Couch to 5K (C25K) Journey: Week 4

This week I am flying back out to Dallas for work, so I did my first run on Sunday in Colorado, the second one will be in Dallas and the third one is yet to be determined... :-)

C25K Week 4 Day 1

Max run: 4 mins
Total Distance: 2.57
Total Time: 36.52
How it felt: I ate a HUGE lunch, so I tried to wait as long as I could (before the sun went down) to run again. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was difficult at the end of each of the 4 minute intervals, but I pushed through.

C25K Week 4  Day 2

In Dallas!
Max run: 5 mins

Total Distance: 3.1 miles

Total Time: 42:07
How it felt: This was a great day for many reasons! First, because I feel like running 5 minutes straight is a big milestone for me. Second, I actually went a full 5K distance today, and the time wasn't that bad! Was difficult while doing it, but feeling very accomplished. Noticed that the last couple weeks I have actually been struggling with leg fatigue more than lung fatigue which is absolutely crazy for me - the 60 second runs 3 weeks ago had my lungs working at full capacity. Now I can do 5 minutes with less strain. Amazing!

C25K Week 4  Day 3

Max run: 5 mins

Total Distance: 2.61

Total Time: 37.32
How it felt: I ran this after I got back to Colorado. The two 5 minute intervals were pretty difficult today. A little nervous about the 6 minute intervals next week, but even more nervous about the 8 min intervals next week!


GO TO WEEK 5!

Couch to 5K (C25K) Journey: Week 3

Here we go - week 3!

C25K Week 3 Day 1

Max run: 2.5 mins
Total Distance: 2.57
Total Time: 36:38
How it felt: I was nervous starting out today because 2.5 min runs (compared with the 90 sec runs I had been doing) seemed like a big jump, but again I surprised myself. If the C25K program is teaching me anything, it is teaching me that my body is a surprising thing.

C25K Week 3 Day 2

Max run: 2.5 mins

Total Distance: 2.57

Total Time: 36:32
How it felt: Today was a bit tougher. Not sure why. But I made it!

C25K Week 3 Day 3

Max run: 3 mins

Total Distance: 2.57

Total Time: 37:32
How it felt: I successfully upped it to 3 min max runs! Woo! Feeling pretty good. Next week I'm in Dallas.


GO TO WEEK 4!

Couch to 5K (C25K) Journey: Week 2

Week 2! I'm surprised that I have lasted longer than a week - it is sometimes so hard to create new habits and stick with things that you may not always like doing. Here's to 7 more weeks!

C25K Week 2 Day 1

Max run: 90 seconds
Total Distance: 2.42
Total Time: 33:26
How it felt: Today I ran with Ian! I went on a different path than usual because it had snowed the day before and the trails were still muddy, so we ran through the neighborhood. I noticed that my pace during my runs was a lot faster than usual - which I very much attribute to running with Ian. Normally I wouldn't have pushed myself so hard. ;-)

C25K Week 2 Day 2

Max run: 90 seconds

Total Distance: 2.57

Total Time: 37:32
How it felt: This run was surprisingly easy. I actually rather enjoyed this run. Hope I have more like it!

C25K Week 2 Day 3

Max run: 90 seconds

Total Distance: 2.57

Total Time: 37:07
How it felt: With how good the last run was, I was expecting this one to be the same. Unfortunately, for some reason, today was much more difficult. Oh well - your body is different day-to-day!


GO TO WEEK 3!

Couch to 5K (C25K) Journey: Week 1

Let me start out by saying, I paid for the "5K Runner" app, so I don't want to just put out there on the interwebs (for free) what the exact schedule is that I am following. I don't want to steal and disseminate intellectual property. They make a great app, and I highly recommend you part with the $2.50 and purchase it.

If you absolutely cannot afford the $2.50 (or the smartphone thing isn't for you) there are dozens of 'C25K' plans out there on the internet that you can find for free. This is a good C25K plan. Try following one of those plans and see if it works for you. :-)

C25K asks that I run 3 times a week, and sometimes the requirements differ from day to day during the week.

Every day starts out with a 5 minute warm up walks and ends with a 5 minute cool down walk. In between these walks, you run and walk for a certain number of minutes and repeat this a certain number of times.

