Couch to 5K progress…

A few people mentioned that they would like me to keep them up to date on my New Year’s Resolution of trying to run a 5K in 2013. I first posted about it here.



I'm using the Couch to 5K phone app recommended by a friend.

Week #1: 5 minute walk/warm-up, 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. ~ I can’t even tell you how hard this was for me. I feel like I need to preface this by saying I eat really well and I’m in good shape so it shouldn’t have been so bad but my cardio SUCKS. I was sweating, wheezing and bitching like a baby at the end of my 20 minutes.

Fast forward to week #7: 5 minute warm-up walk, 25 minutes of jogging. ~ I DID IT! I can jog for 25 minutes!! And even sort of carry on a conversation.

I can’t lie though. I don’t enjoy it yet. Almost every workout is hard for me, even though my stamina and breathing are getting much better. I don’t feel that peaceful vibe with the wind in my hair lol that I hear runners get. I’m just praying to God it will end soon. I do feel better after though. The sense of accomplishment is awesome and I think the rest will happen over time.

I have two weeks left before I’m running a full 5K. I start week 8 Sunday….jog 28 minutes.

I try to alternate where I run so I don’t get bored. we do have quite a few gorgeous trails to run on in my county. I mix up my playlists, buy myself cute outfits as an incentive Whatever works I say.

Any running tips for me that might help me enjoy it more? Has anyone else had this issue and got over it with time?

I signed up for a 5K in July. It’s called The Color Run. It sounds like a fun way to complete my first 5K. You start out in a white t-shirt, then get splattered with color when you reach each Kilometer.

From their website:

“How does it work?
The Color Run™ event pretty much has TWO SIMPLE rules: 1)  White shirts (any mostly white T will work great) mandatory at the start line.  And 2) color plastered EVERYTHING at the finish!  Runner/walkers begin the 5k at the start line like a brand new pristine coloring book. By the end, they look like they fell into a Willy Wonka… tie dyed… vat of colored goodness. We are the creators of an all new paint race phenomenon!”

I’m almost there! It hasn’t always been easy but I’m doing it. Somehow by putting it here on the blog I feel accountable and it has helped keep me motivated. So I’ll probably keep posting when I hit a milestone.