30%

I'm not going to finish the C25K program this season. I was 8 runs in on a 27 run program. That's 30%.

However, it's dark when I get home and it's dark when I get up so that cancels out any outdoor exercising. I guess it's back to the dvds or Spartacus workouts!

I'll try to keep this updated when I complete workouts. 

C25K - Run 8

I tried really hard to run to the beat at least once today. I felt like I was running in slow motion. I did it for about 30 seconds or so before it frustrated me enough to go back to running how I usually do. I figured I could hit every beat on the same foot (basically double-time) but that felt too fast. That was more like a track run, not a jog. And this program is described as a jog speed. 

The distance 2.45 miles in 30 minutes. This is the same as Run 7. 

How did it feel? I didn't get side cramp at all, but 25 minutes in I did get acid bubbly rising in my throat. I have no idea what that was about. Felt like I was going to throw up so I stopped and walked for about 10 seconds and tilted my head up. Other than that, I had no issues to speak of. I did wear the heart rate monitor today to see how my heart was doing. I averaged 160 during the walking portions and 175-185 during the running portions.  

C25K - Run 7

Well, I'm about a week behind but I got back out there! Today was when I was *supposed* to start the Podcast track for week 3 (I accidentally ran to that track on Run 5). I think I might have psyched myself out a bit knowing what was in store for me. 

The bpm was raised 2 beats which meant a brisker walk and a theoretical faster jog. I still have trouble jogging slow enough to keep up with the bpm though so I just go with a speed I'm comfortable with.

The colors and smells are SO beautiful this time of year. There was one neighbor bagging his leaves the entire time I ran. I saw the progression of his lawn and he saw the progression of my exhaustion, LOL

The distance ended up being 2.45 miles in 30 minutes. I am just shy of 1/2 a mile from my goal of 3 miles and I'm only on week 3! 

How did it feel? It felt amazing. The warmup walk took a bit to get comfortable with because of the extra 2 beats per minute stride change.  I got a pretty intense side cramp during my second to last walking measure, about 20 minutes in, which lasted  until I started running again. I've never been so glad for running at the end! I finished running halfway around the block, at which point the Podcast track ended. I used the rest of the block home as my cool-down walk. Something strange happened internally but that's not a discussion for the Internet. 

C25K - Run 6

I'm still in the hotel so I used the treadmill again - this time with no issues! I feel like I run harder but according the the mileage completed that it reported to me when I stopped, I ran slower than when I run at home. Maybe it's the downhill portions that's making the difference. I don't know and it doesn't really matter since today's the last treadmill run.

The distance ended up being 2.12 miles in 25 minutes. I stuck with the 4mph walking and 6mph running - with the exception of a few times when I wasn't sure I could keep up any longer and bumped it down to 5mph runs. 

I also realized today that I used the wrong podcast track for Run 5! That would explain why I felt like I was running so much longer :-/

How did it feel? As I mentioned, I feel like I ran harder - and I definitely sweat more. Whether the sweat is a byproduct of the 75 degree closed room or an actual increase in activity, I don't know.  I had the incline at 2% for the beginning warm up walk, then left it at zero incline for the remainder.  I had side cramps about 15 minutes in which lasted throughout the entire run portion for 2 rounds. 

C25K - Run 5

Just a few days overdue but I got it done! I'm in a hotel this week and luckily they have a fitness center. I've never ran on a treadmill before, so today was a bit trial and error. I accidentally stopped it once so I lost all the previous data. Then it stopped on its own a second time because I miscalculated how long I'd be running. So I have no idea how far I ran, but I was running 6mph and "brisk walking" 4mph for the entire 25 minutes. I'm guessing it was 2.5 miles. 

How did it feel? I definitely feel like I ran harder. I tried hitting the "increase incline" a few times in an attempt to keep it the same as how I run at home but I had no idea how long to keep it there or how high. Plus I think when I run up hills at home, I'm actually  running slower because when I did it on the treadmill it definitely felt different. The treadmill was running at the same speed but I felt like I had to run faster to keep up. 

In the end, I had more sweat than I have before. I didn't have any side cramps or soreness after. 

The end result was (I'm guessing) 2.5 miles in 25 minutes.

C25K - Run 4

Today's run marked the beginning of Week 2, which brought increased walking, increased jogging, and a new interval mix!

Week 2 starts with a brisk 5-minute warmup walk, then alternating 90 seconds of jogging and 2 minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

I started the run later than I typically do. The colors of the sunset were spectacular as they reflected off the fall colors of the turning leaves on all the trees along my route. It was unspeakably beautiful. And the smells were so wonderful.

