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Up to Threads in Newbie Cafe (New Runners)
2311 Views 12 Replies Latest reply: Sep 12, 2012 10:04 PM by Zeke351 RSS
Zeke351 Amateur
Zeke351
15 posts since
Jul 14, 2012
Currently Being Moderated

Aug 25, 2012 9:39 AM

I Finished C25K Today!

Today I finished my 9 week running program C25k! When I started this program I could barely run for 60 seconds and today I ran for 36 minutes without stopping! Now I just keep working to improve. Next on my list is to actually run a 5k race! I am not sure which one though. Komen "Race For The Cure" is in October but that is a huge race to do as a first one. In November the "Hear In The Mesa 5k" is being held right behind where I work. Decisions, decisions! I would love to hear about any other races anyone might know of around Mesa, AZ!




Zeke

http://zekerunning.wordpress.com/

  • andre66 Rookie
    andre66
    1 posts since
    Aug 29, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    1. Aug 29, 2012 2:52 AM (in response to Zeke351)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    Hi there,

    i just signed up so i could congratulate you on finishing the c25k program. I have just finished the first week myself and hope to be able to make a similar post in 9 weeks.

    Good luck with your first 5k

    Andre

  • gogolegs Amateur
    gogolegs
    11 posts since
    Aug 21, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    2. Aug 29, 2012 6:22 AM (in response to Zeke351)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    I have a question I am into about 5 weeks now this yesterday was hard I did just as much walking as running very humid here in central FL not sure where you are did you stay by the book schedule or did you go beyond I am finding now I am just running as far as I can and then maybe walk 1-2  min and run again as long as I can doing about 40 min. with 3 miles do you suggest I get back on the schedule? did you ever find days were you were falling behind & not such good days?  Just looking for a good advise for a newbie- thanks

  • Longtallsallee Amateur
    Longtallsallee
    9 posts since
    Aug 25, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    3. Aug 29, 2012 1:39 PM (in response to Zeke351)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    Great job!! Why wait till October or November?  Maybe you can find one in September and get your first race under your belt !!

  • Zeke351 Amateur
    Zeke351
    15 posts since
    Jul 14, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    4. Aug 31, 2012 7:19 PM (in response to andre66)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    Thank you andre.  I am sure you will be making the same post.  It is a great feeling.  Good Luck.




    Zeke

    http://zekerunning.wordpress.com/

  • Zeke351 Amateur
    Zeke351
    15 posts since
    Jul 14, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    5. Aug 31, 2012 7:30 PM (in response to gogolegs)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    gogolegs wrote:

     

    I have a question I am into about 5 weeks now this yesterday was hard I did just as much walking as running very humid here in central FL not sure where you are did you stay by the book schedule or did you go beyond I am finding now I am just running as far as I can and then maybe walk 1-2  min and run again as long as I can doing about 40 min. with 3 miles do you suggest I get back on the schedule? did you ever find days were you were falling behind & not such good days?  Just looking for a good advise for a newbie- thanks


    gogolegs...Week 5 is tough...physically and mentally.  I am in Arizona and it is our monsoon season, so while it was humid for me (60 to 75%) it is nothing to what you get in Florida.  My best advice is to stick with the program as it is written.  I went by times rather than the distances.  So if the program called for 20 minutes or 2 miles I ran for the 20 minutes.  I am NO WHERE CLOSE to a 10 minute mile yet.  It is designed to bring you along gradually to lessen soreness and injuries. 

     

    Instead of going above what the program called for, on a couple of the off days I started doing some light cross training to strengthen my core and give my legs a rest.  You will most definitely have good days and bad days.  I actually learned more on the bad days because while my body didn't feel like continuing I forced my mind to keep pushing.  I wrote about htis on my blog http://zekerunning.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/some-days-im-just-mental/  I was fortunate in that I was able to complete the program without having to repeat any days or fall behind, but there is absolutely no problem in doing that.  I did not appraoch this as a one and done program, I used it to launch what I hope will be a lifetime activity so if I had to repeat or start over in the grand scheme of things that would be okay.

     

    Good luck with the program.  It is nice to meet other new runners.

     

    Zeke




    Zeke

    http://zekerunning.wordpress.com/

  • Zeke351 Amateur
    Zeke351
    15 posts since
    Jul 14, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    6. Aug 31, 2012 7:33 PM (in response to Longtallsallee)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    Longtallsallee wrote:

     

    Great job!! Why wait till October or November?  Maybe you can find one in September and get your first race under your belt !!

