Couch to 5K Week 7

It took forever but I finally completed week 7 of the couch to 5k program. 2 more weeks to go. On this New Year's Eve, I'm disappointed that I didn't meet my goal of finishing the program by year end and I'm disappointed that I didn't run a complete 5K in 2010 (by that I mean running it from start to finish without walking). I ran out of time. I blame it on a late start to training this go around. I blame it on the weather – I don’t run in rain, snow, wind or extreme temps. I blame it on the mojo I lost when I no longer had a race to train for. I blame it on me. The training has gotten harder. The intervals are gone, replaced by a brief warm-up walk and then all run. Sometimes I can do it. Sometimes I have to walk. Sometimes its a mental challenge. Sometimes its a physical challenge. Sometimes its both. But in my disappointments and challenges, there are also accomplishments that I didn't imagine this time last year. I set out to run one race and I participated in four. And my … [Read more...]

Running Inspiration

I just want something beautiful -- Need to Breathe Last Saturday, I completed Week 5 of the Couch-to-5K program with a 20-minute run on the boardwalk at the beach. It was just what I needed. I needed something beautiful to carry me on the longest run I’ve attempted yet. I know that’s not very long and I didn’t run that far but it was an accomplishment that I didn’t think I would achieve. You see, it wasn’t my first attempt at a 20-minute run. Fresh off my 41-minute finish (40:59 to be exact – and I was aiming for 44) at the No Place Like Home 5K, I set out with confidence to conquer the 20-minute run at the end of week 5. Didn’t happen. I ran about 10 minutes and had to stop. I finished the workout with a combination of walking and running. I maybe ran a total of 15 minutes. Not good. On Friday, I went to the shore for a work event. There I met a fellow runner who suggested I run on the boardwalk. She had me at board. :) Not exactly an even surface, but at least it was … [Read more...]

Not So Ready for Race Day

Tomorrow, I’m running the 1st Annual There’s No Place Like Home 5K. Or, rather, I’m going to attempt to run I knew when I signed up for this race that I wouldn’t be ready. I knew I would not have completed the Couch to 5K program. But I thought I would have been farther along -- I’m still on week 5. Last Sunday, after successfully completing day 1 of week 5 – and feeling really good about it – I was confident that I’d be ready to run the race on week 6. And then I got sick. My voice started to go Sunday night and by Monday it was gone, replaced by a deep, persistent cough  -- my stomach muscles are getting quite the workout. I’m still coughing but at least I can talk above a whisper now. I was hoping to finish tomorrow’s race under 44 minutes. I came in just under 45 minutes the last time I ran a 5k. Now, I’ll be happy if I can get through it without igniting a full-blown coughing fit. I’ll let you know next week how I did. … [Read more...]

Couch to 5K Week 4 is Mental

It took me a week and a half to complete week 4. One reason was scheduling. The other reason was overcoming the 5-minute run mental hurdle. I wasn’t expecting the 5-minute run when I started week 4 – just like I really wasn’t expecting the 3-minute run in week 3 – I don’t usually look ahead to the next week to see what’s coming My first thought was, ugh! Three minutes was hard. How was I going to run for five? But, the first time I ran for five minutes, I hit a stride after three (I might have been going downhill at the time, though). The second 5-minute run in day one was more challenging and that’s when I realized how much more important mental strength is than physical strength when running. I shied away from running in the past because I don’t consider myself athletic. I have asthma and I think I’ve used that as an excuse. I don’t think its because I don’t have the ability. When I wanted to stop, I told myself to keep running. When I thought I couldn’t run any farther, I … [Read more...]

Couch to 5K Week 3

Week 3 surprised me. I was expecting to alternate a 90 second run with a 90 second walk for 30 minutes. Halfway through the second run set, I glanced at the timer on my C25K app and was surprised to see I still had 90 seconds left to run. Huh? Was there a glitch in the program? Nope. It was a three-minute run! Week 3 starts with a warm-up, then a 90 second run followed by a 90 second walk. Then the three-minute shock to my running system followed by a three-minute walk. Both sets are repeated and the workout ends with a cool-down. On day 1 of week 3, that first three-minute run was hard. By day 3, only the second three-minute run was a struggle. I’m getting there! … [Read more...]