Posts Tagged "c25k"

A day at the races

Posted by talda on Jun 15, 2010 in health | Comments Off

Last week I officially graduated from Couch to 5k. It only took me 2 1/2 months but I went from running 0 miles to consistently running 3 miles. And you know, it was the best feeling in the world. Sure, its still a little tough busting out 3 miles but I’m amused that my “easy” runs are now 2.5 miles. That falls right in line with my overachieving self.

Sidebar: I went shopping last Monday because, after my morning run, I just about died because I was not properly dressed. I wore my other workout pants [which are mainly cotton] and a regular tshirt because my other jogging clothes were in the laundry basket] and by the end of my route, I wanted to die. I was so hot and felt so heavy because of the clothes that I finally got off my bum to finally buy some proper running clothes. I was able to score two new pairs of pants and shirts that I’m excited to break out for a future run. It’s true; buying new clothes can be a great motivator to work out. Seriously.

And so I’m digressing. This past Saturday I ran in my first 5k race in San Francisco. It was The Giant Race Plate to Plate 5k [there was also a half marathon but I'm not hardcore yet]. I was supposed to run it with Pat but he was a goober and tore a thigh muscle a week before the race so he wasn’t able to participate, but being the trooper that he is, still made it up to be my one-man crippled cheering squad.

But the race experience was unreal. I was nervous leading up to the event; that fun excited nervous when you know you’ll do fine but you feel like you should be nervous anyway so you make yourself kind of nervous. There were tons of people out; so much that it took me about 10 minutes to cross the starting line! Once I was on the road, I spent part of the time checking everything out [there were cheerleaders from Cheer SF on a few corners and a gospel choir on another cheering the runners on] while trying to dodge the walkers. That was my main gripe. It would have been nice to have a more formalized structure to the race. Walkers to the right!

Did I mention how warm it was that morning? When I got there at 7:30 am, it was already in the 60s. Thankfully most of my morning runs have been in slightly warmer weather so I was already pretty used to running in the heat so that didn’t affect me much. I knew I was going a bit slower than my usual pace but I was okay with that. My original goal was to finish in 40 minutes while Pat was intent on getting me to finish in 35 minutes. I ended up sprinting across the finish line in 36:10, a mere 1:10 off Pat’s pace! I was so excited when I found out my official score later that day.

Racing is definitely addicting, as I’m already looking for another 5k to run in. Running with all those people and crossing the finish line is exhilarating and oh how I love looking at my medal. It was the first medal I’ve ever earned and best believe I was tempted to wear it all day like I was an Olympian. Alas, I had a bridal shower, birthday party and graduation party to attend and I just couldn’t justify the medal accessory. Boo-urns. Maybe next time.

Here I am with my precious. Thanks Pat!

Run, run as fast as you can

Posted by talda on May 4, 2010 in health | 1 comment

Okay, I’ve been trying to get this post written for a whole day now, though I’ve been trying to get a post written in general since like, last week. so I am determined to get this up today. TODAY. For real this time.

So since the last time I wrote about my jogging exploits, I was only a couple of weeks into the Couch to 5k program. Well, it’s been a month or so since then and I am still chugging along. While I did take some time off here and there as other things popped up along the way, I am quite pleased with my progress so far.

I have stalled a bit on week 5 but I am really excited about my potential. I really wish I had found this program a lot sooner [like, that first time I attempted a jogging program] but better late than never they always say. I love being outside and seeing the sights. It’s so much better than working out in a room, especially when it’s sunny. Plus, I have built in focus motivators when I’m starting to slow.

Just.make.it.to.that.second.trash.can.

The incremental increase has been a major ego boast along the way. I’ve found myself congratulating myself on meeting my daily goal and experiencing that ridiculously amazing “runner’s high.” The adrenaline just rushes through and suddenly you feel like you can do anything. That 2 foot ditch? Watch me as I fly over it. That phone book? I’ll rip it in half. Stuck underneath a flaming car? OMG! I CAN TOTALLY LIFT IT!

This week I was able to top my personal best and let me tell you, it was exhilarating. I didn’t run last week so I was resigned to the idea of simply running 8 minute sets in preparation of busting out my first 20 minute run later this week [that's week 5 craziness right there. Go check that program schedule]. Well, while I was well on my way to 8 minutes and decided to push it to 10 minutes because I felt pretty good. Next thing I know, I decide to just keep jogging and maybe try to make it to 20 minutes.

I didn’t make it to 20 but I did get to 15 minutes.

That’s 14 more minutes than I started out at [that had me huffing and puffing]. That’s more than I have ever ran for a consecutively extended period of time. I AM JOGGER. HEAR ME ROAR! Or as Lindsey experienced when I came home after climbing my personal Everest, I AM JOGGER. WATCH ME AS I SPAZZ OUT!

This excites me to keep working towards completing this program [and possibly move on to the 8k version]. There’s a 5k coming up in June that I would really love to run and am hoping I’ll be ready to participate. I’ve decided to use that as my goal to push me through the final few weeks of my C25k program. What a way to celebrate my new runner status.