    Thanks Longtallsallee!  Well it is still 100 or more degrees here in AZ and this old, overweight and slow man doesn't want to embarass himself...yet. 

    By October it should be cooler and I will feel more comfortable and hopefully a little faster.




    Zeke

    http://zekerunning.wordpress.com/

  • SteveBikeRun Legend
    SteveBikeRun
    455 posts since
    Aug 3, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    7. Sep 1, 2012 2:38 PM (in response to Zeke351)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    Zeke, congratulations on finishing C25K and good luck on that first 5K (the first of many).  You are right on two important points.  First, this is the beginning of what you want to become a lifetime activity.  Second, cross-training with the emphasis on core strengthening is vital.  Strengthening those muscles will help your posture and that in turn will let your entire body share the stresses of running.

     

    Since I'm in Illinois, I can't help you pick that first race, but I'm sure there are lots from which to choose.  Ask around at your local running stores to see which they recommend.




    --Steve

    Completed in 2012:

    The Qualifier HM, Midland MI, May 2012, 2:58, 80+ degrees

    Dam to Dam 20K, Des Moines, IA, June 2012, 2:17, PR for this race

    Garry Bjorklund HM, Duluth, MN, June 2012, 2:20

    Fox Valley HM, St. Charles, IL, 9/16/12, 2:23

    Des Moines HM, 10/21/12, 2:19

    Tentative plans for 2013:

    Wisconsin (Half) Marathon, Kenosha, WI 5/4/2013 (registered)

    Dam To Dam 20K, Des Moines, 6/2/2013 (registration opens March 20th)

    Grandma's (Half) Marathon, Duluth, MN, 6/22/2013 (if I get picked again in the lottery)

    Des Moines HM, 10/20/2013 (registered)

  • KByron Rookie
    KByron
    3 posts since
    Nov 1, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    8. Sep 8, 2012 6:09 PM (in response to Zeke351)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    Congrats!  I finished on Thursday (September 6).  I have signed up for three 5ks (one at the end of September, one at the end of October, and a Thanksgiving Day Gobble Wobble).  Looking forward to what is hopefully going to be a lifetime activity!

  • lauramom0204 Rookie
    lauramom0204
    6 posts since
    Jun 25, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    9. Sep 11, 2012 12:11 PM (in response to Zeke351)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    Congratulations!  I'm just starting W8 myself.  If all goes well, I should be "graduating" at the end of next week and celebrating like you are now.  Good luck in your first race! 

  • Zeke351 Amateur
    Zeke351
    15 posts since
    Jul 14, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    10. Sep 12, 2012 7:55 AM (in response to Zeke351)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    Thank you KB & Laura.  Congrats on Finishing (or soon finishing) the C25K program.  Now the hard part is just to keep running and improving for all of us.  I have to admit I NEVER thought I could ever enjoy running so much!




    Zeke

    http://zekerunning.wordpress.com/

  • DogCrazy1966 Amateur
    DogCrazy1966
    38 posts since
    Jun 8, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    11. Sep 12, 2012 11:31 AM (in response to Zeke351)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    Congrats on graduation.  I'm in Week 6 also in Arizona, San Tan Valley.  I know the Hot Chocolate 15k/5k is coming up in December, I was thinking about that one for my first.  There is also a great running store in Tempe called Sole Sports Running Zone which has a list of local races.  They also have some really helpful staff there who sold me a great fitting pair of shoes.  Good luck, I'm going to keep an eye on this thread and see if anyone else has good ideas about what's coming up.

  • Zeke351 Amateur
    Zeke351
    15 posts since
    Jul 14, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    12. Sep 12, 2012 10:04 PM (in response to DogCrazy1966)
    I Finished C25K Today!

    Thanks DogCrazy!  Nice to meet an AZ neighbor!  

     

    Funny you recommend Sole Sports because that is where I got my shoes from, and I have to agree they are the best!  Melissa Davis was absolutely awesome, I can't say enough good things about them.

     

    Thanks for the heads up on the run in December.  I am still debating if I will do the Komen run in October as my first 5k,

    http://ww5.komen.org/FindARace.aspx?id=a0U40000008pmGjEAI&SearchLocation=AZ

    but I am going to do the "Hear In Mesa" http://www.run4hearing.com/arizona#!__arizona  run in November.  Its at Superstition Springs Mall.

     

    Good luck to you and keep running!

     

    Thanks,

     

    Zeke

    http://zekerunning.wordpress.com/




    Zeke

    http://zekerunning.wordpress.com/

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