Well, I went and did a 5K today.  I would love to say I ran the whole thing, but I realized that I am probably still a bit more comfortable doing intervals for that distance.  I ran and walked it in 43:17.   At least that is what I think they said.  It was a charity walk/run for preemie babies in San Diego, so it wasn't really a formal timed event with the time chips.  It was a great way to test how well I am doing.  The good news is that it was a low key environment, and I did just fine.  My time wasn't great, but I wasn't walking the whole way.  I ran much more this time than I did at the Race for the Cure 5K a few years ago, when I pretty much walked the whole thing.  I now know what I need to do to build up my running time or to shorten my intervals.  It wasn't difficult at all (since I walked and ran), and I feel really good afterward.  It gets me motivated for the next one.  Maybe the Turkey trot on Thanksgiving.

One question, I walked around a lot at the start to warm up and then I started running at the start.  I think that was a mistake because I wasn't really warmed up.  Would you do the 5 minute warm up at the start of the race just to make sure you are really warm?  I think that may have messed up my game a bit, and I would probably change my next race to do 5 minutes walking at the start.  I would love feedback on that as well.

Keep running everyone!

Kendra

Congrats to our 5Kers!

I did W7D1 on Saturday, which running for distance is 2 1/2 miles. It was a very hard run for me, and several times I felt like I wanted to quit, but I kept going. I have slowed my pace on the treadmill down alot and actually upped the incline a bit.

We are doing great! Cannot believe how far we've come - great job everyone!

Hi!

I've been following along with you guys, but didn't think I had anything to add to the conversation until now.  I finished my W5D3 on Friday, so I'm a few weeks behind you all.  Though I'm super proud of myself (and all of you!), I'm really wanting to share how running has helped my knee!  I tore my ACL in my right knee in January of 2008, with reconstructive surgery in May of 2008.  It hasn't been the same since...always completely unstable and week, even though I completed physical therapy.  I thought it was something that I'd just have to get used to, even with this C25K business.  I was WRONG!  After I finished running the 20 minutes on Friday, yes I was tired, yes I was proud, but my KNEE!  My knee felt so strong!  I can walk up and down stairs and not feel like everything is going to collapse!

Just having that feeling is motivating me to do week 6 this week.  I know it may seem small, but to feel strong like that again...man!  What a great feeling!

Thanks for listening!  You guys inspire me every day!

Hello Fellow Runners,

Completed W6D3 today. The 25 minute run went fine. I only covered 1 1/2 miles since I run like a penguin. I'm slow and steady.

I had no difficulty breathing.

My son supported me at my side. He rode his bike alongside me.

Halfway thru, my legs did feel very heavy. I moved from the asphalt to the side of the road where there was some grass.

Thanks to all who asked about my doctor's visit. The doctor thought all my nerves were intact. I passed that test. He sent me for a CAT scan and that didn't show anything.

The left side of my  face is still twitching and tingling and sometimes I feel a little unsteady on my feet when I'm walking. It's really strange.

A friend of mine who is a pediatrician recommended that I take a supplement of the B vitamins so I bought that tonight. Another friend told me that her sister had some similar symptoms as me and that she had to take B12 injections.

Hmmmm....

Karen

~Karen~

Karen,

I am so glad that the doctor's visit went well.  I hope that the symptoms dissappear and you are back to normal. Congratulations on the 25 minutes.  That is so awesome!!  I am way past singular with my asthma.  I took it many years ago, but they kept moving me up in the meds as my asthma symptoms got worse.  I actually take a steriod inhaler to control the inflammation.  They work very well, and it keeps my asthma under control.  I have been off them over time, but I had a really bad case of bronchitis this summer, and the doctor told me to stick with it.  Since I am working my lungs much more, I am glad to have the extra boost.  I think my breathing is good.  Now it is more mental than physical I think.  I just need to keep pushing through.  I am going to keep working on it even if I have to run intervals for the forseeable future.  I actually ran a good part of the 5K, but I think I was scared to run the whole thing for fear I wouldn't finish.  I knew I could easily walk it because I have walked one before.

Anyone else having mental blocks?

Big congratulations to all who are progressing so well.  It is awesome to read the posts.

Kendra

Just back from W7D2 today.

will admidt- it was slightly less brutal than W7D1

ran a bit slower- did not clock myself at all-but I did run( by mental counting) 45 seconds further than the measured distance I ran W7D1.

My legs fee pretty good- I won't say that my legs feel like they are moving effortlessly-but clearly my legs are more than capapble of propelling me faster than my lungs can keep up with.

I am completely confident- that I could slow down a bit and run a 5K tommorrow without walking- but I want to continue building base before I enter an official race-probably new years eve- I hope to be running about 4 miles@ 3 times/week by then-so race pace for a 5k shouldn't be a problem.

A word about weight:

I am UP 4#'s since starting C25K !

for 2009-I am DOWN 16 #s- but in early april I was DOWN over 30#'s. My employment is very slow from
thanksgiving until late march-so I try to focus on weight controll then

Here is what works for me:- I can eat ANYTHING I want- but I can't eat as much as I want or whenever I want.- I can't do the 5 small meals a day thing- doesn't work for me at all

what I do is- I can ONLY eat 3 meals a day

-everything per meal has to fit on one plate

I can eat anything I want

I MUST EAT 10 WHOLE FRUITS AND VEGGIES/DAY

want to eat pizza?- no problem- want to eat a piece of chocolate cake?- go ahead1- but I MUST eat the 10 fruits and veggies /day.

Believe me- when your day revolves around pounding down 10 WHOLE fruits and veggies each and every day- you don't have a lot of room to fit a second hamburger on your plate,or a second pork chop etc.

currently- I can run at about a 10 minute mile pace-and by new years I expect to be able to do 4 miles slightly slower than that AND  I weigh 246#s.

I have a very strnuous,active occupation-and by the end of 201I want to be down to about 200# even-and running 5 miles/3 times a week at 9 minutes/mile

so- it's time to start pounding down the produce!

see you all on thursday for the W7D3 update,

Best wishes all-Stephen