BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

[Adena]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Yay for those of you who have started day 1 today! (And others who are still plugging along.) You can do this! And I promise, it gets easier. Well, maybe a little harder at first... but easier eventually.

[Elizellen]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Well I did day one of rung 0 tonight and survived!!

I had a fitness test first where I had to do a 5 min walk @ 4 kph, which said I was 'above average' on fitness levels for my age/gender/weight then did my usual weight circuit then got on the treadmill.

The trainer had explained how to set it to 'intervals' but it took me about 5 minutes to work out to get it to change speeds when I wanted it to, so I zero'd it and started again.

Did 30 secs running @6 kph then 60 secs walking at 4 kph at an elevation of 3 for 25 minutes then a cooldown of 5 mins.

Surprisingly I did OK, puffing and panting for the running bits and getting my breath back during the walking bits. I could feel my 'back boobs' bouncing when I ran, but on the whole I felt fine.

I think I will be able to do this!!!

If 'perfect' doesnt mind I would like to copy her idea of 'collecting kisses' too!!

[Wonder Woman]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Jamie - if there had been a -1 rung, I probably would have started at it. But I did ok!


I went and got a new watch with a stopwatch today at Walmart. I originally went to get the battery replaced in my old one but that one was broken so I went ahead and got a new one. I hope to start running outside once the weather gets a *little* cooler.

[Tomorrow_I'll_Be_Perfect]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Hehehe, I'd be honored if you guys would collect "kisses" with me. Xoo...ooo...

[jamikins]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Ohmyohmyohmyohmy...

I did it. I did not have a heart attack...yet. The first half was not too bad. I was quite pleased with myself actually. The last third...eek...pretty sure I was going to throw-up or faint (didn't though!).

The bottom-line though is that I DID IT. Ok, I'm only on rung ZERO, but it was still a challenge for me to stick to it for the entire 25 minutes and I did it. I worked the plan. Yay, me. And now I'm sitting here with a nice little hypoxic buzz feeling all warm and fuzzy (really warm, actually) and sweatin' all over my keyboard.

So here were my treadmill settings: Incline: 4; Warm-up walk: 4 mph; Jog: 5 mph; Recovery walk: 3 mph.

I calculated that with a 5 minute warm-up and alternating 30 second runs with 1 minute walks I would have 10 jogging intervals in a 20 minute workout. I used 10 pennies to keep count of the number of jogging sessions...whenever I finished a set I dropped a penny into the cupholder of the treadmill. No more pennies, no more jogging. I have NEVER been so happy to be penniless!

Day 2 on Wednesday. Don't let me weasel out of it, OK?

[Tomorrow_I'll_Be_Perfect]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Awesome, awesome, awesome! Penniless....I love it!

[Evermind]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

I'm SO PROUD of you guys who started today! Isn't it amazing to be able to do just what you did? We are all terrified of this thing, until we get going. Just being able to get through one day is awesome, and I can promise you that it doesn't get any harder than what you did today.

Praise yourselves all evening, and do something nice for yourselves!

[Sweet Strudel]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Just finished Rung 1, Day 1 and all went well.

I practiced last week doing this same routine and I think that paid off.

Great job everyone on getting started (and through) Day 1!

Taking a break tomorrow so Day 2 will be Wednesday then Day 3 probably Friday.

Oh...Tomorrow...I'm going to also copy your idea for keeping track of what I've done...Thanks.

[jamikins]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Greetings, C25Kers!

Let's talk about hydration.

We know it's important generally for our WOE to flush out the ketones and facilitate our fat loss, but we need to seriously address our need for water as we learn to run.

I think it's obvious that we will need to increase the amount of water we drink per day, but what about the timing? Yesterday as I prepared for my first workout, I could not decide if I should drink water before the workout or wait until afterward. I chose not to drink within 30 minutes of my run because I thought it might make me ill by sloshing around in there or cause me to feel a urinary urgency during the run. So I waited, but I did experience some mild cramping in my thighs that may have been preventable had I been better hydrated. So...I don't know what the best approach is.

The successful runners I know suggested that I "carb-load" 15 minutes before the run for instant energy. They suggest fruit because it is high in water content and in natural sugars. They also say to weigh before and after so I'll know how much water I've lost during the run and I can replace it when I'm done.

But, I don't know. "Carb-loading" doesn't sound compatible with my WOE...especially since I'm only on OWL-1, and eating a cup of broccoli right before working out sounds kinda yucky.

So...what are your thoughts on the timing of eating/drinking with working out? The extra energy would be nice, and avoiding cramping would be great. Throwing-up on the treadmill? Not so great.

[Tomorrow_I'll_Be_Perfect]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Hmmm, I hear you on this one. I made the mistake of drinking before my run and had to stop half way through to go to the bathroom. I hate having to do that! I think some high water content veggies might not be a bad idea half an hour before though. Like cucumber maybe. For those on the berry rung that would be a great choice.

I think trial and error will be our best friend when it comes to this. I haven't found my silver bullet yet ~ expect for the "angry" run, but I certainly don't want to have to get mad before every run!

[Evermind]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

About how to load up for a run:

I always drink a half bottle of water within the hour beforehand. I don't slosh or feel like I have to pee when I'm working out.

And I always, always, have a veggie with cheese or a couple of devilled eggs about 30-45 min. before I work out. The veggie for some carbs, and the fat because that's what my body is burning these days for energy, so I need it in order to be able to do the run.

I think everyone needs to play around with what works.

[STAR419]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Hi just checking in. I went to the gym today and did the rung 0 workout at 3.5 mph and 5.5 mph, plus some strength training. It felt pretty good!
Hope everyone else's workouts are going great!

[jamikins]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Good job, Star419! One down, two more to go this week. You can do it!

Evermind: The deviled egg is a good idea. I may go boil some eggs tonight to devil up in the morning. A deviled egg and some celery sticks would be a light but energetic snack before the run, I'll bet. Your half-bottle of water...is that 8 oz or is it more?

Wednesday...DAY 2!

[Evermind]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Ah, good question. It's a 24 oz bottle, so I drink about 12 oz.

[Elizellen]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

I usually have either baked eggplant or zucchini topped with bacon and cheese before I go to the gym, so that would be similar to Evermind's suggestion.