Join me - Couch to 10K Challenge
Hello,
Looking for folks who might be interested in doing the Couch to 10K in 14 weeks challenge with me. I have the app for my iPhone - was only $2.99 and is very structured and actually not so difficult! I started last week and just completed Week 2, Day 1 this a.m. I would love the support and will also be supportive your efforts, too!
A little about me. I'm 37 and need to lose about 65 pounds. I have been exercising regularly since the beginning of September, but only watching what I've been eating since January 1 and calorie counting for the last month or so. My exercise journey started when I found myself in the WORST shape of my life - had just spent 10 weeks on my ass doing nothing but studying for the CA bar exam and eating crap (I passed, so no need to ever do that again - thank god). I got winded from walking up a flight and a half of stairs! I began by walking - nearly every day. I made it up to 50 minutes and began to find myself getting bored and thought I should probably amp it up a bit - why not try running? This was a big breakthrough for me - the last time I ran a mile was in PE class my sophomore year in high school!
So now I'm a new attorney, not in the worst shape ever, but overweight (probably obese by BMI standards) and looking to get fit, drop the weight, and overall just feel good and energetic (and of course, I wouldn't cry if I looked hot in a suit!).
Anybody up for the challenge?
- Sascha
No damage at all. They didn't actually hit me, just came *really* close.
The way the back felt last night I figured I would be super stiff and sore this morning, but I woke up and it feels totally normal. So maybe I can get in a good run this afternoon.
Thanks for the concern! :)
Karozel - so glad to hear the damage to yourself was minimal. For some reason it seems that when some people get behind the wheel, they suddenly feel they have permission to unleash their inner as*&*$^ on other drivers. Like, all this pent up anger gets put proudly on display. I don't get it. I live in LA - driving here has turned me into a bit of misanthrope.
Elli - I'm sure you know this already, but perhaps a little outside encouragement will help. The instant cure for feeling like a bum is getting out there and doing it (if you haven't already)! Plus the added benefit - how physically good it feels afterwards.
Me: I did week 8 day 1 this morning. I forgot to mark my half way point on Tuesday. My program is 14 weeks long, so finishing week 7 means I'm half way there! I've pretty much stayed on track, but I've really felt like I NEEDED this. Being unemployed is a serious downer to my self-image and self-worth, and accomplishing something (anything!) is helping me to counteract that. So once again, hurray for small victories!
Sascha, yes I'm all about the little victories. I just finished week 5 day 2. 8 min run then 5 min walk then 8 mins run with 5 min warm up and 5 min cool down. I was hoping to get finished before the rain came, and almost did....
I ended up having to short the last 8 mins by about 45 sec cause I had to stop and put my hoodie back on it was raining so hard. Finished my cool down in the rain...
Next time out, it's 20 mins with a 5 mins warm up and cool down. I hope I get that burst of energy after the first 12 mins or so. I've been (only if I feel I can't go on anymore) stoping for about 10 steps then picking back up, after today, I'm not as scared about the 20 mins as I was the other day. I know even if I have to stop for a few steps a time or two I can do it. (At least that's my story for now) 
Sally - that's fantastic! When is your 20 minute minute run or have you done it already? Also, how many weeks is your C25K program?
Me: I was supposed to do a 30 minute run yesterday, but I was sore from the prior day's walk. I walk on my off days from this program, and it's pretty intense (I don't sweat any less on these days). However, I've never stretched afterwards because walking is low-impact. I guess that's going to have to change. So I did the 30 minute run this morning. Felt pretty good. Tuesday will mark the end of week 8 - a 35 minute run then. The weeks only get scarier from here for me. But I can do it!
Hope the weather is beautiful whereever you all are, and are having a fantastic weekends!
Sally -- awesome workout, doesn't it feel great to have that confidence?
Sascha -- love the picture! You're doing great.
I managed to get on the treadmill today. Soccer is really over now, but softball for my granddaughter is just starting up. So, I may still be busy.
Did week 6, day 2 today. It seems so much easier on the treadmill. 2.5 miles in just oveer 38 minutes. Two jogging intervals of 10 minutes, but I kept the spped at about 4.5 mph. Looks like next session is supposed to be 22 minutes straight jogging for me. Eek!
Karozel - Thank you! I felt a little closer to you all and wanted you to be able to picture me and my life (albeit with the flattering photo version!).
YOU are doing fantastically well! You should be so proud - you have stayed active and made the most of your time, despite your commitments! That is THE goal. And if it's easier on the treadmill, then for pete's sake make your life a little easier and run on the treadmill! Running generally is not easy, but (in my book anyway) take the small advantages and go with them!
xoxo
Sascha, I did my 20 min run yesterday and I did pretty well, I only took one break and that was for about 30 sec. I felt so good afterward.
