Usually on a Saturday morning I go to David Fairlamb's beach bootcamp. I absolutely love it, and if anyone who lives in the North Tyneside/South East Northumberland area is looking for a fun, challenging but supportive workout, which is based on individual goals whether you are someone who is trying to get fit or an established fitness fan then I couldn't recommend this more highly.
This morning, though, I woke up feeling awful. I am definitely developing a cold. So I made the decision to miss bootcamp but I was definitely going for a run today.
When I started running I was so unsure that I could do it that I googled running and found Couch to 5k. This programme takes people like me who cannot run a bath and gets them (if they put the effort in) to be able to run 5k, or for 30 minutes at a time. I had a look around and chose the Felt Tip app for my phone to help me learn how to run.
To explain the couch to 5k (or c25k) programme, it basically starts someone with no running experience and works them up using interval training. When they say start running they mean that you start with 60 seconds of jogging and then 90 seconds of walking repeated over a 20 minute period in week 1. Your week is basically 3 periods (days) of exercise. From that first week they increase the running and decrease the walking in each week until you get to week 9 and you should be able to run a full 30 minutes without stopping. All this on your mp3 player or smart phone!
So I am now at week 8. When I say I am at week 8 it has actually taken me longer than 8 weeks to get to week 8 as I've been on holiday and my running went a bit astray in Florida, the programme allows you to repeat sessions or put it on hold while life gets in a way for a while, but anyway, I'm now at Week 8 day 2.
I've gone from week 1 day 1 where I huffed and puffed my way, feeling like I was struggling to run for 60 seconds without stopping to now on Week 8 day 2 being able to run for 28 minutes without stopping, needing a paramedic or hooking myself up to oxygen half way round.
Now I'm not saying it's a piece of cake, as I'm sure Dave Fairlamb wouldn't want me to be indulging in cake, while I'm trying to lose weight, but I am amazed that I have gone from really finding running to be a terrifying prospect to being able to actually enjoy going for a run.
Today's run was fantastic. Despite it being the warmest October day on record I felt really good as I ran. My legs had felt sluggish on my last run, but today felt loads better. I actually ran further than I had before, and also ran my fastest mile. I use the Nike + app in conjunction with the felt tip app to record my runs, and as I'm the type of person who loves charts, tables and data I can compare my runs, pace, routes etc.
I have worked out a nice little route around where I live which I can extend when I need to increase the time I'm running each week. At the end of each run there is a set of steps up to the road which I make a point of running up, it's like my bonus challenge each run.
I returned home today after my run with sweat completely dripping off me. I felt happily knackered and when I checked my stats on my phone I was delighted to see that I had run further and faster than I had previously.
I have my first proper 5k run in October booked in. I'm doing the Big Fun Run in Glasgow at the end of the month, and I believe that I will do it! With family up there it gives me an excuse to go and visit them, but it feels quite surreal that I have actually entered a 5k run and that I feel that I can complete it.
I really have to recommend you finding a C25K app to help you into running if you want to try and take it up. If you really try and put the commitment into training the C25k will help you to get to a position where you can run 5k.
I'm a C25k graduate myself and I can't recommend it highly enough. No one was more surprised or more delighted than me when I was able to run that very first full 20 minutes non stop. That's the moment I finally felt I could call myself a runner.
ReplyDeleteAfter C25k I progressed onto the "One Hour Runner" plan and then onto a half marathon plan. I'm now up to running 8 miles - I'm still dreadfully slow but I don't care!
Like you, I signed myself up for a charity 5k run, which I did back in July (on the hottest day of the year!). It's great to have goals and challenges to work towards as it really helps to keep you motivated. Once you've done your run, sign yourself up for the next, slightly tougher challenge. I really want to do next year's Great North Run!
Good luck for your run. You'll have an amazing day. Charity and Fun Runs have their own special atmosphere.