Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Couch to 5K

I've been absent from the blogging world lately, and I have had a few people remind me of this. With the nice summer weather and two vacations in a row, I just haven't had time or the motivation to keep up with blogging. Vacation pictures and details will have to wait. Today I want to record my latest exercising adventure.

I am not a runner. I never was a runner. Not even in high school. When it came time for the dreaded mile run in PE class, I just felt sick. I never could run the whole thing. Heck, I don't think I could run one whole lap around the track. So when I heard a few of my friends had started training for 5K, 10K, and marathon races, I was a little intrigued. Back in the day, I wouldn't have classified either of these friends as "runners." And so to hear that they were running, I developed a desire to give it a try.

A few weeks back, I researched the Couch to 5K program. It's a 9 week program that starts off with walking and running a few minutes at a time and at the end you should be able to run 3 miles or 30 minutes solid. It's a 3 days a week program, but we run 5 days a week.

I asked my sister-in-law, Kim, if she had any interest in being my running partner, and we both decided to give it a try. The first few nights were really hard for me, but I can honestly say that each night gets easier. We are currently on week three.

Week one: 5 minute warm-up walk. Then run 1 minute, walk 1.5 minutes. Repeat the running/walking for 20 minutes.

Week two: 5 minute warm-up walk. Then run 1.5 minutes, walk 2 minutes. Repeat the running/walking for 20 minutes.

Week three: 5 minute warm-up walk. Then run 1.5 minutes, walk 1.5 minutes. Run 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes. Then repeat the running/walking one more time.

Week four: 5 minute warm-up walk. 3 minute run, 1.5 minute walk. 5 minute run, 2.5 minute walk. 3 minute run, 1.5 minute walk. 5 minute run.

Week five: 5 minute warm-up walk each day.
Day 1: 5 minute run, 3 minute walk, 5 minute run, 3 minute walk, 5 minute run.
Day 2: 8 minute run, 5 minute walk, 8 minute run.
Day 3: 20 minute run.

Week six: 6 minute warm up walk each day.
Day 1: 5 minute run, 3 minute walk, 8 minute run, 3 minute walk, 5 minute run.
Day 2: 10 minute run, 3 minute walk, 10 minute run.
Day 3: 25 minute run.

Week seven: 5 minute warm-up walk. 25 minute run.

Week eight: 5 minute warm-up walk. 28 minute run.

Week nine: 5 minute warm-up walk. 30 minute run.

I'm so proud of us for doing this. I could barely run for 1 solid minute before starting C25K. Now I'm up to running for 3 minutes straight. That's a huge accomplishment for me. Hopefully I'll make it to the end!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Kim was telling me about this and I looked it up too! I start tonight! (Being the copy-cat that I am...) Wish me luck. (:

bjhegland said...

I'm proud of you, Kate! The first day that you ran was the hardest, I promise, because now you know that you CAN do it; it's just a matter of whether you WILL. When I come visit you in OC, we can put on our running shoes and run a couple miles around town! Keep up the great work; it feels so wonderful to challenge yourself with something like this, huh? You make me smile. :)

Sarah Jane said...

Hey! I found you via my friend, Kerry. Congrats on the running. Watch out! I think a marathon is in your future!:)

Kristel said...

Katie-
I successfully completed this plan last October. As you know I am the not runner type as well, at least I wasn't :) I now love to run (well most days) and wish you the best. Even if you get stuck on a week just do it over. Have a bad week and can't run, just pick up where you left off. Its hard but worth it!

Rachael West said...

Hope the Couch to 5K is still going good. I have started running also, today I was able to run a mile without stopping it was wonderful!