The first Interval Run on Couch to 5k

So about a week ago, I talked about starting Couch-to-5K. And yesterday I did. I appreciate everyone's support and suggestions, it's been great. I've been reading the LJ Community and various other support message boards.

I did buy a watch with a chrono stopwatch, but on the suggestion of Kassie, I also downloaded an Ipod App. I researched a few apps and decided on the C25K app which several on the Livejournal community had recommended. It was 2.99, but money well spent. It lets you load a playlist into the app, then plays a voice over it telling you when to run and walk. A lot easier than trying to time it yourself, and you can listen to the music you want to.

I still used my watch to time the overall time but did not time the intervals. This was a good compromise (I also bought the watch to time my wife's contractions should it come to that, although I'm sure there's an Ipod app for that too somewhere!).

I started out from my driveway in my alley, did a few stretches, then went into the program. The first jog was pretty easy, but they got progressively harder. It got to the point where you really appreciated the walk. But there's something amazing about the human body, because I got this second wind and the last couple runs were easier than the middle ones. I mapped the route when I got home and I went almost 2 miles. Not too shabby for my first time out.

I was a little sore in my legs last night, and after popping a couple of ibuprofen this morning, I'm doing really well today.

I really think this is a way I can get into running. I live in an ideal neighborhood to run in and it should be interesting to see how things change for me over the next couple of weeks.

I appreciate all the supportive comments from my friends, and let me tell you, if I can do this, then you can too! I'm doing this coming off virtually no physical activity other than the occasional walk.

Couch to 5k

I'm finally going to get off my ass and do something about the weight. There've been various wakeup calls for me over the last several months - the fact that my pants barely fit anymore (and I refuse to buy a bigger size!), that I've started having more problems with my back again, the life insurance price increase from the original quote that was a gigantic eye opener. Not to mention, I'm about to have a child and I want to be around for that.

I'm going to try running. I've never been a regular runner - I used to jog on a treadmill as a change of pace thing when I got tired of the elliptical. But I now live near one of the greatest urban trail systems in the country, about 2 blocks from the Minnehaha portion of the Grand Rounds Trail system. I'd be foolish not to consider some kind of fitness program involving that.

This represents a massive shift from my largely sedentary lifestyle, so I'm going to employ the Couch to 5K program. I've known others who've had success with it. I should set a goal for what I want to do, like a 5k by such and such a date, but I don't want to do that yet. I would like to fit comfortably into my pants by my birthday though, which is in early July. I think that's achievable.

I'm going to start running soon, as the snow has made a hasty exit. I bought a digital watch with a timer to time the intervals. I'm probably going to go buy some better running shoes soon too.

I'm hovering between 300 and 310 right now, and I'd like to drop a big chunk of that.