It’s different music every time - I build a new playlist pretty much every time the distance/time changes, for that specific reason. I’ve been trying to plan this whole thing out so I don’t end up “expecting” when to finish for just this reason, 'cause I know me. (I try to do different routes, which is a little hard at these distances in my neighborhood, but today the second half was completely different in every way - sidewalk instead of street, straight instead of doglegging, down a busy interesting street, etc. So I’ve been trying to switch it up a lot.
Of course, running on the big sidewalk like that makes it easier to walk for a bit, because you think “well, just until that intersection…” or “I’ll wait for that car…” even when you don’t need to.
Ah, good luck then with your changes, Zsofia. I know if I don’t have the playlist in shuffle and updated once in a while, I would be bored doing the same laps (at least they change the directions every other day, so it’s not a left turn every time).
South Carolina RRCA running clubs.
A good running club should be welcoming of beginners. You might find it easier to get over the hump with a running partner.
Might not be such a bad idea. I like doing it by myself because it gives me all this private time, but maybe a partner would help. My mom’s actually doing C25K, but she’s a week and a bit behind.
ETA - does anybody else get sick and tired of holding their arms up? I hate it - I feel like a T-Rex after a mile or so. Can’t run with them down, though.
Yes-they start to hurt after a bit. But I am getting muscle definition in my upper arms, so I welcome the ache. I do straighten them out for a few strides and that seems to help.
Ran 1.9 miles this morning. Not very well–had to do 5:1’s. But I did it, which is what really matters.
Note to all: if you’re over 40, don’t try to run hungover. I wasn’t really all that hungover*, but my stomach and GI tract were not happy with me–my breathing was fine, my muscles were fine, but my gut protested every step of that run. Ugh.
*I had 2 “healthy” sambucas watching the results come in.
You need to do some strength training. Access to a gym is best but getting a few small dumbbells or a light weight set and bench to use at home is fine. You can use things around the house. Bags of flower or sugar, cat litter, canned food can all substitute for free weights in the beginning. Do overhead presses, curls, tricep presses. To work the arms and shoulders for running, use very light dumbbells or cans of soup build up to 3 sets of 1-2 min of swinging the arms the same as if you were running.
I used to always get them when I tried to increase distance. I get them a lot now when I run the same routes too many times…my solution to that is to drive to a different neighborhood and run there. It might sound silly, but it makes a huge difference.
I am sore. I mentioned in the weight loss thread that I returned to my BootCamp class on Sunday, for the first time in over a year. Monday I was sore, but thought that running might help, so I ran 4.5 - 5 miles. Yesterday, I was lurching around like Frankenstein. Today was back to Spin and running.
I entered a 5-mile Thanksgiving Day race, so I’m hoping that I can get back to where I want to be by then.
Okay, I’m going back to it. It’s been a really bad 2 weeks at work, so it’s been about a week and a half since I’ve run. I’m following Time Stranger’s lead and going back to W5, D1 tonight.
Before I even clicked on the link to the story, I pictured myself stubbornly running, thinking to myself “I’ve got to keep going! Robert didn’t tell me to stop yet!”
I finally got Week 5 Day 1 out of the way last night. A cold and some bad weather had meant it took about 2 weeks to finally complete week 4. Now the jump from 3 5 minute runs to 2 8 minute runs seems do-able. But on day 3 I’m supposed to run for 20 minutes? How is that going to happen?
Don’t feel bad Queen Bruin, I’ve skipped a week before and I think most of the folks doing this have at least had to skip a day here or there. As long as you start up again and keep going!
I always have to fight off using a skipped day (or whatever) as an excuse to quit entirely. So far I’ve been successful, at least partly by recognizing that we’re not all perfect all the time and that’s ok. Keep trying and you’re golden.
I stumbled through week 5 day 2 today. Had to cheat a bit, even after doing the whole thing at 5.4 instead of 5.6. Took a 15 second break at the 5 min point of the 2nd run.
I don’t think the 20 minute run is going to be doable right now. I’ll probably do the 2 8’s a couple of more times. Being 42 and with multiple medical issues, my endurance doesn’t build up quite as fast as I’d like. I’ll get there though. The difference in my fitness level between now and 3 months ago is just astonishing.
I just got back from my Week 6 Day 2 run. I wanted to quit with each and every step. My calves nearly revolted when I started the second run. I still have a ways to go fitness-wise because I’m excercising at 90% of my maximum heart rate and that’s still only 3.5-3.7 mph. Just gonna have to see how I feel Saturday night when I try Day 3. I may do another Day 2. We can do this!