Couch-to-5k -- Onward to week 3!
My roomie and I are still on track to run a 5k in nine weeks. We've now finished weeks one (run 60 seconds then walk 90 seconds, and repeat for a total of 20 minutes) and two (run 90 seconds then walk two minutes, and repeat for a total of 20 minutes) and we're starting week three's training this evening. This week's training is run 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, run for three minutes, walk for three minutes, and repeat. The "run for three minutes" is scary, since it's twice as long as I've run so far in this training.
Out of the six runs so far, the first was by far the worst. The runs since then have been moderately easy, although I'd appreciate it if my feet and lower calves didn't ache like they do. I've decided to start with a ten-minute warm-up walk, hoping to loosen up those muscles a little bit more. I am trying to drink more water during the day as well (I drink some...I need to drink way more) so I'm not so thirsty during the run itself. So far the weather has held up and it's been lovely for training, but it's supposed to start raining by the end of the week, so we'll see how things go after that!
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GO YOU!! Pardon this random enthusiasm, but from one non-runner to another, I started the Couch-to-5K program before (and haven't finished, but nonetheless) and I felt very strongly that I deserved a ticker tape parade for attempting the run. :)
Some words of advice - or at least, stuff that has helped me:
1. Do some strength training on your "off" days. The thing that made me eventually stop the program was the pain and fatigue in my muscles as I started connecting those minutes together. Now I've been doing some strength training in my "off" days, running those longer stints is surprisingly easy.
2. Walk on the days you don't run. This has helped me keep a consistent "work out time", and I've kept my discipline this way.
Right now I'm doing a beginner's running program from Runner's World, and I'm on Week 3 also. I sympathize!
I am trying to figure out what "strength training" means for me and how to incorporate it.
Valid question... valid question. Never being the gym type, I tried to do weights for awhile and quit that too. Finally found that having someone do it with me, having a trainer, or committing to a group class is the ONLY thing that gets me to put myself through the anguish. ;)