Other than the unfortunate circumstance of starting my girly crap just before heading out - and the cramps associated with that crap kicking in just about halfway through the run - tonight went really well. The stitch in my side showed up at about the 20 minute mark, but disappeared very quickly. Also, I ran further again! It was another 10th of a mile extra. I'm sure it's because I'm running longer but I'm still pretty excited about it.

The end result was 2.27 miles in 25 minutes.

C25K - Run 3

I'm not sure why but today's run was accompanied with labored breathing. I mean, really - really - labored. I don't think it ever returned to normal and it felt like I was breathing really cold air even though it was 75 degrees out. Weird.

Some great news though!

I woke up this morning and almost all the soreness in my muscles was gone! 

Today's run was the last of the brisk 5-minute warmup walk, then alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of brisk walking - for a total of 20 minutes.

The stitch in my side didn't show up until the 20 minute mark (another 5 minute improvement)

The end result was again 2.25 miles in 25 minutes. Even as tired and out of breath as I was, I had a huge smile on my face when I realized I was passing my typical "finish" place and still had a minute to go on the timer! 

I'm still improving so I feel good about the results. Today was the last of Week One. Thursday I will start with Week Two, which is longer runs and longer walks. Just when my body was getting used to this one. Keep on pushin' on!

C25K - Run 2

I was really not sure how today's run would feel. My body has been experiencing post-Insanity workout type pain yesterday, and even worse today. It hurt to do anything. My shoulders, back, sides, abs, butt, thighs, legs and foot. Yup, literally my entire body!

Today's run would either loosen up my muscles or feel like torture for 25 minutes.

Today's run was the same: a brisk 5-minute warmup walk, then alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of brisk walking - for a total of 20 minutes.

So, how did the "run" feel? My muscles loosened and felt great before the warmup was done. I didn't get the stitch in my side until about 15 minutes in (a 5 minute improvement from the first time). My lungs never felt like they were on fire and I never felt like I was going to throw up. Improvements!

The end result was again 2 miles in 25 minutes. I did my post-run cool-down stretches and quickly realized the pain in my body was still very present. I think I need to borrow a friend's foam roller and just deal with the pain of working those out.

All-in-all I felt good about today. I got out there and ran even though I was still hurting. I also improved in many areas. Monday is my last of this routine.

Success! The wheels are turning :D

After nearly a month of not doing any workouts, I finally got in the first day of the C25K schedule!

The first 3 "runs" consist of a brisk 5-minute warmup walk, then alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of brisk walking - for a total of 20 minutes. I was running to a specific beat so I kept a consistent pace throughout. I did have trouble keeping my pace to the beat of the jogging portions. I don't know if my stride is just different from what they created the BPM for, or if I should be running faster, or slower? I couldn't imagine running slower though. I knew I was supposed to be jogging so I was doing that. I felt like I needed to jog in slow motion to keep up with the beat, or run to hit on every 1/2 beat - so I just jogged at what I felt was a normal pace and ignored the beats for those parts.

I downloaded the mp3 tracks from the Podrunner Intervals site. Honestly, if it weren't for this mix, I'm certain I would not have kept the pace I kept. If anyone else needs this sort of help but you don't care for the techno type mixes, check out http://www.c25k.com/ for other mixes (even podcasts) available.

So, how did the "run" feel? My thighs started burning about 4 minutes into the warmup, but then the burning went away by the time I finished the first jog. The burning in my legs was gone. The burning in my lungs had just begun. I was very grateful for that 90 second brisk walk! I had my breathing back to normal just in time for the alarm to sound that it was time to jog again. All in all, the whole run lasted this way until my very last interval of walk/run/walk. I had to really mentally push myself to stay in pace with the beat for brisk walking. The end result was 2 miles in 25 minutes, which I'm pretty sure is further than I've ever gone since I was a sophomore in highschool (1994!)

A side note: I really expected it to be "easier" because I've done Insanity (the 1st 3 weeks anyway) and all 30-days of Hip Hop Abs. I don't want to imagine what it would have felt like without those programs priming my body (and mind)!

I need some cooperation here!

I was going to start the C25K today if the weather cooperated. Not only has it been raining all day, but my stomach has been flip-floppy all day as well. 

Sweetie and I went to St. Joe MO today so I could get a haircut and we could visit my sister-in-law who's in the hospital from pneumonia. That 6 hour outing completely exhausted me. A small voice in the back of my brain is saying, "Go. Run. You'll feel better." But I'm not one of those people who you'll see running in the rain, or the cold, or any other weather I wouldn't otherwise be in. I don't understand those runners. Maybe it's one of those things that just "happens" to you when you start running. If so, I'm not in a hurry for it, LOL