Posts from November 2007

I just finished the final run in the Couch-to-5K Running Plan, and I don't think I could've asked for a better finish! The route was around the neighborhood, basically this route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/tx/keller/354491313, but in reverse, and I didn't start my run until I hit the 3 mile marker on that map (don't worry, I did my 5 minute brisk walk first). The temperature was probably in the upper 50s with a good wind out of what felt like the west/northwest. Here are the details:

Continue reading Couch-to-5K: Week 9, Day 3...

Just three more days until the Jingle Bell Run 5K! This evening, I'll head out on my final training run, Week 9, Day 3 of the Couch-to-5K Running Plan. I can't decide if I should take it easy on my run today, push it a little and go for negative splits again, or perhaps just even splits. I am leaning towards an easy run, with even splits. The one thing I do know, is that I am really glad that I used a running plan to prepare for this 5K. Without a plan, I would probably have been all over the place and likely would've over-trained.

For those of you who have supported me in my effort to run the Jingle Bell Run 5K, thank you! Your words of encouragement and your donations mean a lot. Personally, I am less than $150 from my fundraising goal of $500. I don't know that I'll make it, but that's okay, because our team has surpassed its fundraising goal of $1000! As of this moment, we've raised $1155 for the Arthritis Foundation, and we're not done yet.

If you haven't made a donation yet, please visit my donation web site and help support the fight against Arthritis!

Well, here I am in the final week of the Couch-to-5K Running Plan. I finished up day 2 yesterday, and like the rest of week 9, day 2 calls for a 5-minute brisk walk, followed by 30 minutes of running. This  run was done outside, using a 1/2 mile loop in the neighborhood. The temperature was in the upper 40s, with no precipitation. With this run, I wanted to try doing negative splits, and pace myself for a strong final mile, and ideally all 3 miles in under 30 minutes.

Continue reading Couch-to-5K: Week 9, Day 2...

I woke up to the sound of rain this morning, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 30s. I wasn't sure if I'd get this run in today, or if perhaps I'd at least need to wait until we returned home later in the day and hit the treadmill at the gym.

Continue reading Couch-to-5K: Week 9, Day 1...

Since we're out of town for Thanksgiving, this run was a little different from my previous runs, and I don't have the same stats. This run was done at Coggin Park in Brownwood, TX, which has a loop around it that is supposed to be 3 laps = 2 miles.

Continue reading Couch-to-5K: Week 8, Day 3...

So Week 8, Day 2 of the Couch-to-5K Running Plan is in the books. I just finished it up about 20 minutes ago. Since Sunday's poor outdoor run, I've decided to run as much of the remaining days outside. Today was no exception. I will say that today's run felt much better than Sunday's run, and I think the times support that. Here are my splits:

Continue reading Couch-to-5K: Week 8, Day 2...

So yesterday was my first 28 minute run (Week 8, Day 1 of the Couch-to-5K Running Plan), and I ran it outside...

Continue reading Couch-to-5K: Week 8, Day 1...

Here are the details from yesterday's run:

Continue reading Couch-to-5K: Week 7, Day 3...

Here are the details from yesterday's run:

Continue reading Couch-to-5K: Week 7, Day 2...

Here are the details from yesterday's run:

Continue reading Couch-to-5K: Week 7, Day 1...

Over the last few years I've been an on-again, off-again runner (really jogger), as part of my normal exercise routine. I would go through phases were most of my cardio work was running, and phases were none of my carido work was running. In that time I even entered a 5K (Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K in the spring of 2006). Since this past spring, I've done a pretty even mix of running and other forms of cardio, such as the elliptical cross-trainer. However, in the last several weeks, I've turned almost 100% to running, as I train for the Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Run/Walk. (By the way, if you're in the D/FW area, and would like to participate, please join our team, the Frosties.)

The program I'm using to prepare myself is the Couch-to-5K Running Plan from Cool Running. The Couch-to-5K Running Plan is a 9-week program intended to get folks from the couch to the finish line of a 5K. While I already had a decent fitness foundation, I'd say that the program is very good. I am on day 2 of week 7, and can see a vast improvement in my fitness level, especially my endurance and ability to recover. In fact, I am on the cusp of getting hooked into running, and am considering the possibility of perhaps a 10K next year. But first, I'll keep working on building up my base, increasing my endurance, and hopefully my speed will follow.

If you've been looking for an easy-to-follow fitness program that's put together with a beginner in mind, but can easily be tailored to suit your own personal level of fitness, the Couch-to-5K Running Plan is a good one.

By the way, I am over halfway to my goal of $500 raised for the Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Run. Please help, if you can, or join us for the run/walk. Also, my team, The Frosties, is 67% of the way to its goal of $1000! Thanks to everyone that is already supporting us.