c25k, week 4 (on pause)

Week 3 consists of 3 days of the following workouts:

5 minute warm-up walk

3 minute running

90 seconds walking

5 minute running

2 minutes 30 second walking

3 minute running

90 seconds walking

5 minute running

2 minutes 30 second walking

5 minute cool-down walk

Day 1.  Rough.  Lungs burned.  Legs hurts.  Completed the workout.  That's about all I can say about Day 1.  If I'm just being honest, it was rough.  It was a little chilly outside and I wasn't excited about running.  Asher on the other hand loved it.  

Day 2 was a little bit better than day 1.  The weather was perfect so that helped.  The first two runs went pretty well.  The last two, I thought I was going to die.  I found myself chanting, "c'mon you can do it!!" in my head during the last 5 minute run.  My phone is a piece and doesn't track the distance.  So I really have no clue on my exact distance.  I counted my laps today as I ran and I did about 7 laps total, they were broken up laps but laps none the less.  {4 laps around the track is a mile.}  

So we are temporaily on pause from our C25K workouts.  Asher man has a little cold thing going on and it's been raining.  We are going to pause for a few days and hopefully his runny nose and cough will go away.  Now that the weather is much cooler in the mornings, it's not worth taking him out in the cold so that I can run.  Let's hope we can get back at it soon..

c25k, week3

Week 3 consists of 3 days of the following workouts:

5 minute warm up walk

90 seconds running

90 seconds walking

3 minute running 

3 minute walking

half-way point

90 seconds running

90 seconds walking

3 minute running

3 minute walking

5 minute cool down walk

Total of 28 minutes

Day 1 of week 3.  We made it to the track around 9:30 or so.  It felt amazing outside.  It said it was about 68 degrees.  Perfect.  We were the only ones on the track for most of the time.  This workout was my favorite so far.  To me it feels easier to keep running once I start.  Stopping every 90 seconds and walking (like last week) was hard.  I felt like once I got into a good stride I was having to slow down to walk.  Today I only ran a total of 4 times but for a longer stretch of time and I really enjoyed it.  I'm excited to continue on with this week.

Day 2 had perfect weather.  It was only 70 degrees outside and the sun barely peeked out from behind the clouds.  For the first time today, we saw more women on the track than men.  Normally it's me and several older men.  Glad to see some ladies out there today.  Today's runs felt good, the last run which was three minutes, my legs did start to feel a little heavy.  I'm so not a runner.  But man am I trying to become one!

Day 3.  Oh Day 3.  I struggled.  There were several days between day 2 and 3 due to weather and life.  Finally we made it to the track to run.  Walking down the hill to the track, we passed some guys, whom I am assuming were dudes on probation and completing some community hours.  They were in matching uniforms and were mowing and doing lawn work.  It seemed as if they were done since they were heading back to their truck.  Asher watched them closely and I kept walking to the track.  We started our warm-up walk and then noticed the guys sitting on the bleechers watching us.  They sat their, with their probation officer (I assume) and watched us the entire 29 minutes.  Nice.  Great way to end week 3.

c25k, week 2

Week 2 consists of three days of the following workouts:

5 minute warm up walk

90 second running and 2 minute walking intervals

5 minute cool down

Total of 29 minutes

Day 1 was good.  We got to the track early and it wasn't terribly sunny.  About half way through, the sun snuck behind some clouds and stayed there for the remainder of our workout.  I was already nasty sweaty but the shade was a good relief.  I was a little nervous about running a little longer this time but we made it.  Asher loves it when I run because the wind blows through his hair.  I wore better socks this time and my feet felt much better.

Day 1.  Yes, I said Day 1 again.  Last week we didn't make it out to run but only once.  Life happened.  I know that is such an excuse but it did.  Anyways, Asher and I started week 2 all over again this week.  I felt like it would be cheating if I did Day 2 when it had been a week since we last ran.  So Day 1, second try, we made it to the track around 1:00.  Not the time I wanted to go but it was raining when we woke up and by the time it stopped and he took a nap, that's when we made it out.  It was overcast so I didn't have to worry about moving his little canopy back and forth to shield his precious little head from the sun.  My first two runs   felt really good, surprisingly.  The third, fourth and fifth.. hurt!  But for our last run I owned it and finished strong.  I think it was watching the four men who were 60+ in age power walking around the track that made me tell myself to shut up and run.  It's suppose to rain a lot this week so I'm hoping we can squeeze two more days in.

