That’s what I started today. I was supposed to start yesterday but, well, we were kind of “snowed in” and I certainly wasn’t going to go break an ankle on the snowy/icy sidewalks. So I started this morning (at my local Y, on the treadmill). If you’re not familiar with this, it’s a 9-week interval running program designed to take you from the couch (that’s me!) to 5k (3 miles) of running. The reason it’s successful for many people is because of the fact of being an interval program–you start slow and build. The program encourages you not to skip ahead but instead to follow it as it’s designed. But if you need to repeat a week and stretch the program to more weeks, that’s okay too. You set your own pace.
So I did day one today, which is a combination of 60 seconds of running then 90 seconds of walking, which didn’t really seem to bad. I did notice, since I was on the treadmill, that I only went 2 miles, but I was told on Twitter that as long as I did 20 minutes (I think I actually did slightly more) that I was fine. Okay then.
One thing that makes it a lot easier to do this is to use the music podcasts that have been designed for this program. That way you don’t have to wear a watch/use a timer, but instead listen to the music which has a cue in it when it’s time to switch from running to walking and vice versa.
Right now my goal is to just finish the program and run the three miles. Once I’ve done that, I’ll decide on what my next goal will be. I’ve been challenged to do the half-marathon in Virginia Beach in September but that’s…a lot of running. I’ll be impressed if I get to three miles in three months. Girl Scout cookies all around if I manage that!
Let me know if you do run, and I’ll come and cheer you on. :glee:
See, it’s not so bad. The training programme that I have starts off just like that and will have you ready for 13.2 miles come September
I need a program like that! I got really sedentary this winter and I have to get moving. Good for you!
Where did you find the program (music and all)? Sounds like something I need!
Two great reasons to run:
1. There’s a sale about to start.
2. Someone’s chasing you.
Other than that, a fast walk is about my top speed.
Those music podcasts sound amazing! Are they on iTunes?
another writer friend of mine and I started the fatchicksrunning.com blog by doing the Cto5K program. I run my first 5K race in 2 weeks. I started out barely able to run the first 60 second run and now I can run (it’s not a pretty run, nor is it fast) 3 miles. I am still overweight, but I’ve dropped 20 some-odd inches and 1 size since I started the program last fall. It works.
You will absolutely love it. I started the couch to 5k in Sept 08 and I continued on afterwards, I just finished my first half marathon in Jan 09. I will say before I started the program – running for me – Well just say I had owned the same running shoes for about 2 years. HEHE!
I basically tried to do something similar to that. Last February, my brother called me about a pub run he’d started the week before and wanted to know if I would be interested in going with him. It is a 5K and I ended up jogging for as long as I could and then walked until I felt like I could do a bit more jogging, did it, then walked, and then finished it off by jogging the last few blocks. It took me about twice as long as my brother, but I had fun doing it. We did the pub run together for a couple of months and then other things got in the way and the pub changed the day of the week they had the run. So, now, I basically do the same thing in my neighborhood when I can. The fact that there is less sunlight per day right now has put a damper on it because I won’t go jogging by myself after dark, even in my safe neighborhood. I try to get out and do it on the weekends, but life tends to interfere.
Shoes, shoes, shoes. And by the way, shoes. Once you’re off the treadmill and hit the road, buy good ones. Look at the ones you have and see how you’ve worn them down, then go to Runner’s World online or some other place like that and figure out which would be best for you. Of course, you’re a young thang. Still… Did I mention that it’s important to get a good pair of running shoes
You can do it!!!
I actually do have good running shoes, I promise!