do the couch to 5k

I completed my C5K program with a 30 minute run in the hills of Corsica. It was magical. At least until I got near the cows and the smell. :P

Well, to be honest, I’ve already done this and I’ll probably do it again next year. The winters here are too harsh for me to run year-round, so I stop running somewhere in November and start again in March. That’s enough for me to lose most of my fitness and have to start all over again.

On the positive side, I’m still fit enough to start from week 2-3 instead of week 0. And I don’t have the motivational and psychological issues, because now I know it’s just a matter of running X times, getting those minutes and kilometers in. It’s simple maths and checking runs and weeks off a list. I know that after 10 or 15 more checkmarks, the real fun will start: races, charity/fun runs, longer and more meditative runs, the whole “running is cheaper than therapy” thing…

So, I’m on week 4 now. I’m following the Get-Started Schedule from RunnersWorld.co.uk because I like it better than the ‘official’ “couch-to-5K”, but it’s essentially the same thing. I’ve bought myself a cheap runner’s watch/heart rate monitor to get me (even more) motivated. I’ve listened to a friend recount his experience from the first race of the year (perfect weather, great atmosphere) and couldn’t wait to get home from work so I could go for a run. I think I’m all set for the next 4-5 weeks of getting to that final 30-minute run. ;)

And people doing this, let me tell you: if I can do couch-to-5K, anyone can. :)