I graduated! C25K success!!

I finished the C25K (Couch to 5K) program today! 

                                                    

I decided to take a few minute to review the program and the process.  

I've been using this app:

I like that fact that the app accesses my playlists--and it has a simple control panel (forward, pause, backward) so if a song is just not "moving" me, I can skip it.  I never felt it necessary to pay to remove the ads.  Every once in a while I hit the ad instead of the forward button, but it was easy enough to return to the app.

A very nice voice announced, "Begin running"; "Begin walking"; "You're halfway done"; "One minute remaining", and (my favorite!!) "Begin cool down"!

I took me a few more than 8 weeks. I completed W1D1 (week 1 day 1) on January 19th.  It took me about a week to complete W1D2!  I thought I was going to die every time I ran 60 seconds!  Weeks 2 and 3 went fairly smoothly.  Week 4 took me about 3 weeks! (This included being sick, being out of town for work, and getting used to my new Brooks.) These shoes have been awesome!  I have absolutely no pain from my plantar fascitis!

Week 5 everything changed. I was terrified of W5D3. That is the day of the 20 minute run.  Prior to that, the longest run was 8 minutes.  I went in to the run planning to finish it.  I struggled, but I pushed through.  And I experienced my first ever runner's high.  I felt exhilarated!

From week 5 on, I have been able to maintain the 3 day a week schedule.  I had to postpone one of my final runs because of the hotel "fitness room" fiasco.   As soon as we got home, I went to the gym and for my run.  Not only did I complete W8D2, I kept running until I hit 3.1 miles (5K).  It took me 58 minutes, but I did it!  I had a setback on my next run because I tried running outside (instead of on a treadmill) in very hot weather.

Today, I repeated the final workout. I thought I was going to have to quit before I hit 10 minutes.  I was really struggling. And I had to dial back the speed. (Most of the run was at 3 MPH---rather than 3.5 or higher).  I pushed through the 30 minute "required" run.  Then I pushed it to 2 miles. I kept going.  And I finished 3.1 miles.  Another 5K under my belt.

Next steps: 

• Increase my speed
• Increase my distance
• Transition at least one run per week outside
• Be ready to run a 5K by July's Alien Chase

I still can't believe I'm a runner!

I know I already linked to the Spring Break 5K challenge, but I had to add this post!!