Tuesday, April 9, 2013

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!!

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14 comments:

  1. Thanks for this. I've been thinking of trying C25K. It's hard to decide to make yourself a bit miserable, but at my healthiest I did "enjoy" running or at least the sense of accomplishment.

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  2. Congrats that amazing!!! You are a runner and you should be super proud :)

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  3. So awesome! I love it, keep it up! Way to keep pushing through. Such a great accomplishment!

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  4. Fantastic work! Yes, you are a runner!

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  5. CONGRATS!!!! C25K is how I got my start in running and it is a really great program. You should be SO PROUD of yourself for "graduating" - think of the commitment that requires! Way to go!

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  6. What a huge accomplishment! you must feel so good about all your hard work :) i'm just in week 5 now and I too am terrified of the 20 minute run! but I want to get there and finish it so I will just push myself and see how far I can go. Can't wait to hear about how your July 5K goes

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  7. Way to go, Julie! You inspired me to run today! :) Only for 3 minutes, and not all at once, but I did run 3 1-minute segments

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  8. Congratulations - I love that you stuck with this program all the way through to the end - great job, runner girl!!!

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  9. Great job! I have started this so many times but never finished. I will graduate this time too though!

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  10. Congratulations!!! You inspire me to start and FINISH C25K... I have started a few times, but really am motivated to stick with it and run a 5k!!!

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  11. Congratulations!!!! you deserve a graduation party! That is so awesome. Thank you for linking up and sharing!

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  12. This is so awesome! I am super proud of you!

    Sarah
    www.thinfluenced.com

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  13. YAY! This is so great! You must feel so good!!!
    I'm on Week 4 right now - day 3 for me tomorrow. I can't believe I'm running, either!!! It's a great feeling.

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  14. I really like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and exposure!
    Keep up the excellent works guys I've included you guys to our blogroll.

    Also visit my weblog: how much should i weigh for my age and height

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