Although the first 4 weeks or so (if you follow the plan exactly) you will probably only go about 2 miles at the most, I decided to repeat intervals several more times at the end. I didn't necessarily do this just to get more exercise (although it is), but I actually repeated intervals because if I run far enough on my particular trail, eventually I get to a nice over look of the mountains. However, I have to go about 1.25 miles down to get to this overlook, so in general I have been running 2.5-2.6 miles every day I run for C25K. It is definitely worth it to me... makes it like a treat at the end (or the middle, however you want to look at it). I don't run a loop - I run about 1.3 miles one way, and then return the same way.

C25K Week 1 Day 1

Max run: 1 min
Total Distance: 2.57
Total Time: 39:22
How it felt: I'm embarrassed to admit it, but 1 min is HARD! When you haven't run in a long long time, anything is hard I suppose. I was breathing really hard... but I did it. I loved being able to slow down and walk for 1.5 mins between each run.

C25K Week 1 Day 2

Max run: 1 min

Total Distance: 2.57

Total Time: 37:55
How it felt: About the same as last time. Maybe a little bit easier.

C25K Week 1 Day 3

Max run: 1 min

Total Distance: 2.57

Total Time: 36.51
How it felt: I felt pretty good about today, but still was pretty exhausted. Nervous about 90 second runs next week.


GO TO WEEK 2!

Couch to 5K (C25K) Journey: Why am I doing this?

Hey everybody,

I decided, in order to hold myself more accountable, I will publicly blog about my experience doing the "Couch to 5K" program.

Some background:
I have never been a "running person." In fact, I have always been one of those people who say running is one of the things I hate the most. I was mildly overweight ever since 3rd grade, and by the time I entered middle school, I was in the "definitely overweight" category. However, in 8th grade, by some spark of motivation, I decided enough was enough and lost 40 lbs, so I was back at a normal weight (first time I had been "normal" since I was 7).

I was always tall for my age and by the time I hit 5'6.5 sometime in middle school, I never grew any taller. Since I lost those 40 lbs, my weight has fluctuated 10 or 15 lbs. Right now is one of those times that I am +15 lbs. I would LOVE to get back down to my 8th grade weight, because I felt very healthy then, but I am finding it harder and harder to do.

I don't believe doing the C25K program will necessarily make me lose weight. I don't think I burn enough calories doing a roughly 2.5 mile jog 3 times a week for this to make a big difference in my appearance (unfortunately). What I am hoping that this program will do is make me a healthier, happier person, and I have the objective goal of being able to run 30 mins straight.

I know running is one of the best things I can do to increase my cardiovascular endurance - which is something I desire from this program. I want to make my heart stronger and lower my resting heart rate. My body just gets exhausted so quickly when I run, so I know it is a weak area of mine. I hope that this program is gradual enough that I will be able to build up my heart strength and endurance progressively, with tangible results. I live in Colorado and my husband an I like to hike. We have already climbed up several fourteeners together, and I'd like to do more. I believe this training will help me conquer fourteeners faster as well.

And finally, although I am not now, I would just love to be one of those people who love running! It's such good exercise and it's so easy! Just go outside! No gym equipment required. If I could learn to love running, this is something I could keep up for the rest of my life.

My stats:

• I don't have any "official" stats for myself. I hated running before this so my times are slow.
• I've run a full mile just a handful of times in my life. I think my best time was around 10 mins. It practically killed me to run a full mile without stopping so forgive me for not "tracking" my mile time before this program. At this point, I just rather not. :-)
• My "running pace" to actual runners would probably be considered a "light jog"
• I've done one 5K before, and that was in high school. I think I literally finished 3rd to last. Yep. No joke.

My equipment:

• iPhone with the "5K Runner" app that I paid $2.50 for
• It tells me exactly what I need to do each day, and has an audible trainer voice and timer that will tell you when to run and walk.
• MapMyRun app - to show me how far I've gone and how long it took. Also my mile split pace.
• Music on iPhone

Well, enough talk. Let's get to running!

C25K Week 1
C25K Week 2
C25K Week 3
C25K Week 4
C25K Week 5
C25K Week 6
C25K Week 7
C25K Week 8

Asher the Australian Shepherd

A couple of weekends ago, my brother-in-law and his fiance came and visited us during their Spring Break and they brought their adorable puppy.

He is a 3 month old mini Australian Shepherd. His coloring is red merle. On top of being just beautiful, he is really smart too.

World, I present to you: Asher.

Enjoy!