weekly check-in

[yvi]

Happy Monday (in almost all timezones)!

Inspired by ilanarama, have an inspirational quote: "There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you." Said by George Sheehan

How was your week, and what do you have planned for this week?

Comments

[yvi]

I finally finished week 7 of my couch-to-5k program which means I have now successfully completed running for 25 minutes without breaks 4 times. And yesterday I did the first day of week 8, 28 minutes of running. It was kind of hard and I am still a very slow runner, but I can see how I will soon be doing 30 minutes and beyond :) Also, I *am* getting a bit faster.

This week will hopefully see me run 28 minutes two times (Tuesday and Thursday) and run my first 30 minutes on Saturday or Sunday. This is very good, because I will spend the first week or so of July moving and so on and was hoping to be above 30 minutes by then.

[ilanarama]

Yay inspiration. And congrats for your progress through the program.

[bewize]

That is awesome! I just started the program, but I can't wait to get to the point you're at.

[shanaqui]

I finished week two of couch-to-5k, and have discovered that on days when I'm not running, I look forward to doing so. This is, I feel, a good start.

[ilanarama]

That is a great feeling! Go you!

[yvi]

Yay! That happened to me during week 2 or 3, too, and it is amazing!

[bewize]

Awesome. I'm 2/3 of the way through week 1 and I don't feel that way yet, although I do feel pretty pleased with myself.

[shanaqui]

I started looking forward to it after about four sessions. Definitely mid week two. I was expecting it to take longer.

[bewize]

I'm starting couch to 5k today. I've packed my bag for after work. I've conned a friend into doing it with me. We're both excited.

I used to run a lot, but asthma has really set me back. I'm prepared for that, too, but hopefully, it will be a fun way to ease back into the whole shebang!

Wish me luck!

[yvi]

Yay, go you!

[vyola]

Good luck, and high five! I just started couch to 5km today, so we'll be pacing each other. I'm glad to find another comm member at the same stage as me, that's going to be very motivational, I think.

[bewize]

I'm glad for the extra motivation, too! How's your week going? I've done the first two runs of week one. I'm particularly smug, because the day I started was the hottest day of the year thus far (heat index well into the triple digits) and I still didn't let that convince me not to go.

I've got my third run scheduled for Sat. morning and I am actually sort of looking forward to finishing it.

[vyola]

Triple digits! That's hot. I sure don't envy you having to run in that climate, and I'm impressed with you for doing it :-)

I did the second day of week one today, and I didn't push myself as hard this time. I don't think I've found the right balance between challenging myself and overdoing it yet, but it's nice not to feel the aftereffects as much.

I also plan on doing day 3 this Saturday! I kind of look forward to the run itself too. I hate motivating myself to do it, and putting on my sportsbra, but once I'm in the street and have my mp3 player going, it's kind of nice. Though yes, the pleasure of that feeling of achievement is greater than the pleasure of the running in itself.

[bewize]

shanaqui assured me above that eventually you're looking forward to the actual running. At the moment, I just look forward to being smug that I ran. I'll take it, though!

I also added you to my circle so I could follow your posts about running. :)

[vyola]

I believe shanaqui. I've always hated running, but I used to walk for two hours every day many years ago, and I loved it. I felt jittery and missed it fiercely when I couldn't go.

I've thought about why I don't like running, and I think it has to do with being forced to run beyond my limits in school. I have some joint problems and asthma, and I can definitely feel how the c25k program is much, much better at challenging me without overtaxing me than I've ever been on my own, or than a PE teacher has ever been.

Great to know you're reading! I think that will help motivate me to stick with it and to update my journal.

[sophinisba]

I ran 6.4 miles without a break on Sunday, the longest I've ever done! Then I just did 2 miles on Wednesday! But! I ran my first 10K race on Saturday! And I finished! (There was a tiny bit of walking in the middle but just so I could have a cup of water.) It was really hard (miles 5 and 6 especially) but also fun, and a bunch of my family was there and cheering for me at the finish line! Whee! I really want to do another one this fall. Yay!

[ilanarama]

Congrats on your 10K - that's super!

[sophinisba]

Thank you! I think I'm going to sign up for another one on October 2! That seems like a reasonable amount of time to get better in (especially since I don't know if I'll be able to run much at all in July).

[yvi]

Oh wow, congratulations on the 10K and the long run!

[sophinisba]

Thank you! It was a great feeling...once it was done. :D

[bewize]

Awesome! Congratulations!

[sophinisba]

Thanks! I'm feeling really good about running lately. :)

[temve]

Only one measly 5K this week (yesterday), on account of a nasty cold and the fact that my bike got stolen and I celebrated the new one by going riding instead of running tonight.

As for the animal, artist, and child, absolutely. Not so sure about the saint bit. :)

[ilanarama]

A pox on all bike thieves. Sorry it happened to you.

