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Anyone else starting out 2013 with C25K?

guest — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 02:39:34 GMT

Aspen8, I am not even to the point of interspersing runs with walks yet. I have done C25K a couple of times in the past (both during warm weather, mostly on a treadmill). And each time, looking back, I suspect that I tried to go to fast, too soon. There's a lot to be said -- particularly as you get a bit older -- for the importance of enough recovery time, and of conditioning your body to be ready even to start run-walking.

This time I'm outdoors, and I am walking, first, because my daughter asked me to walk with her. Yay! I think that she would like to try running, and went out too fast, too -- she told me she has "quit running" but talks like she would like to give it a try. So we're fast-walking. And because I've only been out on the dreadmill, our first walk I was feeling like I was out of shape.

It does get better, and I think being out there is a lot better than NOT doing anything. And although I don't know that we have to totally find joy in each and every session, I do think we should remember that when it says to adjust and take time enough to do the program at a pace that works for you, that means, even before starting the "program" per se, you can spend some time so that the walking feels easy and then, yes, we SHOULD enjoy it as each progression feels hard at first, and then becomes easy.

I wanna be a runner for many years, so really, slowing way down for a few months, that's nothing!

Winter Running - Just do it

guest — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 02:30:08 GMT

I'm way happier working out outside in winter. I always enjoyed skiing so long as I dressed for it, and having just (re) begun a running training program outdoors, I am loving being able to unzip or shed a layer or gloves as I warm up. I used to always be cold but now that I'm older and (ahem!) fatter, I am also more frequently overwarm, than too cold.

Just did a couple of miles of fast walking (with my daughter who I think wants to start running soon), outdoors near sunset. It was pretty cold starting out (about 34 F I think) but we were pleasantly warm on the last stretch. I need to get some of those cheap stretchy gloves, I wore street gloves that aren't very warm, miss my fleece gloves.

What I wore - capris, lowcut socks, sports bra, longsleeved poly and merino wool shirt, new Athleta jacket (my early b'day gift from my dear husband!), earmuffs and the cold gloves. I feared (and my daughter wondered!) that I might feel the cold on my shins, but after a few yards they felt fine.

Definitely give winter running a TRY at least. It would be a shame to miss finding out that you love it!

Running pants/sweats for COLD weather??

guest — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:50:01 GMT

Just want to say thanks for asking the question BradenMommyof5, and thanks for the helpful answers everyone! I have been a treadmill newbie runner for about forever, and am kind of eager to do some winter running (I run fairly hot and get cranky when I get hot while running), but in generally damp, cool-not-cold Washington DC's weather, I've been unsure what to think about wearing.

I plan on checking out my local RoadRunner Sports store, the Sports Authority store near me, and Target this week, but will definitely look at eBay (it's icy rain today so that may be my "shopping" for today). If I find any surprises I'll post some more.

Thanks again!

What's your 2013 goal... AND what's your lifetime goal?

guest — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 21:24:52 GMT

Oh I like this thread! Thanks Urbster!

Goals for 2013:

Keep running regularly each week with my oldest daughter (yay!)

Run 3 5Ks during the year (find them first!)

Avoid letting the mental block keep me from persevering

Lifetime:

Like others, to keep running, to cherish family time, to be kind

C25K - August, 2012

guest — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:27:38 GMT

Great work, everyone!!! Congratulations for sticking with it and thanks for sharing the motivating news on your changes!

I took a Zumba class for the first time yesterday evening, and week 5 has been truly p*ssing me off, so I am taking an additional recover day and will do a fourth day of week 5, tomorrow. I bet this is where my own weeks in the plan will become a bit elastic but the idea is to feel comfortable with a particular week's intervals before moving on safely to the next. I'm in this for the long haul, so I want to spend as long as it takes on the five-minute run intervals, before I take on the week 6 whatever that is (haven't honestly looked at the whole schedule in some time now, I like to be surprised!

We had a bit of a tornado scare this evening but it seems it missed our area. I think some of the hottest summer days may be behind us now though. Well, I hope so, anyway!

Keep on logging those miles! And don't forget to breathe!

C25K - August, 2012

guest — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:10:39 GMT

Awww, Sushi-gal! I'm so sorry about the bad news! But hey, some people can walk as fast as I run, so as far as I'm concerned, why not continue to hang with us!! Ouch, those are pricey orthotics, aren't they!!

I just completed W4D3. I feel okay, but I'm also feeling the effects of the lunges I did in yesterday's weight session. (I hate lunges. And I KNEW I'd still be feeling those today when I ran! Ugh!).

I am going to repeat at least a day of W4 because I didn't finish the last five minute interval either on D2 or D3. So I'm not yet ready to move ahead. It really felt a LOT hotter and more humid today, even though we had some heavy rain. DogCrazy1966, I don't know how on earth you managed to run in an un-air conditioned garage! I run in a 3 season room, and even so I turn the ceiling fan on and wait until the sun has set (or nearly set), and it STILL is uncomfortable these days. Those who are thinking about the wisdom of starting training in a heat advisory: just think how great we'll feel when the cool days arrive!!! We will feel like we are FLYING!

