 
lyndaelyzoo said:
Congrats Let it Snow! I just finished Week 5 part 2 and feel great!! My pace is ridiculously slow (4.5 mph), but at least I am enjoying it and not completely out of breath when I'm jogging. Hopefully I will be able to increase the pace once I build up the endurance
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That is kinda where I was at when I finished the C25K, and then I started working on my pace. I didn't really know how to do it though, and between active.com and coolrunning it seemed there was no real right way. So I have just been trying to run faster - novel concept 🙄 But while doing the C25K there was NO way that I could run ANY faster than I was at the time. But I didn't stress - one thing at a time right?

Does anyone monitor their heart-rate while running? Any good suggestions on inexpensive monitors? I am considering getting one, but not sure if I really need it...
 
Packen said:
That is kinda where I was at when I finished the C25K, and then I started working on my pace. I didn't really know how to do it though, and between active.com and coolrunning it seemed there was no real right way. So I have just been trying to run faster - novel concept 🙄 But while doing the C25K there was NO way that I could run ANY faster than I was at the time. But I didn't stress - one thing at a time right?

Does anyone monitor their heart-rate while running? Any good suggestions on inexpensive monitors? I am considering getting one, but not sure if I really need it...
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If I monitor my heart rate I just do it manually. I checked my own measurements against the one on the elliptical machine (I hop on the elliptical for 15 minutes every Tuesday before my yoga class) and it's very accurate. I just count the beats in 6 seconds (starting with 0, not 1), and then add a zero to the end of that number.
 
Ok so thanks to you all! I finally got my butt in gear and ignored the angry clouds and did W1D1. Actually enjoyed it because Pandora was so good to me and I had the C25K app on my phone.

I was just wondering, I am running by time only and not worrying about distance, is that going to hurt me in the long run or does it end up working out? So far, so good, with only one easy run down of course haha
 
I haven't posted in this thread in forever, but I am still working out, promise!

Right now I am at bike 10-12 miles 2x week, Run 3 miles 3x week and then hill work once a week.

I have pretty much given up on the idea of a triathlon. There is no way I will be able to go from never swimming for sport to competitive shape in a few months. I've decided to focus on duathalons, which are run 2 miles, bike 15 and then run 2. Should be doable...
 
Breezyte said:
Ok so thanks to you all! I finally got my butt in gear and ignored the angry clouds and did W1D1. Actually enjoyed it because Pandora was so good to me and I had the C25K app on my phone.

I was just wondering, I am running by time only and not worrying about distance, is that going to hurt me in the long run or does it end up working out? So far, so good, with only one easy run down of course haha
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If you're new to running I would definitely go for time before distance. If you find, by the end of the C25K, you're not quite running a 5K distance, you can gradually increase either your running time until you are running 5K in whatever time, or you can increase your speed until you're running 5K in 30 minutes. The C25K assumes you're running a 10-minute mile pace, which is relatively average. If you need to go slower, like an 11 or 12 minute mile pace, that's totally fine! It just means you won't quite go as far. Which isn't really the point, the point is that you're out and moving your body for the allotted time.

Anyway, I find that it works itself out. If you plan to do a race, you'll find that the adrenaline kicks in and you'll run faster without really meaning to. I'm usually a bit slower, towards an 11 minute mile, and both of my 5Ks I finished in about 33 minutes. Since a 5K is about 3.2 miles, I ran a pretty steady 10:30 pace for each one.

Good luck and congrats on getting started!
 
awaring1 said:
I haven't posted in this thread in forever, but I am still working out, promise!

Right now I am at bike 10-12 miles 2x week, Run 3 miles 3x week and then hill work once a week.

I have pretty much given up on the idea of a triathlon. There is no way I will be able to go from never swimming for sport to competitive shape in a few months. I've decided to focus on duathalons, which are run 2 miles, bike 15 and then run 2. Should be doable...
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The duathalon sounds fun!
 
EllieGirl89 said:
If you need to go slower, like an 11 or 12 minute mile pace, that's totally fine! It just means you won't quite go as far. Which isn't really the point, the point is that you're out and moving your body for the allotted time.
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I deeply dislike running, but I enjoyed the first run, so this is just the kind of motivation I needed!
 
EllieGirl89 said:
Anyway, I find that it works itself out. If you plan to do a race, you'll find that the adrenaline kicks in and you'll run faster without really meaning to. I'm usually a bit slower, towards an 11 minute mile, and both of my 5Ks I finished in about 33 minutes. Since a 5K is about 3.2 miles, I ran a pretty steady 10:30 pace for each one.
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👍 So true.
 
EllieGirl89 said:
If you're new to running I would definitely go for time before distance.
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👍

I just want to say I can run for 30 minutes. Pretty happy to go from there.

I spent a few hours this morning in a TTA with a surgeon who runs regularly. He busted up a foot a while
back (on mile 20 or so of a run, IIRC). He commented today that he just went out for a 10-mile run. It
was pretty inspirational. 🙂 I probably should have been more focused on the TTA than the surgeon's
exercise routine, but.....
 
After a hiatus due to life, I got back into it today with W3D1. Felt pretty good, even the 3 minute stretches (thank you guys for the advice to pace myself!).

Now hopefully the weather cooperates, cause that's mostly what's been keeping me indoors - when it's cold and rainy and windy I really don't want to go outside and get wet.
 
Congrats Coquette on getting going again!!

Today I knocked out W4D3! Note to self-running without music SUCKS. I couldn't find my headphones this morning, made myself late for class looking for them, ran without them, and then came home and found that my girlfriend stole them for the day 😡 Oh well, I did it! I'm super excited to start Week 5, and I can't believe that I'll be running 20 minutes straight already by the end of next week!!
 
I know I haven't posted in a while but I have been running. Today I ran my first 10-miler ever. I'm doing a half-marathon in two weeks and it's finally looking attainable. 🙂
 
Coquette22 said:
Half-marathon? Go you! That's awesome! 😀
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Thank you! I've decided to run my first half instead of go to my grad ceremony. They're on the same day and I thought the half would be much more fun. 😉
 
withoutane said:
Thank you! I've decided to run my first half instead of go to my grad ceremony. They're on the same day and I thought the half would be much more fun. 😉
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That's awesome! If my whole family hadn't already gotten hotels and stuff I'd be finding something to do other than going to my graduation, too.

Today's workout was great!! Week 5, Day 1 complete. I had my headphones and therefore my tunes back, so I actually kept up a pretty good pace today!! I'd say I went an average of 9:45-9:30, which I'm really happy with. Also, Pandora knows my soul. I was on the last 5-minute segment and I was flagging, when "Check Yes Juliet" by We The Kings came on my Panic At The Disco station.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CUyWJ7UINM

Gave me the little extra boost I needed to finish strong!

Hope everyone else is doing well!!
 
I did get checked out by my doctor. She agreed with my assessment of the knee/ankle pain (likely caused by lack of support in my non-running shoes). It has largely subsided now though, so we won't be actively treating it.

For unrelated reasons, I have been instructed to hold off on starting back until after finals. So, it looks like I will be rejoining you guys in a couple of weeks.
 
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