I've gotten back on the exercise wagon- my sticker chart is up to 35 stickers now- 20 of which have yet to be redeemed. I think I'll be getting a mani/pedi in Oz; maybe just before our party. :)
Anyway- last week, when I decided to head back to the gym, something got me on the treadmill, running, not walking. Don't know what it was, and I don't know why- but I found myself running, and enjoying it!
I started that first day setting the timer for 20 minutes- and I warmed up for 5 of those and cooled down for 2. I used a "run 2 minutes/walk 1" pattern to get started. That first day, those first 20 minutes seemed ok. It wasn't too hard, but felt like exercise that was actually accomplishing something.
I went back the next day and tried again. I ran a little faster, but kept to the 2/1 intervals.
On the weekend, I went back to gym again, and decided to push myself. I upped my time to 25 minutes. I did it again the next day.
I had heard of a program called "Couch to 5K"- a running guide to get basically anyone off the couch, and eventually, running a 5km distance. Sounded good. After enjoying the few previous runs, I started thinking about doing a program like the C25K one. I also mentioned my interest to a fellow teacher, who is a real runner (one marathon in her past, she's training for the next). I also started to, for the first time, watch the distance counter on the treadmill (instead of the time, or the calories burned).
My previously mentioned colleague stopped by on Monday and handed me some papers- a beginners running program that she had printed for me. I glanced at the first week, and saw that in the first week a couple 3K runs and at least one 5k run were included! I thanked her, but also said that I thought I might need a beginner beginners program if this one included 3 and 5ks in the first week!
But then I went to the gym. I decided to push myself some more. Still using the 2/1 intervals, I selected 25 minutes again, and upped my speeds. I surprised the crap out of myself that day by running 3.3km. Who knew I could do that?!?
All of a sudden, that 5k didn't seem that far off!
Over the last two days, I upped my time to 30 minutes on the treadmill, and upped my speeds. Yesterday I ran 3.9km, and today, 4.1km. Oh, and, today, I didn't run/walk in intervals. I just kept running, telling myself that if I felt pain, got a cramp, felt too out of breath, I would walk. I ran for 25 minutes only taking one 1-minute walking interval in that time.
I'll do a 5k next week.
I'm not really sure what I'm doing when it comes to this running thing. I'm not following a program, and maybe I should. Maybe I should do some reading on the Internet and just take note of some pointers.
The thing I am doing is listening to my body. I'm not pushing myself further or faster than I can go. But, at the same time, I am pushing myself when it feels easy, when it feels like I can do more- and look, turns out I can do more!
What surprises me is that before, any time I tried to run, it was always the breathing that got me. I would have to stop because I would get a cramp in my side, because I couldn't breathe. My legs never felt that tired, they always felt like I could keep going, but I couldn't breathe. This time, I'm not having this problem. I mean, the 25 minutes today blew me away, because that was a long time running, without any problem breathing! I found myself wondering if possibly, I'm not just that much further from the abuse I used to inflict on my lungs (it's been nearly a year and a half since I quit smoking now).
So, I'm learning to run. I'm enjoying it. I'm still aware that I am running measly distances compared to most real "runners". I remember my brother heading out for a run in high school- I think he'd head out and do 10 miles in an afternoon. Yeah, I'm still a ways off that! And, I am running 1-2 kph slower than my running colleague. But she even said that for a beginner, I'm moving at a good pace.
I've started tracking my runs- because I think it'll be fun to watch my progress. So far, the progress is pretty impressive. I'm excited to keep going, and see what I can achieve.
6 comments:
Good for you!! :)
Thanks! I am pretty proud! :)
Woohoo! Good for you. I never liked running too much, but I found it is a great way to keep in shape and you can do it anytime, anywhere- although lately I cant seem to get myself out of my office chair. Mostly the dark rain outside!!! I think you will progress with running quickly. We can do the May Riga marathon together!! :)
See, here is the funny thing...I *am* actually enjoying the running! But, I also run on the treadmill, which, from what I understand is much easier than running on land. So, *my* running might not be as available to me as yours is to you. I like being on the treadmill, watching the numbers go up and down. I don't listen to music, because I find it interferes with my breathing.
We'll have to see how I do on the running, but I have to say, watching Rainis finish the whole marathon last year gave me one of those incredible, "*I* want to do that!" feelings...but, I might be crazy. Heck, even the half like you did was extremely inspiring!
I have a few insights for you that I have learned along the way.
1) Stretch like crazy, not before but after. Breaking your leg like I did because of not stretching is miserable. So keep up on your downward dog and such.
2) Stay super hydrated, our muscles want nothing more than to be hydrated.
3) Try and find a high antioxidant content food that you can eat after running or working out in general. It will help gather free radicals that are floating around your body right after working out, as your muscles work they get damaged and in the process let out free radicals you ant to help them recover and not allow those nasty thing to readhere to your muscles.
4) When your running keep your Yoga breath in mind, allow your shoulders and stomach to relax. Almost like your stomach is distending, allowwing your diaphram to fully extend lower as opposed to holding your breath up high in your lungs, this will definetly keep the cramps away.
Glad to here your getting after it. We can go for a run together in Mexico.
Milu,
Martins
I've heard it said that running outside is harder physically, while running on a treadmill is harder mentally.
I'd personally stick to the intervals, unless your aim is to run a full 5k straight. The reason I say this is because for fat loss, interval training is the way to go.
Have you heard of podrunner.com? It's a neat site where you can download running tracks based on the Couch to 5K program - the music changes (and there is a sound) to alert you to when you should start running/walking. It's good.
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