Do the Couch to 5k running plan

I started on week three today and I think this week will be a good one. I had to stop myself from running for a longer period of time than was recommended because I don’t want to get injured or burn myself out so I walked on a steep incline at 4mph during the rest periods to help keep my heart rate up. (When my sister and I were kids we used to make fun of speed walkers… she would have died of laughter if she caught sight of me today.) I stretched for about 20 minutes after my workout then hit the sauna. Hope I can take the rest of my runs with this ease!

So far so good. I feel like the walking intervals during week 2 are a bit long but I know that I will miss them later so no complaints here. I am realizing that I placed to much importance on music the last time I tried this program. I ran to Suz’s Couch 2 5K the last time, liked the majority of the music, but found that it was distracting to run to songs that I didn’t like. For some reason I found myself focusing on the inane lyrics and getting irritated instead of finding a stride and listening to my body.

This time around I am listening to a new podcast (The Chubby Jones podcast) and since I am not familiar with any of the music featured there’s no emotional connection. It’s background noise and I just run.

I have committed to re-starting the program from square one (again.) Though I tried I found running Prospect Park in the NYC heat was simply unbearable and I was uninspired to go to the gym and run the treadmill. (Beach, picnicking and napping were much more appealing.) I’ve been on a health kick for the past couple of weeks so I think I am ready to revisit this.

I’ll be adding track/treadmill time to my routine on Monday.

WISH ME LUCK!!!

Hubby has volunteered to jog in the park with me today! It’s freezing out and I do not think he is quite as prepared as he thinks he is- but I think his offer is sweet. It reminds me that I should offer to take part in his hobbies (or “stuff”) more often. Anyway- off I go!

For various reasons I did not finish the last couple of weeks of my training program but am ready to get things going again. Instead of starting over I am going to try to pick up at week 5. Wish me luck!

Unfortunately I did not complete my challenge. I stalled out, got bored and was distracted by too many other things to finish the program by March 1st. So no fancy cooking class or trip to the spa for me… But I am not a quitter and this is something that I want to finish. I am going to try to pick up where I left off on Monday and in the coming weeks, when the weather is nicer, I expect to cross the Brooklyn Bridge.

I love that I have worked my way up to running 2 miles straight! I got a little bored with Suz’s podcast for week 5 so I ended up running to a podcast called Wild Workout at Noon for two of my runs.

I hit a point yesterday (at about 18 minutes in) where I began to fantasize about running a marathon. I actually visualized people cheering me on and as ridiculous as that sounds I ran with a little more pep in my step (for the sake of the spectators).

On to week 6!

Although I had been hesitant about starting this program in the winter because most of my runs would take place indoors, I have become accustomed to running on a treadmill. I try to run in the park once a week and there is always such a big difference between the two. Instead of staring at myself in the mirror for the duration of my run I have a beautiful backdrop of trees, lakes, and open fields of snow on the ground but I also have more obstacles to contend with, higher impact on my knees, and wind resistance.

Yesterday’s run was particularly difficult because I could not hit the stride from my previous run. It was 30 degrees out and snowing, my chest was burning and I felt like my running intervals resembled a discombobulated speed walk. I was not digging this weeks podcast in the least so I couldn’t even find comfort in the music but still I made it!

I hope I have better luck with week 5.

I know that the purpose of intervals is to gradually ease your way into longer runs but I was inspired today and ended up running longer than required. My first running interval lasted 15 minutes and I felt great. I actually remembered what it was like to hit that runners high!

I don’t want to get ahead of myself so I will stick the rules for my next run but I must say that knowing that I can run a mile without breaking a real sweat is inspiring!

My run today was not so easy. Partly because of my mini hiatus and partly because I wasn’t really digging the podcast for this week.

I did just join a running group so maybe if I find a partner I can get some runs in at the park.