Thursday, April 17, 2008

Couch to 5k: Final Week

I’ve completely lost track of what week and day I’m on in the couch to 5k program. Week 9, maybe? Is that the last week? I guess that’s the downside of switching to my own music rather than using the magical podcasts that help me keep up with this stuff. Oh well. Bottom line: I’m done with the prep-work for the 5k, and I'll be a couch to 5k graduate after I run my official 5k run on Saturday.

Yesterday I did my final pre-5k run, and I approached it differently than the other c25k runs. The couch to 5k program is set up such that you can run based on length OR time. All along, I’ve been running based on time … time was easier to keep up with, and I could pace myself as needed as I built up to longer and longer runs. But yesterday, for the first time, I ran based on distance. Instead of running for 30 minutes, I went to mapmyrun.com and created a course that was exactly 5k. Then I didn’t set my timer to beep at 30 minutes – I walked to my starting point to warm up, and I ran until I got to the end of my 5k distance.

I ran 5k yesterday!

It took me 35:35 minutes to run my own personal unofficial 5k. When I’d been running based on time I’d only worked my way up to running for 30 minutes, so this approach increased my running time by a little over 5 minutes. I could definitely feel the difference. It was hard. My original plan was to finish the couch to 5k program about a week or week and a half ago, and then work gradually up from the 30 minutes to longer to get to 5k. I think that extra time would have benefited me from a comfort perspective. But whatever – comfort schmumfort – I did it, and now I know with confidence that if I pace myself on Saturday I can do it then, too. Woo hoo!

I was very pleased with my 35:35 time. My hope was that I’d be at or close to 35 minutes. I’d run/walked a 5k and the time was around 45 minutes, so 35 minutes seemed like a good first-run goal. Now, the question is whether I can do the Saturday run in around 35 minutes. I figure I’ll have the adrenaline going for me, but I know the actual race route is a little hillier than my completely flat neighborhood. But I also had the wind working against me during some of my run yesterday, so if the wind is calm Saturday morning, maybe … just maybe … I can still be around 35 minutes.

And hey, ultimately, it doesn’t matter all that much how long it takes. The primary goal is to RUN the entire 5k. If the running is slow, so be it. That’ll just give me another goal to work towards.

5k, here I come!


(Oh, and PS, I did watch BL last night. Yay!)

30 comments:

Erin said...

Awesome!!!!!! Just Awesome!! You have rocked the 5K! I'm proud just reading your blog

Candace MacPherson said...

Look at that scale progress. You're really rockin' the track these days - way to go.

Kate said...

Way to go on the 5K! you go girl. Very motivating for me!

Brigitte Ballard said...

You can do it! I will NOT be running the entire 5k. /sigh Stupid knee.

I will be finishing it though. I want to try to finish in less than 50 minutes. I guess we shall see how I do!

sauchagirl said...

Oh awesome! I can't wait to hear how you do on your 5K. My 5K is the following weekend and I'm not as close to prepared as you are. I'm sure I will end up walking some. I have never run in a 5K before so I just need to get it over with and get rid of some of those "first time" jitters.

Congrats on your great run yesterday! I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised at your time on race day!

Anonymous said...

Hi Couch to 5K twin! I'm going to map out a 5k route and run it this evening... just to see. Can't wait to read your race report on Saturday. I'll be racing "with" you (across the country)

Kristy said...

Congratulations on your first 5 k run and good luck Saturday. Can't wait to hear how you go... And I agree Saturday is all about getting to the finish line...You can work on reducing times later on :)

briy said...

Look at you with your 129. :) Congrats on doing that whole 5k! The third run of the next few weeks I'm going to do on the actual 5k course, because I'd like to know where I stand distance-wise, since I've only gone on time lately.

Good luck Saturday, I know you'll be great. 35 minutes, here you come!

:)
~briy

p.s. I tagged you, if you're interested. See my blog.

Da Doo Run Run said...

AWESOME! Great time! You are going to do so great on the race this Saturday!

I watched BL this morning. LOVE that show. So inspiring. I'm going to miss it now that it is over.

Paul said...

I remember not too long ago when you had serious concerns on keeping up with the program... and now you're running 5K! It's pretty darn cool that you were able to rally against your doubts and push yourself forward to reach your goal. I'm sure Saturday will go great! I don't know much about running, but 35:35 looks pretty impressive. I can't quite imagine myself running for 35 straight minutes!

Speaking of C25K, do you have a link for the program itself? I did a search, and came up with a few of them... I wonder if they are all more or less the same.

I briefly looked at mapmyrun.com... how awesome is that? Kinda geeky, but it also does altitude! I mapped out my walk between my hotel and the training center, and indeed, it's uphill, just like mapmyrun says. I'll definitely have to play with it some more.

Good luck Saturday!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous! You did great! You should be very proud.

Pattie said...

You did a 5K, girl! How awesome are you?!! We'll all be there on Saturday, in spirit, to cheer you on.

PS - If you have a chance, head to my blog and cast your vote this week...

marie said...

Congrats on making it through the C25k!!! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi

It is a very nice and good post and I like it.

Anonymous said...

One of my friends ordered a product from HealthMegaMall.com. I decided to take a look and found over 100,000 products to choose from!

http://www.healthmegamall.com

Anonymous said...

keep up the great work! dedication is the key!!

Dean Carroll said...

Hey, nice work on the 5k run. Keep at it as now you have got a benchmark to improve on. I train alot of marathon runners in my personal training business in Brisbane, Australia www.exclusivefitness.com.au and we all started with the 5k runs. Keep up with the stretches and get massages especially as you start to get up in the km's you do each week.
Nice effort, Dean..

10timesbetter said...

nice blog - fitness equipment is essential if your to get in shape.

10timesbetter said...

http://fitnessequipmentnewsandreviews.blogspot.com/

fitness said...

This is very good & nice blog on fitness.
Very motivating for me!

dancilhoney said...

Hi, cool post. I have been thinking about this topic,so thanks for sharing. I will probably be subscribing to your blog. Keep up great writing!!! fitness coupons

kamagra said...

Great informaiton found here... really this blog found me very helpful. Great informaiton about How to build a body muscles. Thanks so much for sharing this great information here....

shekhar said...

It is very wonderfull center

Order Viagra Online said...

The creativity of your blogs is best.This is something very best on your part.Providing information in the best possible manner is your best attribute.I love when you share your views through the best articles.Keep sharing and posting articles like these.This article has helped me a lot.Keep posting this stuff.

Mike Matuz said...

Awesome post a great source of information regarding health fitness. Thanks for this wonderful post.keep up with your good work. We always look forward to your work.
Personal Fitness Trainer

GED said...

I wish you the best of luck!

Kamagra Oral Jelly said...

Simply marvelous!!! Your article provides a fresh new insight to this topic which was yet undiscovered. I must say your research skills are sharp and your narration is interesting. Splendid work…

Elliott Broidy said...

CONGRATS! That is quite the achievement!

Gina said...

Most of athletes know about such unpleasant part of exercising as post-workout soreness. It is usually perceived as inevitable part of our training routine. However, latest research shows this part could be omitted! Found a lot of interesting information on how to prevent DOMS due to proper nutrition and supplementation here:
http://militarygradenutritionals.com/blog/best-dietary-supplements/muscle-gain-without-the-pain-combat-doms/
For me it was quite helpful to improve my workouts and gain better results!

christinawilliams said...

Nice post. It is really an interesting and important topic you are talking about. You writing style is also unique and good. Keep it up.