C25K - Week 8

Well, week 8 started out good. I ran from Valley Heights to Blaxland, 4.3km, in 28 minutes. There were a couple of tricky hill bits which beat me and I had to walk for a few meters, but other than that it went well. Unfortunately the rest of the week was a no show... what a slacker. To be fair I do have a cold and am still coughing quite a bit. I'm starting week 8 again as soon as this cough clears a bit more.

A pretty slack week....

C25K - Week 7

Just finished my last run for week 7. What a killer!!

I ran 4.4km in 25 minutes. It KILLS my legs but I'm so proud of myself! Paul still didn't believe I can do it so he ran with me today pushing the pram. He's blown away.

Week 8's plan is:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 4.5km (or 28 minutes).

That extra 3 minutes is going to be TOUGH......

C25K - Week 6

Well, week 6 started out relatively easy and the first two days went smoothly and were even enjoyable. Day 3 involved a straight 25minutes of running. I decided to run to Paul's dad's place (5.5km). I ran for 19 minutes and was doing good, but then I hit a killer hill, you know those slow rising, but long hills? Yeah that's the one. It killed me and I had to walk for a few minutes (also to cross the highway and cross a very narrow bridge). I ran a further 800m after this to make up for my failure to complete the 25 minutes non stop. So, I'm a bit disappointed in that. I should have planned the run better and gone a different way which didn't involve stopping to cross the highway.

Moving right along to week 7's plan:

All 3 days are,

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 4km (or 25 minutes).

C25K - Week 5

Week 5 started off okay. But I did the last run today - 20 minutes straight - 3.2km. I was struggling in the last 3 minutes but I kept going and I did make it all the way, so I'm happy with that.

Week 6 plan is as follows:

Day 1:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
Jog 800m (or 5 minutes)
Walk 400m (or 3 minutes)
Jog 1.2km (or 8 minutes)
Walk 400m (or 3 minutes)
Jog 800m (or 5 minutes)

Day 2:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
Jog 1.6km (or 10 minutes)
Walk 400m or 3 minutes)
Jog 1.6km (or 10 minutes)

Day 3:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3.6km (or 25 minutes) with no walking.

C25K Week 4

Man, week 4 is a KILLER!!! The first day was so hard but I made it... just! Paul ran with me on the second run for the week and of course he was fine but did manage to at least break a sweat. He was suprised at how well I am going seeing as how he really knows how unfit I am! My pace is not as slow as I thought it was as he thought it a good pace for him. So I'm a bit proud of myself now he he he. The third run was okay and I managed to go a fair way over the whole 40 minutes - 4.9kms!

Week 5's plan is different for each of the three days:

Day 1:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
Jog 800m (or 5 minutes)
Walk 400m (or 3 minutes)
Jog 800m (or 5 minutes)
Walk 400m (or 3 minutes)
Jog 800m (or 5 minutes)

Day2:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
Jog 1.2km (or 8 minutes)
Walk 800m (or 5 minutes)
Jog 1.2km (or 8 minutes)

Day 3:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3.2km(or 20 minutes) with no walking!!!!!

C25K Week 3

Week 3 has been really good. I feel like I can just keep running and running. I'm feeling stronger in the legs and my knees have held up really well. It's suprising how quickly the cardio side of things improves. Right now I feel it more in the legs (which are so out of shape) than in the breathing side.

Week 4's plan is:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
Jog 400m (or 3 minutes)
Walk 200m (or 90 seconds)
Jog 800m (or 5 minutes)
Walk 400m (or 2-1/2 minutes)
Jog 400m (or 3 minutes)
Walk 200m (or 90 seconds)
Jog 800m (or 5 minutes)

C25K Week 2

Week 2 was pretty smooth. My knees are quite good and I have been trying to stretch properly before and after the run so it seems to be working. Week 3 starts on wednesday and the plan for week three is:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:
Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)

I know I have some sort of dedication as I ran is the rain this morning and was quite happy to do it. Who knew?!!

Fitness Challenge Setback

Well, I got most of the way through week 2 and my knees gave out. I have been limping around for about a week now and my knees are still pretty bad. I'm giving it another week for a good chance for the knees to recover before repeating week 2 and going on from there. I think the crappy old sneakers did me in and so I have gone out and bought some flashy asics gel running shoes which feel amazingly comfortable and definitely reduce the strain on the knees, even just walking around. I am so disappointed that I haven't been able to do my little runs this week, I was really looking forward to them. Anyway, looking forward to getting started again soon.

I have found two running buddies to come on the run with me in september, Elisha and Adriana. We three in a mid-life crisis will be pushing each other to the finish line on that bright spring day. I can just see it now...... ohhhhh so hard to imagine getting anywhere NEAR the end right now. he he heeeeeeee

C25K - Week 1

Well, I went on my first walk/ run today and it felt so good to be out early in the morning pretending to be fit! Loved it, and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. But it's only the first day!!!

I'm going to run wednesdays, fridays and sundays. Need new joggers.

Loved the podcast which keeps you going and motivated and encouraged.

:)

My Personal Challenge

Ok, this blog is about my personal challenge for this year.

I am going to try to get fit enough to run the Sydney Bridge Run which is a 9km run. This year it will be on the 21st Sept. I have found a beginners training guide for people who have no running experience. It's a 9 week program (3 days a week) called Couch to 5k, http://c25k.com/ and some guy has been kind enough to create podcasts that you can convert to mp3 and it tells you what to do for each week along with music to run to. Soooooo, that's the challenge, anyone interested in joining me and challenging themselves? The bridge run website also has a 14 week training plan for beginner runners leading upto the event, so that would start Monday 16th June.

http://www.sydneymarathon.org/DOWNLOADS/1225.pdf

So I'm challenging myself to be able to run 5kms in 30mins by the end of April.

I'm sweating just thinking about it!!!!