My husband does not know I'm doing this program, cause he's usually very negative telling me I can't do things and I'll hurt myself. Well, he caught me yesterday, meaning him and my daughter caught up to me running while on their bikes. He actually gave me a compliment, I almost fell over.... He said I was in better shape than he was. He has NEVER said this or even thought this. He's a pretty fit guy and has a physical job so he's in good shape, for him to say I'm in better shape than him is a good thing. So that made me feel really happy.
My program is 9 weeks. So I'm at week 6 now. I think this is the last week that has intervals. Then it's longer runs. I've done all my running outside so far, but it's supposed to be in the 90's toward the end of the week, so I may have to do some of my workouts inside this week. I feel good and all, but I don't think I'm ready to run in that kind of heat just yet.
Managed to do week 6, day 3 today on the treadmill. 22 minutes straight running -- well, sort of -- I had to take a potty break about 15 minutes in.
But I managed to do 2.5 miles in 35 minutes, and most of it was jogging.
Sally - positive reinforcement for what we're doing is soooo helpful. So glad to hear your husband has been encouraging! I proudly announce to my SO what I've done right after completing it, although at this point the "I'm so proud of yous" sound a little rote. Still nice to hear though.
Karozel - fantastic! Good luck with week 7!
Lauren - Welcome!
Me: I finished week 8 today - a day later than planned. Yesterday was a baaad day. I had unexpected company for dinner on Tuesday night, and woke up yesterday with a raging eye infection, a horrible hangover, and menstrual cramps. I'm all fixed up now, but still really struggled to do my running this morning. My program today was a warm up, 35 minute run, and a cool down. It took nearly 20 minutes of running before my body stopped screaming at me, but the last 15 minutes were actually quite easy.
Week 9 starts Friday. Lots of interval training for the next few weeks.
Well, today wasn't so good. I was unprepared....
I was going to do wk6 dy1 at lunch, well it's 90 out... And although I had fluids, I only had a big bottle to carry with me...I got thru my first interval and about 1/2 way thru the second, but decided it was just too hot...and too cumbersome trying to run with that big bottle, so I walked the rest of my route.
I'll try again tonight when it's cooler and see how it goes... Next time I'll bring a fanny pack and a smaller bottle....
Good going ladies! Sally, I know what you mean about the water. When I was running during the soccer practices I was lucky in that I could leave my water there and do "laps" of the park.
It's been a hectic week, so many things going on, as I expected, I'm lagging behind on getting this done, but I'm not giving up.
Soccer season is over, but softball season has started and my granddaughter has games 2 nights a week. And this week has just been crazy in general.
Hoping to get some good workouts in this weekend.
Well I was so defeated the other day I didn't even try to run again till today. It's not quite as hot and it felt so good to run. Today was wk 6 day 2. This was my last interval day, 10 m run 3 m walk 10 m run, 5 m warmup/cooldown. Although, after I did the 20 min run the other day, I think I've come to the realization that I actually do better if I don't have the walks.... I was able to do the whole 20 mins with only maybe one 1 min walk. But today, during the second interval, I had to slow up twice. I think the walking 3 mins in between may have broke up my momentum.... Anyone else feel this way??
So on my program day 3 this week and all week next week are 25 min runs. Wish me luck....I've decided that the best way to do this is to just do it. I'm not worrying about the speed or necessarily the distance, just the fact that I can run for 20 plus mins.....Feels great cause I've never been able to say that....
Sally - I've found that once I get past minute 15 and after that - it's easy. My interval training is supposed to start today, so I'm not sure how I'll do with the walking breaks after running. Before though, when I was running in increments of under 15 minutes, I was super grateful for the walking breaks. Also, I can't imagine running in that kind of heat. I'd probably start getting up at the crack of dawn to avoid it.
Karozel - you can do it!
Me: Alas, I'm having knee issues, so I'm taking a wee break. I've noticed it's been sore the last few days, but yesterday - the day after the 35 minute run - it was downright painful. Like, I wasn't sure how I was going to put on my pants painful. I did some internet research and it's probably due to having high arches and wearing shoes that do not adequately support them. So basically I need new shoes, and at about $150, I can't really afford them right now. I will probably buy them anyway - enjoying this too much to stop. In the meantime, I'm taking a few days to let my knee calm down. It's better today, but still feels a little weak and achy. I hope I didn't jump the gun in walking for an hour this morning. I felt that I had to do SOMETHING active, or else I'd be bummed out. I hope I don't regret it later.
If I don't hear from you all, I will assume you're busy enjoying your weekends!
