Well, I ran again yesterday, Day 2 of the 10k Training Plan. I would post a picture of myself that I took post-run, but I can’t yet figure out how to get the %#@$ pictures off the &*%$ blackberry!!!
Well, photographic evidence or not, I did manage to get out for an hour yesterday, and I’m happy I did. I was a bit uncomfortable because I overdid it on Day 1, but I’ll get over it in time. See, on Day 1 I was all gung-ho and didn’t want to follow the wimpy training plan, so I just went out and jogged for 20 minutes straight. No biggie, right? Wrong. 2 days later, and the fronts of my lower legs were feeling rather stiff – shin splints, I have since learned. Ooops.
The people who develop these running programs know that most people can hack the cardio aspect of running for more than 30 seconds at a time, but they also know that most people’s bodies can’t hack the impact. That’s what happened to me. It wasn’t my lungs and heart that suffered from my 20 minute run, rather it was my bones and muscles.
So, abashedly, I did the training regime on Day 2. I ran for 30 seconds and walked briskly for 4.5 minutes, repeated 6 times and warmed up and down for 15 minutes before and after. Not exactly a killer sweaty workout, but better in the long run (no pun intended). The only thing is, when you only run for 30 seconds, you get the worst part of the run, but none of the good parts! You barely get your heart rate up and then you’ve got to stop again. You don’t even get through that "oh my god, I’m going to die" sensation, and it’s time to walk.
Oh well, one more day of that and then next week I take the huge jump to running for one whole minute at a time. Woo! In the end, though, if I stick with it, I should be able to run 10 kilometres in 1 hour without injury. So, as they say, let’s take baby steps at the beginning and see where this all leads.
Shall we?
you are awesome, Kath!
my husband is doing a 10k in a few weeks and hasn’t done an ounce of training. i better get on his ass.
that’s awesome, you’ll be amazed at how fast you pick up your stamina.
Hey Kath – Way to go on the running… starting is the hardest part. Would you consider sharing the training schedule here? A week in advance would be great. You know, for those of us playing the home game. 😉
Way to go Kath. I am so impressed. I have gone about it in the totally reverse manner, so I’m going to try and follow your lead. I decided last year to run my weight off. I trained for and ran the Disney Marathon without losing a pound. Now, I can run but not lose weight. So while you follow your 10k plan, I will try and start to follow the weight watchers plan. Just remember, the key to running is stretch, stretch, stretch!!! Oh, and good shoes!
Congrats, Kath! This type of program really worked for me. I was able to stick it out which I had NEVER been able to do before. And, don’t worry, wait until you have to do the 10 minute running, 1 minute walking for over 60 minutes…you’ll wish you were back at week one!
Keep us posted!