Day 2 we made it to the track around 10:15.  It was h-o-t!  But we made it.  This run was actually probably the easiest so far.  Each run felt great and I probably could have run a few extra.  Maybe.  Something I love about my rundouble app, remember Trudy the Track Master?  She tells me when I am halfway and then congratulates me at the end.

Day 3, done.  Asher and I made it to the track a little before 10:00 today.  The radio said it was only 72 degrees but I totally disagree.  It was blazing hot.  Today's runs were great!  Best yet.  Every run felt great and I found myself not counting down until the end.  I stumbled across a blog the other day and found some great stroller running tips. While running I've started only keeping one hand on the stroller and sometimes pushing the stroller ahead of me so that both hands are free.  Running that way seems easier and more natural.  I feel like when I'm running with both hands on the stroller, I'm stiff and relying on it to much.  Asher of course enjoyed our run today.  He talked and kicked most of the time.

Week 2 done.. 7 more to go.

c25k, week 1

I've officially gotten off of the couch and stepped onto the track.  I'm over being tired and out of shape.  If you know me well, then you know that I am not a runner.  Not at all.  Not like my BFF who runs races all the time.  She just ran a 10 mile race.  I've tried in the past to run but I never do it for very long.  I've only ran one 5k and didn't make it through the entire race without stopping to walk.  Sad but true.  So I jumped on the Couch25k bandwagon.  

C25k is a 9 week program to help non-runners work their way up to being able to run 3.1 miles at the end of the 9 weeks.  Surely I can do this.

I have an Alzheimer's Walk coming up and I'm participating in the Race for the Cure for the first time this fall.  I have goals set and I'm ready to knock em' out of the park.

Here is a breakdown of how my week 1 went:

Tuesday was the first day.  That morning Asher started moving around in his crib about 8:30.  I jumped out of bed and got dressed.  No more than 5-10 minutes later I checked the monitor and he was back asleep.  I waited and waited and waited for him to wake up.  Finally around 10:30 he decided to grace me with his presence.  The sleeping machine slept for 14 hours.  I fed him breakfast quickly and then we finally made it out the door around 11:30.  We made it to the track and started the plan for Day 1.  I have the RunDouble app on my phone.  It is awesome!  The lady, who I've named Trudy the Track Master, tells me when to run/walk. I set my phone in the cup holder on the stroller and just waited for her orders.

Day 1 consists of a 25 minute session.  

5 minute brisk warm-up walk.

15-20 minutes of alternating walking and running.  Run for 60 seconds.  Brisk walk for 90.

5 minute cool down.

Day 1 was good.  I must admit I was pretty tired after the first few runs.  Pushing a stroller and running wasn't the easiest for this non-runner.  I'm hoping to run earlier in the morning from now on so that I don't get as hot.  But I'm not complaining about my little man sleeping in so late.

Day 2 consists of a 25 minute session.  

5 minute brisk warm-up walk.

15-20 minutes of alternating walking and running.  Run for 60 seconds.  Brisk walk for 90.

5 minute cool down.

Day 2 was surprisingly better.  I got Asher man up around 8:30, he sneezed and kinda woke up.  I ran in quickly to get him before he drifted back to sleep.  I did not want to run in the hot sun again.  We made it to the track around 9:30.  My legs were a little sore from Day 1.  Sad, I know.  I am that out of shape.  We did our session and it felt great outside.  It was windy and not super hot.  So far I am enjoying the training.  Ask me again here in a few weeks and my answer might be different. ha

Our routine, reading a little about Jesus then running in the sun.

Day 3 consists of a 25 minute session.  

5 minute brisk warm-up walk.

15-20 minutes of alternating walking and running.  Run for 60 seconds.  Brisk walk for 90.

5 minute cool down.

Day 3 was HOT.  Not fun.  We made it but I was burning up.  Asher on the other hand, loved every minute and was kicking his legs and talking like crazy.  Day 3 wasn't easy but it wasn't hard.  I wore the wrong socks so my ankles now have a little blister, great.  But I'm glad to have Week 1 done.  Bring on week 2.