I managed week7 day1 this afternoon. Sort of. Should have been 25 minutes straight but at 20 I had to take a potty break. And then just as I got started again the phone rang so talked to mom for a few minutes. By then I was pretty much all cooled down so I did another 15 or so of jogging.
Ended up at 3 miles in 43 minutes. Not bad. And felt great!
Sascha sorry to hear about your knee. Hopefully a few days off will give it time to heal.
Well I finished week 6 yesterday. 22 mins straight. Felt so good when I finished. And again I feel like I did better without stopping. The last two mins were a push, the route I used has a little hill and I hit it about minute 20, so I had to push myself to get up it. I know I could not have done that 6 weeks ago. I feel so proud of myself.
Good luck everyone, we got this. If I can do it, I know we all can do it.
Original Post by brian702lose:
While I'm not up for the challange because I just ran my first 10K distance Actually almost 11K, I do congratulate you on your accomplishment/goals.
I went from not being able to tie my shoes without getting winded to running 6.75 miles without stopping to walk in 9 weeks (yes I was exhausted at about the 6 mile mark and was sore for a few days) although I think if I had taken a gel at the 40 min mark I could have kept going longer.
I started out only being able to walk and now I'm running good distances. I will be doing my first 7k race on Saturday (I average about a 10 -11 min mile so I won't be close to the front but I'm going to have fun just competing)
HOW DID YOU DO IT? I'm picking my brain about what could be wrong with me. I've been working out regularly (meaning at least 4 times a week, at least 2 hours each day) for the past 2 1/2 years, doing cardio (dancing or spinning and running/jogging, which I love) and a couple of weeks ago, I convinced myself to start weight training. I started with jogging/running at least 3 times a week six months ago, and I can't seem to be able to pass beyond a certain limit, doesn't matter what I do or don't do. I've followed C25K training plan and others, reducing speed, really, EVERYTHING! but after 2.5 / 3 K (without stopping), I feel my heart almost coming out of my mouth (not just the feeling, HR actually spikes up in a blink of an eye, good thing is that it is coming down faster than what it used to). It just baffles me...I don't have this feeling while spinning and dancing (latin dancing), and trust me, I push myself as hard and longer periods of time.
Just this past weekend, a friend of mine registered us for my first 5k run/walk (her second). I was very afraid and anxious, as I usually run on a treadmill (safety on the streets is a big issue where I live) but, as you said, the experience is AMAZING! I couldn't run the whole thing, there were about two or three hills that were WAY too inclined, so I walked those (pretty fast, though, that's just my "regular" pace). I finished the 5 K in 35:10 min. Even though it was great just to finish it, I would have expected that anyone who has been running for the past 6 months would be able to do the whole thing without having to walk any portion of it.
So, any tips you can give will be HUGELY appreciated. I'm really desperate because I LOVE running/jogging, but it's getting a bit frustrating to see so little improvement after putting a lot of effort into this.
Finished week 7 day 1, my first 25 min run. I stopped twice for about 30 sec or less. Next time my goal is to cut out those two stops. Felt great to finish and I think I actually ran harder the last 5 mins than I did the other 20....my podcast came in and said "you have 5 more mins, you can do this" and I said to myself. I got this...and pushed on those last 5 mins. Great sense of accomplishment for me.
@mjvalverde, I know you said you reduced speed, but really for me I have had to slow down a LOT in order to increase the amount of time I can go without stopping.
In fact when I tried to run outside, I felt like I was probably jogging slower than brisk walking. But I think some of that is mental.
When I have done my long (20+) minute stretches on the treadmill I have slowed down to 4.5-4.8 mph and I just keep telling myself as long as I can still breathe I can keep going.
mjvalverde - I would say the exact same thing as Karozel said above, but I would add that you might want to try slowing down BEFORE your heart feels like it's going to pound out of your chest.
Sally and Karozel - I wanted to check in with you both here and say congratulations for keeping it up! You're both doing fantastically well, and although I don't actually know either of you, I'm so proud to be part of this with you! Keep it up!
Me: After reviewing my finances, I think I'm going to shelve the idea of new shoes for now. They will have to be my reward for finding a job. I'm beginning to think my excess weight is also a contributor to the knee problem. So perhaps it's best to wait until I drop a few more pounds anyway. Boo. I'm walking though - an hour each morning - and nearly at the speed I was running. Plus I'm doing it at an incline. I actually don't feel like I'm working any less hard than when running - I get just as winded and sweat just as much, but no knee pain. Still, I'm still fighting the feeling that I'm letting myself down. I need to stop that. I'm feeling mentally and physically good from the exercise and I'm dropping weight, so I'm still meeting my ultimate goals, albeit via a slightly different route for now.
I'll continue to check in and sending you all wishes for continued running successes!
