I’ve mentioned in a few past posts that I wanted to start the Couch-to-5K walk/run program again. I’ve signed up for a few 5Ks lately, and I thought it might be fun to be able to at least do a walk/run for some of them.
So yesterday, after a long day at school planning lessons and sitting in several meetings, the last thing I felt like doing was going to the local high school track. But I did it anyway, because I’d made the commitment to myself. And, often the last thing I feel like doing is the first thing I should be. 🙂 Plus, it was a beautiful day, and there was a very light breeze, making the weather conditions just about perfect at 6pm.
I’d downloaded a free C25K app to alert me when it was time to walk or run, and turned on a great playlist from RockMyRun. And then all there was left to do was to get to it:
Week 1, Day 1:
5 minute warm-up walk
60 second run
90 second walk
60 second run
90 second walk
(repeat each interval 10 times total, for 20 minutes)
5 minute cool down walk
I made it through the first few running sections pretty well. My breathing was really labored, but my pace was good, and my knees didn’t hurt at all. I was so relieved every time the app told me it was time to walk. By the 4th time to run, I was really struggling to finish, and after the 5th time, I decided I’d had enough and just kept walking to finish out the workout. I wouldn’t consider this a total fail, but more of a fact-finding mission.
I had the Endomondo app working in the background, and it let me know that at my fastest, my pace was 5.8mph (this must’ve been right when I started running), but my “wogging” average was about 4.5mph. My average walk was 3.5mph, which is a lot faster than I realized. So that was the positive.
I’m glad I attempted C25K again, but I think I need to wait until I’ve lost more weight before I continue it. I posted about my experience on FB last night, and so many of my friends gave me tips to encourage me. They told me not to give up and to keep going, maybe slowing the pace. All of which was so sweet, and I do think that the ideas they gave were good, but I have to go with my intuition. I feel like losing more weight would make my next attempt much more successful.
One thing that did come out last night was that I have really picked up the pace with my walking, without any shin splints, numbness, or problems of any kind. I’ve really come to enjoy walking throughout the summer, so right now I’m going to concentrate on increasing my pace.
It’s funny how you sometimes figure out what you should be doing by first trying something else that doesn’t work out.
Bella on the Beach 
I’m so proud of you! Even if you want to wait until you lose more weight, that’s awesome that you jumped right in and gave it a whirl!
You look amazing in the pics in your last post!
WTG! my advice would be to turn off anything that tells you how fast you are going. At that stage you should just be trying to complete each segment not worry about how fast you are going. This totally gets into my husband’s head and messes him up all the time lol. Also if you are feeling out of breath go slower. I figure if you are moving your feet faster than walking it’s still considered running! Maybe some day we will meet at a 5k or something, some time I go over the hill for them 🙂
I am almost done with the C25K program. Or rather, I think I should say I was almost done — 2 or 3 session left. I just got so lazy. I don’t know why I couldn’t just push through and do it. This post has motivated me to give it another go! 🙂
I’m glad it motivated you!!