Running week 2

First off I need to make a correction from last week. I wrote that I started in week 5 and was dropping back to week 4. Turns out after looking at the program again, I was starting week 4 and dropping back to week 3.

I am doing my program Wed/Friday/Sunday so today was the first day back to week 4. It was rough, but not nearly as rough as last week. I keep getting this almost debilitating cramp on my right side that feels that it goes right through me, Luckily it seems to show up in the last 5 minutes so I've been able to power my way through; all though I am a little concerned about next week when I start doing 2 miles at a time.

But all whining aside, it really is feeling great. I've pretty much never been able to do any sort of distance running, even when I was young and in great shape, so even the small strides I'm making now as an out of shape adult have been awesome.

Runner's Log

So after talking about it, telling friends about it (who have gone on and done it), but never actually getting off my butt and doing it. Today I've started my "Couch to 5k" program (www.coolrunnings.com). I've been running a few weeks now and increasing dramatically in distance, speed an Stamina, so I thought I would start the aforementioned program in week 5 which is two 3 minutes runs and two 5 minutes runs with either a 90 second or 2 minute break between each.

This, I have decided, was a mistake. The past week I've been mixing 5 minute runs with 5 minute walks and was able to do the runs pretty easily. Apparently the difference between 5 minute walks and 90 second walks is a lot more then one would think. The 5 minute runs felt like I was running a marathon. I had to take a small 1 minute walk break during the last 5 minute run but then continued to finish the run, cooldown and stretch so I was at least happy I was able to finish.

Now I know you runners are looking at this laughing your ass off either because a) you were once here and remember what it was like to get started or more likely b) are looking at 5 minute runs and thinking how sad not being able to run at a 5mph pace for 5 minutes really is. to those in the b catagory I say.. that's why I'm doing it.... ;).

In any case, after talking with Jenna about it I've decided to drop back another week to week 4 of the program and see how I feel there. She pointed out that dropping back can't hurt, but staying in 5 when I'm not ready could. So.. back to week 4 I go.

My goal is to be able to run a 30 minute 5k early next year and possibly a 10k some time during the summer. They aren't the loftiest of goals but when you've managed to put on as much weight as I have over the past 15 years, slow and steady needs to be a theme until I can finally manage to shed it off. Speaking of weight, as of last week I am back to losing again. I am officially at the 10 lb mark again and feeling like this week will be another loss.. woohoo!

So, if nothing else, this should at least give me some good material for the blog... which as Nicole keeps reminding me is not updated nearly enough!