[linaelyn]

The "animal" part of Sheehan's quote above really resonated for me. I feel very primal when I run.

Last week was tough with some Girly-TMI issues and some poor health, but I still managed three days of 5K each, running 3/2 intervals. My cardio-conditioning is improving significantly, and the warm weather is helping motivate me. Charcoal BBQ season? Not helping my asthma so much.

[rani]

I haven't run since Monday (which at least was a good 4 miles), because of the hideous rainy weather we've been having in Portland. I mean, I'll run in a drizzle, but it's been nonstop hard rain for like 6 days straight. It's supposed to be nicer next week, so I'm gonna attempt to break the 10 miles/week barrier.

[ilanarama]

I had an excellent "run" yesterday morning - 5 miles of mostly fast walking (in fact I am using a sort of racewalking technique, so it's probably a faster pace than a slow runner) with 4x5 minutes of running interspersed with 5 minutes of fast walking, and my ankle felt really good. I'm feeling quite encouraged about this and looking forward to increasing the running portions tomorrow.

On Saturday I will be volunteering at a local half marathon - I wish I could run it, but I'm looking forward to helping out. The race director is a good friend of mine and it's a big race with a great party at the end.

[yvi]

Whee for finally running again :)

[sophinisba]

Congratulations about starting more running again. There was at least one speed walker who came in ahead of me at the race on Saturday!

[maxwells]

Steady as she goes...I will keep a steady routine of walking and running for 2-3 miles each day; come next month, my running increases.

[vyola]

I did week 1 day 1 of the couch to 5km program today :-D

[trouble]

Hey! I did week 1 day 1 of C25k today!

I feel nauseated at the moment, but I assume that will pass.

[vyola]

Awesome :-D
I'm glad there are other people here at the same stage of the program as I am, it will help keep us motivated!

I was surprised at how tough w1d1 was - I had this idea that is was really easy for someone who regularly walks and bikes like I do, but yeah, I had to push myself. The last two running intervals were easier than the middle ones, probably because by that time I was walking veeeery slowly and taking deep breaths during the walking intervals.

I also assume your nausea will pass, but I don't know much about physiology. Here's what I did: an hour before running I ate some oatmeal, so I was not hungry at all, nor did I have a heavy, sloshy stomach. Immediately after finishing the program, I went shopping and bought some fruit, and then I felt this strong urge to eat the fruit.

I actually went to the bathroom in the store and washed a plum and an apricot and ate them immediately, plus drank some water (after paying, obvs). I felt my blood sugar plummet, and felt weak and nauseous and dizzy as I was eating, but only a few minutes later I felt great again.

I'm definitely going to bring a snack with me next time I run, because I don't run a circular track and I'll have to walk back the same distance. I think I would have hurt myself if I hadn't eaten that fruit, and that really surprises me. I know my blood sugar control isn't the best (pre-diabetic) but I didn't think the exertion was that great.

[trouble]

Yay! Someone to commiserate with!

I had a piece of toast with peanut butter about 40 minutes before I went out, and drank some water. I think I should have drank more water, and yeah - fruit. Fruit fruit fruit. As soon as I read your fruit comment my body went "Oh yeah, FRUIT!" So I think I shall pick some up.

I found the last two intervals of running so hard I've done this before, but back in 2004 when I was much younger and fitter than I am now. (Back then I used to go for two hour long walks every day. Today I go for 20 - 30 minute long walks whenever I get the chance. Yay for busy.) I found it a lot harder this time than I did then - I think I had it in my head that it would be easy, but I was remembering more how I felt at the end of C25k, not the beginning.

I am still a bit recovering, and think I will get some fruit now, and drink more water.

[vyola]

You already did the c25k before, that's so cool! Then you know that you can do it, and you can picture that great feeling of being in shape.

I have a pilates DVD that gave me a similar experience of just how much my condition has deteriorated over the years without me noticing. When I first bought it, it was a nice work-out, just enough to make me feel energized, but a bit boring. The cool down with the soothing music and guided relaxation was my favorite part, and I mostly just used it to fall asleep to.

Then I found it again last year, and it was so difficult that I couldn't complete all the reps of the exercises. Even the exercises I hadn't seen the point of before (I thought they were maybe meant to be relaxing filler) turned out to require muscle tone I just didn't have.

So that made me a bit annoyed with myself. On the other hand, I realized I had been in okay shape and just didn't know it, back when I first bought the DVD, and I want to go back to taking mobility like that for granted again.

[zulu]

Hi, runners! sophinisba pointed me here. I just did week 4 day 1 of couchto5k tonight. It's going really well. The first days had my legs hurting so bad, but now I can up the level without too much additional difficulty. I'm enjoying it!