Hello all!
A very good update to report today. I'm on the final week of the Couch to 5K program, with just two runs left until I'm finished! Since I started this, I have lost 9 lbs., I can (fairly) comfortably run for half an hour, my clothes are getting loose, and my confidence is only gaining more and more. After the program is over, I'm now asking myself, what next?
I have several options. My goal for long-term sustainable health has really been divided into three phases. Phase 1: Healthy Eating. Phase 2: Cardiovascular Exercise. Phase 3: Strength Training. I'm hovering on the border between, should I continue my cardio as-is, intensify it, or move on to strength training?
I'd like to enter a 5K race soon. Especially before summer gets too hot. Once I've done that, I'm considering training to run up to a 10K. Beyond that, I haven't decided yet. Do I want to pursue half-marathons or full marathons? (Those are 13.1 and 26.2 miles each, respectively.) I don't know. I suppose the best thing to do would be to work up slowly and see what happens.
Concerning strength training, I don't want to do anything too intensive, but I should round out my 3 days a week of cardio with at least two days a week of something else. I guess it's just a little daunting because I may need to invest in some equipment or something, and I don't really know how to get started. I really need a trainer...
Anyway, not only is the end of my C25K program near, I'm also just days away from finishing the semester! I will be so relieved to have a break. Of course during my break I'm going up to Iowa with B for his brother's college graduation, I'll be searching desperately for an apartment for the move, and I'm sure whatever spare time is left out of that I'll be visiting friends and family. Not that I'm complaining, but it's going to be a busy break for sure.
I have to say, I'm very much looking forward to my internship, where my work ends with the school day, I can go home and not worry so much about homework, and I'm not having to sit in 3-hour lectures multiple times a week. Of course it'll be like I have a real job, but honestly I'm looking forward to that. I'm ready to not feel like a student anymore; I'm ready to be an adult!
Anyway. I'm also ready to do some laundry and a little house-cleaning. And probably go through my closet yet again to prepare for my (probably) 300 sq. ft. future apartment. I should probably get started on that. So until next time...
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Progress
This is just a quick update, but an important one. Now into my sixth week of the Couch-to-5K program, I am proud to call myself a runner.
This past Saturday, W5D3, was my 20-minute run. I was terrified of it, scared that I wouldn't be able to do it. But boy was I wrong! I did do it, and the rush of endorphins and emotions afterward made every second worth it. Parts of it were excruciating, parts of it were simply a mind game, forcing myself to run. I thought all kinds of weird thoughts. Maybe if I throw up that's a good excuse to stop running. Maybe if I just fall over onto someone's lawn, they'll think it really was too much for me. Maybe...
So many maybes, but in the end I did it. Today marked W6D1, and I made several mistakes. The most glaring was that I decided to start my run at nearly noon, and it was just too hot. Today's runs were 5 minutes, 8 minutes, 5 minutes; halfway through the 8 minutes I was absolutely dying. I walked the last minute, and managed to only run around 2 of the 5 minutes next. Disgusted with myself, but feeling as though I should have been able to do it, I brooded all day over what I should do. I made up my mind to run tonight, when the temperature dropped. I'm glad I did, because I was able to do it, and I felt so good.
On top of my running accomplishments, I've also managed to lose 6 pounds in the last 3 weeks. This may not be much in the scheme of things, but it's 2 pounds a week; if I can continue at this rate, I'll meet my weight goal even sooner than I hoped. Even if my rate does begin to slacken, it's still a great start and I'm proud of myself.
Anyway, that's all for now. So until next time...
This past Saturday, W5D3, was my 20-minute run. I was terrified of it, scared that I wouldn't be able to do it. But boy was I wrong! I did do it, and the rush of endorphins and emotions afterward made every second worth it. Parts of it were excruciating, parts of it were simply a mind game, forcing myself to run. I thought all kinds of weird thoughts. Maybe if I throw up that's a good excuse to stop running. Maybe if I just fall over onto someone's lawn, they'll think it really was too much for me. Maybe...
So many maybes, but in the end I did it. Today marked W6D1, and I made several mistakes. The most glaring was that I decided to start my run at nearly noon, and it was just too hot. Today's runs were 5 minutes, 8 minutes, 5 minutes; halfway through the 8 minutes I was absolutely dying. I walked the last minute, and managed to only run around 2 of the 5 minutes next. Disgusted with myself, but feeling as though I should have been able to do it, I brooded all day over what I should do. I made up my mind to run tonight, when the temperature dropped. I'm glad I did, because I was able to do it, and I felt so good.
On top of my running accomplishments, I've also managed to lose 6 pounds in the last 3 weeks. This may not be much in the scheme of things, but it's 2 pounds a week; if I can continue at this rate, I'll meet my weight goal even sooner than I hoped. Even if my rate does begin to slacken, it's still a great start and I'm proud of myself.
Anyway, that's all for now. So until next time...
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