Thursday and running

This morning I finished week 6 of the Couch to 5K program. I actually ran 25 minutes uninterrupted after a 5 minute warm-up walk. Wow! I actually ran the whole time. I admit the last couple minutes I really had to push myself to not give up. A few times I thought I might have to resort to walking but no, I did it! So cool. My Garmin forerunner saved the run this time. The total distance was 2.65 miles including my cooldown walk. My pace is improving - during the run segment I maintained under an 11:00mile pace with my best pace 9:42!!! The longer I keep training the better my times will be -- I am looking forward to the race December 5th. So far, I have not tried to jump ahead in the C25k training and that seems to be the key for me. I have not done any of my runs on a treadmill either.

My next run will be Saturday morning, this is a working weekend for me. After work on Sunday, my family is going on vacation. I have already looked at where to run during vacation. The race itself will not be on the last run of C25k as I had originally planned -- but that's ok the last run of the C25k will be two days after the race. I am really feeling stoked about my improvement as a runner.

I have already decided to go for the 10k training program after I finish the C25K --- I am thinking this slow, gradual training really works for me. I have a pretty good idea of my goals for the next year... I need to firm up these plans so I will know where I am headed day-by-day.

Sunday run

This morning's run was tough... had planned to use my mp3 player but it wouldn't power up for some reason. So I ran without music, still doable but I had to pay attention to my time. I tried to remember the run/walk sequence for this run but I was wrong... the cycle I used was Walk 5 minutes warm up, then -- Run 8 minutes/ walk 3/ Run 5 minutes/ walk 3/ Run 8 minutes/ walk 5 for cool-down. However, after I got home I discovered the correct sequence was 5min walk/ 5min run/ 3min walk/ 8min run/ 3min walk/ 5min run/ 5min walk cool-down ... So I actually ran more than the program schedule. I did okay according to my Garmin forerunner. My best pace was 9:46 with my average being 13:16. I am definitely improving! Just have to stay patient and keep with the program. The program is working... I actually went over 2 miles today, nearly 2.4 miles. I am so happy with my progress.


After reading the specs & reviews, I have decided I do not need another Forerunner. All of the other models seem way too large for my wrist and the additional features I don't seem necessary. I can track my workout -- distance & speed, be it a run or a bike ride and that's what I really want. The Garmin website allows for my workouts to be posted so I can share my progress with others (if I choose to -- maybe one day I will have workouts to brag about).

Another week finished

Finished week 5 this morning, whew! The 20 minutes got really hard with the last 2-3 minutes to go. I really had to push myself to not give up. Made it all the way through it! My forerunner gave me an error while saving the run and I lost all my data... bummer. I have had the forerunner for over a year but finally sticking to my workouts and now it looks like the battery may need to be replaced. I really get into uploading my run and seeing how well I did... I can see my fastest speed (and slowest) and my total distance. Pretty cool. The forerunner 50 is the entry-level of the Garmin products and I am thinking I may upgrade to a forerunner 405 which is GPS-enabled, now that's cool! Bit of a hefty price tag (over $300!)I am not sure if the additional features of the 405 are worth it. The forerunner 50 will probably be sufficient for my needs at this time. I will try to pay attention better when I go to save my run on Sunday -- I will try to have the battery replaced before then.

week 5 day 2

Today's run was a challenge, the weather was very windy and damp. Tropical storm Ida passed by Tuesday morning, we had a bit of rain & wind but overall not too horrible for a storm. Today was a holiday but I did not get up early and go running as I usually do. In fact, I did not get my run until almost 4pm. The winds at this time were around 17mph -- I made it all the way through the run! My legs were throbbing when I got home. The Forerunner said my best pace was 10:25min/mile -- I'll say that was the tailwind effect :-) Friday is my next run -- W5Day3 is a 20 minute continuous run... this will be hard but I know I can do it! Running is still very hard for me but I keep going forward - plodding away. Step by step - I am getting stronger and with a tailwind I am getting faster ;-)

Tried something new...

Tried a new mp3 file for Week5 Day1 run yesterday -- somehow I missed the verbal cue for the walk between 1st and 2nd run so I ended up running 13 minutes!!! I really did run 13 minutes without a walk break. Tomorrow is W5D2 run - I will go back to the podrunner mp3 file and hopefully I will get the walk cue since tomorrow's run is 8 minutes runs. I really don't want to overdo it like I have in the past. At least with this run I know I am improving... I will keep slugging away. I managed to use my Garmin Forerunner to track my run -- appears my best pace was an 11min/mile (wow!) Now I must admit there was a decent breeze going and occasionally this would be a nice tailwind. If I could keep an 11min/mile pace I would ecstatic!

Moving along - in my mind

Finished week 4 of the Couch to 5k -- AND the 30 day challenge of the EA Active Wii program. A pretty successful week, I am feeling more fit than last week. There were a few moments during this morning's run that I had to tell my brain to not jump ahead... I even thought -- maybe I'll run again after work. Fortunately, I convinced myself to stay with the program.

Today I discovered www.runsource.net -- great website for more podcasts to use during training. Very cool audio files... I really like how these include verbal cues to let us know when to run or walk. The podrunner interval signals are pretty clear but I find as I am struggling to climb the incline I have difficulty focusing on the audio cues. I will try the new mp3 file during Sunday's run which is Week5Day1. Slow but steady, this is working!

Monday, Monday...

Actually, pretty good day so far. Week 4 started today instead of yesterday, lots of things did not go as planned. Poor chubby Lab did not get to go running after all. This morning was fairly cool and the sun was up early. I thought with the change back to Standard time we would be dark later... but I was wrong. Last week I running in the dark for half of the run but today it was reasonably bright before I even started and I had even left the house early.



Today's run was more challenging than Week3 but still very doable. When I did the C25k before I used the treadmill at the gym and I was able to reach the 25 minutes running without a walk break. However, I had done so much of my training on the treadmills when I tried to do the distance on the path outdoors I did very poorly. This time all of my training is being done outside and I am just now starting to feel a little bit stronger. I noticed today there was a few times I had a strong stride going in my run segments. My insecurity as a runner at times threatens my determination, fortunately, I have thus far managed to keep going for it. I feel so sloooooow and yet I know I have not been the last person to cross the finish line in any of my races. I CAN DO THIS!