I believe I can fly…or at least run. January 9, 2012
Posted by mareserinitatis in personal.Tags: 10K, C25k, couch to 5k, exercise, running, training
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I mentioned recently that I’d signed up to do a 10k in May. Today, I completed a step in that direction: I finished the couch-to-5k program I started back in October. It took two weeks longer than expected due to knee issues and illness, but I made it. This means that I can run for 30 minutes solid, but in my case, that’s not enough to finish a 5k.
Since it was my last run on the program and the weather outside was gorgeous (50 degrees….in January…I’m serious), I decided to do try my hand at jogging outside.
There are several differences: my legs got tired in different places, I only need moderately upbeat music to keep my distracted (versus the treadmill, which requires a very special set of VERY upbeat music), and my asthma started acting up immediately. I also noticed, when finished, that the GPS in my iPhone doesn’t work when the phone is against my body (damn antenna detuning).
My solution to the last two is to begin using my Garmin Forerunner. It has GPS, and I suspect that keeping an eye on my heart rate will help me gauge whether my exertion level is inappropriate. My asthma likely started because I was pushing myself too hard. After all, the allergens here are pretty few in number right now because even if it’s warm, it’s still January.
I’m giving myself a week with shorter workouts and then jumping to the Bridge to 10k program. Wish me luck!
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Awesome work! I’ve been thinking about trying couch-to-5 k for a while, as I exercise but Don’t Run. Do you regularly exercise outdoors in the winter or in cooler weather? Cold can also trigger asthma (as well as smoke/particulates that aren’t allergens).
I don’t like to exercise outside when it’s really cold…once it gets into the 50s, I’m okay. And yeah, a lot of it is because the cold will set off my asthma. There is a track at the local high school that is open to the public, so if I don’t want to use my treadmill, I’ll go there.
I have a horrible time with smog, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of that here. I think it was probably just pushing it too fast.
Live and learn.
Good luck! Running is my least beloved activity, and I deeply admire anyone who runs long distances. I will be cheering!
Actually, running is my least favorite activity, too.
Love my Garmin. Entering all my time and distance information into a spreadsheet afterwards *sigh* so satisfying. I don’t love running yet. But maybe a month after finishing couch to 5k I felt a lot better about it. I didn’t hate it. I hate other things more. That’s something, right? And occasionally there’s those moments of “oh it’s so nice outside, oh look a rabbit.” But then again I benefit from year round fantastic weather. I did try the treadmill thing for a while (due to shrinking daylight) but found I got injured on a treadmill much easier. So now I’m taking advantage of work showers and just jogging on my lunch. Not bad if the weather cooperates!