I'm watching for little things like my rings being looser, the muffin-top decreasing, seeing more of the bone structure in my face. Those tend to be my gauges for how healthy I am living. I am kind of watching my nutrition using SparkPeople too. (But I'm tracking in waaay too many places already!).

I LOVE Zombies, Run! but am not using it for the C25K, just for walks. So far I'm having some trouble getting music into the playlist and not restarting the original mission. But it's pretty fun even so! And RunKeeper is fantastic, but I wish more folks in my local area were there to make up a Street Team with!

gave up on c25k but trying something different

guest — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 03:12:11 GMT

For me, I notice that I don't run as well when I am around other people as when I am running solo. I think it IS a bit of a kind of social anxiety but very subclinical . We run for ourselves, and compete against ourselves. But for most people I think it probably is hard (at first) to focus on ourselves when we get in a group. Frankly this is something that I was surprised at in myself when I ran my first 5K. I read frequently about the great energy of a crowd and the atmosphere of events bouying some people. Maybe I'll eventually feel that way. But as a beginner, I still feel .. I guess I would say "embarrassed" about my speed and form and such. For me, THAT is what I think messes me up when I run around others.

In fact I run indoors on a treadmill partially because my "neighborhood" isn't that much of a neighborhood. If I run outdoors, the first part of the course involves a fairly major road. Not many people walk or run along it (I sometimes have seen bicyclists). I know that when I am driving this road, I notice anyone walking, or running, right away. I think it is the tendency to put myself in their shoes and the awareness that as a car driver or passenger, I DO notice them, that makes me shy about my own run.

I think if this is the case for you, then the real only "trick" other than distractions like music, is to expose ourselves regularly to running with others around. Eventually like anything else, we will feel more comfortable running this way. It's just like giving speeches or anything else in public. The more you do it, the more at ease you are with it.

C25K - July

guest — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 01:32:07 GMT

1. What Week/Day are you on?

W3D2

2. How do you feel?

Pretty good! Like you Guile007, I get winded a bit right after the run intervals but feel good after cooldown. I did a yoga Downward Facing Dog after cooling down to get some stretching in today.

3. Have you had to repeat a week or day?

No, but I think that I might do one extra day of W3, I think that would stand me in good stead for W4.

4. Did you add time or remove time from one of your runs?

No, I've spent a bit longer on the warmup and cool down walks just so that I have exercised for a full 30 minutes a couple of times.

5. Do you notice something different about yourself yet?

Well I'm not sure it's exactly something I notice about me, but I've been reading more about how it's possible to not be able to lose weight because you are running and NOT EATING ENOUGH. I've used the SparkPeople Nutrition Tracker off and on, for years, but lately I've been trying harder to keep an eye on diet using it and the daily feedback report. Turns out that yes, many times my calories in are not quite what they need to be. That means, yum! I could eat baby carrots and hummus more often, and have a frozen yogurt more often, and oh, probably some airpopped popcorn more often, too! This is a very good thing. I like food!

Hey RunningforBooze welcome to our little band!! Is the embarrassment maybe kinda universal? I used to be quite fit as a young woman, but after 55, I am the typical American middle-aged pudgy lady. I haven't run much outside simply because in the DC metro area this time of year it is hideous weather (including random Tstorms). But if I do go out, I feel pretty strange being out there. If I go to one of the parks around, then I don't feel as "on display." Then there are plenty of others out walking and jogging and biking. But on the roads around where I live -- we're just off a fairly major thoroughfare -- then there are not many other people out and I do feel weird. We really ought not to be embarrassed, you know, we ARE ahead of all of those folks who are sitting ON the couch! Congrats on your young daughter joining you!! That's great! You can find 5K and other events usually where your entry fee is a donation to some worthy cause. Maybe you can find one that would be something you'd feel good about supporting, AND you would get to run a race, too. Or you can do virtual races with us folks -- I think that there are one or more discussion threads on here where people post their times and compete pretty much as though they were racing in real life. No T shirts, but the price is right!!

Week 3??

guest — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:27:58 GMT

W3 Day 1 tomorrow, for me!!

I even "cheated" just now and walked a short mile. Wanted to get outside because it is a rare beautiful evening, and I used the "Zombies, Run!" app game for the walk as entertainment. Pretty fun!

So, all to say that I'm hoping the walk will help set me up for a good first day of the new week!

Are you over fifty and doing the C25k?

guest — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 22:15:43 GMT

Hi Clark000 and GeoWolf! I'm just finished with week 2 here. I may be coddling myself since I'm pretty active overall, and since I did finish the C25K a year plus ago. I laid off running for a good while though, since then, so I'm trying to use the program more to make running habit I guess.

I was reading that if you run your practice runs around the same time of day as any events you run, you usually do better. I'm an early evening runner this time around. My last C25K stint, I was getting up early to run. I kind of like that more but I simply haven't been able to push myself out of bed that early this time around. Maybe that's age. I thought as we got older we were supposed to need LESS SLEEP. Guess that happens when we are "really old" rather than "they say we are old" lol!