jb.......It's hard to believe anyone can use the words easy and run in the same sentence. I can't wait to get where you are!

katie...congrats on your 30 minute run, all of you are an inspiration to me.

eyedoc...congrats on completing W3, I had trouble with the third 5 minute interval and thought I would have to repeat that day. But I just couldn't stand it and went back to the treadmill in the afternoon and ran for 9 minutes with just a 4 minute walk before and after. I knew then I could do it. I just had to slow my pace from 5 to 4.7. I have learned from this site not to run for speed and so I gave myself "permission" to slow down a bit and the running was easier.

This IS the dreaded week 5 for me. I completed D2 today but instead of running the 8 minutes I increased it to 9 minutes so it would be 3/4 of a mile. I still can't believe I ran 3/4 of a mile 2 times. The first 9 minute interval I slowed down to 4.7 and the second 9 minute interval I bumped the speed up to 4.8. My incline on the tm is stuck on 1.5 so I know that makes it a little harder. When I take it outside it will be a whole different story, from everything thing I read it will be tougher. Saturday I will attempt D3 but I figured I ran 18 minutes today, I just had the liberty of taking a 5 minute walk in the middle of it so I am hoping to conquer it! If not, I will repeat and repeat and repeat! I am planning on keeping the speed at 4.7 for D3.

I've been keeping my running a secret from my husband. Altough he's not a runner (or any other form of exercise) I know he will be impressed, I just don't know when I am going to tell him. My goal is to do an 8k in April and a 10k in June and I want it to be an "easy" run!

Have a great day everyone. Thanks for being here to talk to.

Barb

It's been almost a week! I've been running, just not posting. My weekend run of 5k was great - somewhere between 33 and 34 minutes outdoors. That's what I'm hoping for in the turkey trot. Tuesday and today at work I did 5k on the treadmill. I don't want to focus on the time or distance display so decided I would only check it betwen songs on my MP3. It made the time seem to go so much faster.

katie - glad you were able to run the 30 minutes. It won't be long til you're comfortable again

eyedoc and happybarb - regarding week 5 --- just do it! No one thinks they are ready for it, but mostly people get surprised by the fact that they can run the 20 minutes. My DD1 called me after her run because she was so excited about it.

nugirl, macd, and jb944 - I was laughing about the posts. I also get too hot and sweaty when I run. I would never be able to do it at lunch time. Besides, the whole routine of changing clothes mid-day sounds like too much work to me.

DipMom - I agree that autumn is the time to be outdoors - our favorite season

yogabug - If you are using an incline of 1.5 on the TM it won't be too much different outdoors. That's what my running friends recommended to simulate outdoor running.

runner92 - So, 92 is just a random selection - too funny. Your average pace is above my fastest. What a runner.

Got to go eat now.

eyedoc, my dogs are pretty bad on the leash too (and they're both about 7 years old), but we didn't have rain or wind this morning, so we walked a 2 mile loop. It was a brisk 26 degrees--not bad once we got moving. I don't think the dogs will ever run with me, they'd trip me up in no time.

My DH doesn't know I'm running either, and I've been working on it for about 4 months now. He knows I'm exercising, but never comes with when I'm going outdoors, or downstairs when I'm on the TM. He thinks I'm just walking. Someday it will dawn on him (maybe when I sign up for a race).

mamahuss, glad to hear from you again. You'll be great at your 5k!

Everyone have a great weekend!

Happy Friday,

I woke up with a bit of a cold and am not feeling very motivated to run. I'll try to get out later and maybe do a modifed W3 with some short runs and walks.

Check out the thread called "What are you thankful for?" I am not sure of the exact name but that is close enough. I admit I got misty eyed, especially about the heart transplant.

barb -- I probably wouldn't tell him yet. I think the fact that you have this awesome secret going on may be even helping you stick to it a little. I kind of have the same thoughts going on, my wife knows I go out in the dark in the morning for a run/jog, but she has no idea that I'm planning to do a 5K (something I've never done before) in january, though I haven't signed up yet. It may be selfish, but I'm afraid if I tell her my goals, she will jump on board and want to do it too, which would be great, but usually when she jumps on board with my diets, we do well together for about 3 or 4 days before she starts somehow pulling me off track. Are you afraid of this at all?
by the way I'm REALLY looking forward to hearing you pull through W5D3, as I have that coming up next week (it falls right on thanksgiving) and I could use some success-story motivation!

Drumroll....
I completed D3W5 today, the dreaded 20 minute run. I really paid attention to my breathing and maintained a level of consistency where I could sing if I wanted but I didn't want to (and no one would want me to either). To maintain this breathing I had to slow down to 4.6 but it's okay because I finished the 20 minutes without having to stop to take a break. I keep hearing all of you in the background telling me don't worry about the speed, the speed will come......... I still can not believe it, I ran a mile and a half without stopping, wow, I am thrilled. I'm still on the treadmill with an incline set at 1.5 and I know that watching the minutes/seconds click by helps me to push a little farther and not quit!

If your time is coming up to the 20 minute run, don't worry about it. This program has built up your endurance and you will be able to complete it too. After the D2 of Wk 5 you are running 16 minutes already, just with a little break so really the only difference is, you don't get the break. It's okay, you'll "get-r-done".

Thank you everyone for being here and giving me some great advice. It's great to have a place to come back to when you accomplished something like this and be able to report it to a group of people that totally understand how awesome it is. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Barb

Barb - Hurray for you! The fun thing about finishing W5 is that now you get to walk around thinking you are hot stuff! Some of us had agreed that once we finished W5 we were officially runners!

I didn't make it out yesterday so I took dog this morning and did 3.8 miles. I took two walk breaks for about a minute each but was still happy with the increased distance. My back end still hurts but I am not sure if it is my hamstring or glut. It is the muscle right below my butt cheek! It must not be used to the work!

NuGurl - ???? Anything?

I didn't tell my extended family I was running until after I did my first 5K. They were not that impressed, but I think they just don't get it. My DH started running shortly after I did because he was put on cholesterol medicine. We try not to run together because I feel like I need to push myself harder and then I end up mad at him. It is more peaceful if we meet at the finish line!

Barb - go look at the "Run and Race Reports" - pick any day and look at the running log for Tonya. I met her at the Comer 5K my husband ran in last month. She is an amazing runner - has qualified for Boston next year. She does almost all of her training on the treadmill. I think it is all personal preference.