I have not sent out emails for our little C25k support group. But that will happen soon….eventually. Maybe….. STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT, I’VE BEEN BUSY!
Anyway, I realized that my C25k will not be a good way of charting how I do because I tend to repeat the previous week if I skip a day. I’ve done the first part of week 5 the past three times, just so I don’t overdo it and blow my stride. The best idea? Maybe not, but this is about me building endurance, so I’m okay with this taking longer. I’m so not losing any weight even though I’m trying to eat better (not very hard, but trying!) so this is just about me getting to the point where I can run my ass off and be awesome. Even if I’m super jiggly while I do it.
[Sidenote: I don’t ever think I’ll not be super jiggly. Is anyone NOT jiggly? Who are these not jiggly people? I don’t believe in them, they’re fake, like Chupacabra and polite teenagers.]
Right now I’m running for 5 minutes and walking for 3 minutes three times. It’s been WAY easier than I thought, which makes me insanely happy. I have a set path I like to take: the walking trail and park behind my old apartment complex. When I first started this, I had this fear that I would one day hyperventilating and past out on the track. The couples and moms with strollers would just pass by me, irritated that I’m taking up space, until some drunk college kid comes out of his apartment and finally calls the ambulance after throwing beer cans at my head didn’t wake me up…
However, though I don’t look pretty, I feel awesome and that’s the best part. Well, I feel awesome afterwards. While I’m running I feel pretty good, but only when I focus on other things. If breathing gets hard, I think about how my legs feel and how they’re totally not even sore and isn’t that cool?!? If my legs ARE sore, I think about how great I’m breathing and how totally amazing I am. All about the deflection, I gotta trick myself into ignoring things that might make me stop.
On Wednesday when I was running, I passed a guy with braces on his legs and forearm crutches. He was walking slowly and with difficulty, so I tried to give him a wide-berth as I jogged and jiggled past. When I breathlessly said, “Excuse me,” and passed him, I noticed that he has the tell-tale droop of a stroke. Also, he looked to be about my age.
I kept thinking about him as I was going and a few minutes later I hit a rough spot – a fairly steep hill in the last three minutes of my third 5 minute run. I really wanted to stop and slow down and walk up the hill, but I didn’t. because I kept thinking about that guy and dammit if he was going to be out there on his own,walking a asphalt track when he had trouble even walking at all, my fat ass could damn well jog up that hill. It hurt, it burned and I was SO grateful to be able to stop and walk my cool-down, but at least I was able to do it.
So how are y’all doing with your C25k (or other exercise)? What keeps you going when you hit that “Oh, for f*ck’s sake, I just wanna STOP….”
Kind of a Mess 
Go Alyssa!
I know exactly where you’re coming from, thinking about that guy to keep yourself going. I first started running a couple of years ago when I spontaneously and somewhat optimistically entered a charity 5k to raise money for cancer research, after my mum was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. Whenever I would be struggling or want to stop, I would think about all the shitty treatment she and other people with cancer go through, and how much we depend on them to keep going, keep enduring all the crap, keep fighting. If they can do THAT, then I can bloody well go another five minutes on a stupid treadmill.
Two years later, mum’s still here and I’m still (sort of) running – got a 9k race in two weeks’ time, eek! I have been pretty lazy about my training the last couple of weeks but you have inspired me to step it up for the final push. Wish me luck…
A big giant HOORAY! for your mom still being here. I bet she was damn proud of you at that 5k….
And I’m so glad I might have helped. But if you’re someone who CAN do a 9k, you’re already pretty damn amazing. (THAT’S SO FAR…..) Let me know how it goes!!
First off: You are amah-zing! I can’t run anymore (unless I want to schedule a restructive knee surgery appointment in the near future) but I am nonetheless insipred by you. To keep going when everything in your body is telling your to stop is the hardest hurdle to overcome. Keep going!
Second: If you are interested in the losing weight part coupled with feeling even more amazing physically and mentally, then you need to read and follow Dr. D’Adamo’s book Eat Right for your Type. It will change your life and your waistline. Use it in conjunction with your running and I promise you will see fast results. It is based on science and history (now I have your attention, don’t I?) and if nothing else, is a good read. Anyhoo, read it, call me, and we’ll discuss.
Thank you, my dear!
And I totally do owe you another phone call. And while I think the science in that book is iffy, but it’s a good diet plan regardless. And since I’m a B, I’d cut out wheat which will make me drop weight SO much. (I likes the bread.)
Sidenote? You’ve ruined popcorn for me. I bought some fancy schmancy kind at Whole Foods and I was like, “Bah. It’s not as good as Tal’s….”
Go Alyssa Go! Go, go, go, go! Did you know there is a C25K app for your iphone? Isn’t that crazy? Man. Technology.
Shame is usually a pretty good motivator for me. Being out-run by your 6 year old arthritic border collie will do wonders for your up-and-at-’em sentiments.
