Yesterday, I completed week 4, day 2 of the Couch to 5K training program. I will be running my first 5K at the end of April, and I’m very excited.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a fast runner. So, creating a time time goal for the first 5K has been difficult. It still takes me 12 to 13 minutes to jog/run/walk a mile. Yesterday, I managed to do 2 miles in 25:52 – roughly 13 minutes per mile.
I’m hoping that my times will improve, as I continue to follow the program. I’m not really worried about my time, but I don’t want to move so slow that I’m just shuffling along.
I think I’m going to try to run the 5K in 40 minutes or less. A 5K is 3.1 miles, so that averages to about 13 minutes per mile.
On the one hand, I wish that I was much faster.
On the other hand, just four months, I couldn’t jog 1/4 of a mile. Now, I can run, without stopping, a mile-and-a-half, and if I add a little walking in, I can make it the full 3.1 miles.
After yesterday’s run, I had a little time for some weight training, so I focused on my biceps and the AbSolo machine. If your gym has an AbSolo, you have to try it. It’s awesome.
You definitely can do this!!! Did you by chance, happen to watch the Biggest Loser this past Tuesday? That 400lb 19 year old boy ran at 7 mph for 5 minutes. Of course, he had Jillian motivating him.
If I could give you one suggestion it would be to do that. Even if you only run at 7mph for 1 minute. By doing this you push your body to a new level and that in turn, makes the lower levels easier.
I can’t wait to hear about your success.
I’m also doing the Couch to 5k program (for the third time – once before kids, once between kids and now post kids at 80 lbs heavier!) My prior experience with the program suggests to me that getting to week 9 is more important than trying to increase speed at first. Once I can actually run the 30+ minutes (a slow jog at 4.0), then I’d increase the speed by .2 every two minutes until I literally couldn’t breathe – then go down by .5. This worked really well as long as I was really willing to push myself!
I’ve also been GREATLY affected by watching the Biggest Loser though so I haven’t been following my own advice. Last workout (I’m mid week 4) I did 3.5mph for the walking 4 mph for all but the last 5 minutes of running – and then I did a minute at 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 30 seconds at 6.5 and 7.0. I seriously though I might die, but the feeling after I did it was amazing. Seriously – that nineteen year old kid has 200 lbs on me! I should be at least able to match him (don’t think I could without Jillian yelling at me – I’m scared of her!)
I am a little sorry I did it as today is running day again and I’m still pretty sore. I may be sticking to the 4.0 today 🙂
On another note, I was looking for the name of the diet book you’ve mentioned a couple of times, but without the name I’m having trouble searching for it 🙂 Can you mention it again?
Congrats on all your progress – you’ve been very inspiring.