complete the couch to 5K running program

I did W4D2 today. I managed to beat my W4D1 time by 2 full minutes, so I know I’m getting better as I build endurance. I’ve somehow gone from barely being able to run 60 seconds on W1D1 (exactly three weeks ago today), to running five minutes at a time now.

The first week went a lot better than I was afraid it would. I made it through, but I was terrified of week 2 for some reason. Well, I did W2D1 today, and I LOVED it! I don’t know why, but I just really enjoyed my run this morning.

Seriously, every time the running intervals ended and the walking intervals began, I felt a little disappointed. As I was running through my neighborhood, I kept getting funny looks from people because I was grinning like an idiot! On my last run, I ran for an extra 30 seconds just because I wanted to and I had so much energy!

I know every run isn’t going to be like this, but I really had such a good time I can’t wait until my next run. And my time is improving, too :)

Last month, I had a lot of stuff going on and most times when I got ready to go to the gym I wound up getting preoccupied with something else, but I got back on track last week!

Last Wednesday, I jumped right back into Week 3 (after at least two weeks off from doing the program). I definitely don’t want to let that much time lapse again because I could really feel the tightness during my stretches. My heart-rate was high but I completed the session.

Saturday’s session was tougher for some reason…the treadmill seemed faster and my lungs just didn’t feel like they were absorbing oxygen…but I still completed the session even though I lowered the speed on the 3 minute runs.

Monday’s session was thankfully not quite as tough as Saturday’s session, I was at least able to maintain a consistent speed even though my heart-rate was still high and I was really concentrating on controlling my breathing.

Tomorrow’s another C25K day!

I’ll move on to week 4 when I’m not having difficulty breathing and my heart-rate doesn’t go above my max rate. Then hopefully, I’ll be able to actually move through the program week for week and not spend several weeks on each week of the program.

From reading C25K message boards, it seems that many people spend several weeks repeating each of the first three weeks and then their body just starts “cooperating” so to speak and are able to follow the rest of the program as outlined. And, I’m hoping that will be the case with me as well. But either way, I will complete this program.

There’s a 5K Run in New Orleans on Mardi Gras…and it would definitely be nice to participate.

Tonight, I did my first day of Week 3. I spent more time than expected on Week 2. My first day of Week 3 was hard, I was almost weezing during the second 3 minute run. But definitely glad to be progressing in the program.

Still on Week 2, but at least my heartrate didn’t break into the 170’s during yesterday’s session, which I think is a BIG improvement. Maybe 2 more weeks of week 2 and I’ll be ready to move onto Week 3 ::fingers crossed:: :-)

I’m still plugging away at Week 2. It doesn’t seem to be getting any easier, so at this point I think I’ll be on it at least another 2 weeks. I think part of the problem is that I haven’t been doing any resistance training for the past two weeks which is making me a weaker runner. I’ll definitely need to be more consistent with resistance training if I want to complete this program, which I DO.

I’ve done 3 days of Week 2 but am going to repeat Week 2 at least one more time before moving on to Week 3.

Completed Day 12 yesterday. I decided to finish this week out with two more days of week 1, then move on to week two next week. My body is definitely ready to move on but my lungs could use two more days of week 1 to work on breathing.

Ok, so I’ve been on week 1 for three weeks now. I don’t think I’m ready to move on to week 2 because I don’t feel as though I could carry on a conversation without becoming out of breath, plus my heart rate is still very high throughout the run/walk.

I do notice improvements…by concentrating on breathing and form (posture, foot landing…) and stretching before and after…I am cramp free during the run/walk.

It is a mental battle too. Before I get to the 4th run, I’m like, “I’m not even half way done yet?”

All in all it’s going great. Having the obligation of the program has kept me looking forward to going to the gym on C to 5K days! I told a friend I’d go furniture shopping with her Saturday morning, but then I was thinking, the gym closes early on Saturday, so I should go in the morning…so I told my friend I’d meet her after I got done at the gym. I’ve been treating it as an appointment and it has worked for me.

I’m on Week 1 Day 4 and will continue Week 1 until it feels right to move on. I warm up for 5 minutes, then stretch, start the C25K podcast, finally stretch again afterwards.

I tried doing this program last year. For motivation, I signed up for a 5k that was about 10 weeks away from when I started. By week 3 day 2, I went into a full body cramp with excruciating knee and foot pain in the middle of working out. I think it was due to the fact that I probably should have repeated week 1 or 2 and not have been concerned with completing the program in nine weeks in time for the 5k. Then, two weeks later, when I felt recovered and started the program again, I got tonsillitis which put me out of commission for a few weeks.