I love my app! It’s Get Running and it’s amazing…
I REALLY wish I could take Maggie with me, but she’d get spooked by the ducks that frequent the trail. Hell, I’m spooked by the ducks, especially the giant ones with the weird bumpiness on their beak…
Woohoo! Good for you! I have a couple things that keep me going when I really want to stop. First, I try to run with other people whenever possible. If I’m running with friends, I get so caught up in chatting I sort of forget that I’m working really hard. And if I’m running with a running group, I’ll push through the pain because, well, I’m a wee bit competitive and don’t want to be the one to call uncle 🙂 Most local running stores have running groups 1-2 times/week and they’re usually beginner-friendly. Also, I schedule an event a couple months out. I’m less likely to slack on my workouts if I know I’ve got a race coming — kinda puts the fear of God into me to think about, say, running a 10K or doing a triathlon not fully trained 😉 And, finally, I have a few go-to songs on my ipod for when I’m working out alone and really want to quit — they never fail to pep me up and motivate me to keep going!
I’m SO hesitant about working out with someone else right now. I think I’ll be better later, but when Jethro and I went runnig together it didn’t go so well. He was at his walking portion and I was running and he made a comment about how he was walking and keeping up with me and I d*mn near bawled on the spot. Cause while it was true, he’s also about 6 inches taller than me to that gives him a way bigger stride. Plus I run slow.
I think I’ll do better later on, but right now I’m gonna go solo. But I’m so going to look into a running group for later on, thanks for mentioning it!
Oh, ha! Don’t run with boys! EVER! I have finished 5 triathlons in the past year and did a half marathon in February after being a total non-runner forever and ever and ever, and I STILL won’t run with my boyfriend. He has gazelle legs and freakin’ cranks down the street, leaving me in the dust and making me feel like a total loser. Girls make much better running partners. 🙂
Amazing perserverance Alyssa! I am with the whole repeating weeks when I miss a day too. Right now I’m only on Week 2. I’m just realizing that it will take me longer for my body to build endurance since I started with ZERO.
I find swearing excessively as soon as I get to stop really helps, and elicits smiles from people when they hear my exclamations. Right now I have a running buddy, and two running buddy dogs so it’s going well. Ultimately still totally motivated by fear (I need to run 5K and then leap flames).
Also similar to APW wedding zen, I try to work on running zen. If I really focus on my breathing and force my brain to focus on the path ahead I can get through so much better that when I’m desperately wiating for the run to be over.
Keep going girlie! I’m super impressed that you’re at week 5!
Thanks! I’m determined to get past Week 5 because that’s apparently when most people quit, week 4 or 5.
Let me know when you’re there and I’ll be like, “YOU CAN DOOO IT!!!’
I actually think it’s a GREAT idea to keep repeating weeks. I did a similar program a couple of years ago with a local running store, and though we built up gradually, I think I should have been going even slower because I ended up having all kinds of knee pain. Running can be hard on your body and it’s not for everyone, so it’s smart to take it slow. Congrats on your progress!!
Thank you! And thank you for the validation. I don’t want to slack off, but I’m getting better at telling what my body can handle and what it can’t. And last week? Running for 8 minutes at a time was NOT something I coule handle.
Tonight? I’m gonna kick Week 5’s butt!
I’ve been meaning to comment and tell you: I started the C25K this Monday after WEEKS of putting it off and it was NOT THAT BAD. I mean, for the past 2 days my knees have literally felt like they would buckle under me but I did it, and today I am doing day 2 and omg thank you for making me feel like it’ll be okay if I repeat week 1 next week because I am apparently way more out of shape than I had previously surveyed (confession: I walked the last 60 second run and cried for all 60 seconds).
Buttt, the point is i’ve started. and hooray for that. and you’re still going, HOORAY FOR YOU!!!
No, HOORAY FOR YOU!!! That’s so great that you’re starting and defintely keep it up! I think if your body is telling you to repeat a week, REPEAT IT. It’s still exercise and building endurance, once you get the hang of it you can start blowing through those goals.
Keep me updated!!
Firstly my love, there is no such thing as a non-jiggly person.
Secondly, El Chupacabra is very real, and demands your fearful respect.
Thirdly, I only feel good after a run when I fall down in the kitchen and my face lands on the cold wonderful tile.
Fourth, I love you.
You are decidely non-jiggly. Except for your massive boobies.
BAH! I say, BAH! to Chupacabra!
How do you feel about us doing a 5k on our Vegas trip? I might need more motivation to push harder…
I love the you also.
alyssa…i am SO proud of you. you are rocking this! i’m still on the walk 45 minutes every night…kind of path…although eating less and healthier is helping me feel more like working out…I work out on the treadmill in our house and my bed is RIGHT there, literally…it taunts me. I’ve gotten into a mode now where I’ll throw in a True Blood (or other hr. long show) on DVD (They’re about 47 min) and just watch the show with INTENSITY. It’s got me really involved in some shows I’m not proud of…mainly because they’re out of date…like Dirty Sexy Money and the Lazy Environmentalist….Ha….
Hey There– As someone who want to get back to exericse this is inspiring! I also want to tame down some giggle in my wiggle. I want to wear tanks this year and not have to wonder if I have bye-bye arms.