couch to (not quite) 5k

Remember a few months ago, I wrote about how I was doing the Couch to 5K program? Well, I just finished the ninth week of the program yesterday.

It took me longer than 9 weeks to do the whole thing, there were a few times that I didn’t feel well and took a few days off and other times I just had trouble scheduling it into my day.

I’m also not yet able to run 5K. I’m somewhere around 2 and 1/4 to 2 and 1/2 miles in a 30-minute run. I would guess that I’m still about 2 or 3 weeks away from being able to run the full 5K.

But! I can now run for 30 minutes at a time, which is something I could NOT do back in March when I started. In fact, I could barely run for 1 minute at a time back then. I remember looking forward in the program and wondering how the hell I was ever going to run for several minutes at a time.

It’s still really hard. I don’t think it ever gets “easy” and I’m not sure that it’s supposed to, but I know that I’ve gotten much stronger and will continue to get stronger the longer I keep at it. And the pain that I was in at the beginning is gone now, which is a huge improvement.

I’m not going to lie and say that I love running now, but I like it a lot more than I thought I would. And I would really like for it to remain part of my life. I would also like to try running in a 5K at some point. Hopefully by the end of the summer I can attempt one.

I’ve also been throwing in a yoga class here and there, which I like because it’s similar to the muscle memory and flexibility that I already have from ballet. I’ve noticed that if I run the day after a yoga class, that run actually feels pretty good.

I’m able to devote more time to exercise right now because summer is less hectic at work, so I can be at the gym working out and then showering for an hour without things getting too out of hand in my absence. During the school year, I’ll have to figure something else out, which worries me.

Still not “dieting,” per se. Despite still battling with ballet-era demons, I have no interest in doing any kind of calorie restriction. Small changes that I’ve made include trying not to eat after 9 p.m. and just eating healthier (lots of veggies) overall.

13 Responses to “couch to (not quite) 5k”

  1. cindy w Says:

    Yay! Good for you for finishing it. I started ages ago – February, I think? – and I’m still only on week 7. (I was stuck on week 3 for like a month; running longer than 3 minutes = DEATH.) My plan is to finish the program & actually run the full 5K before the end of the summer. We’ll see.

  2. kdiddy Says:

    @cindy w, thanks! and good for you, too! Some days, all that kept me going was knowing that I could post my progress to Twitter and Facebook and get encouragement from folks like you. That might not be the most hardcore attitude, but it works!

  3. Juli Says:

    Totally woohoo for you, I started in April and was doing really well until the weather started to change. Te humidity and the asthma were killing me. I get my insurance back as of September and I’m going to try and start again once I have rescue inhalers in hand.

  4. kdiddy Says:

    @Juli, I had to take it indoors a few weeks ago and luckily I’m not so uncomfortable on treadmills anymore. If I can work it so that I get up early enough to run in the morning when it’s not so hot, then I’ll be able to run outside again, which I genuinely like. But with my fair skin, the sun and the heat are just too much for me.

  5. chaircrusher Says:

    Yay you. You already looked noticeably fitter in the Detroit Skate Party pics. I need to get back on a fitness plan. It might help with my mental disorganization too.

  6. kdiddy Says:

    @chaircrusher, thanks! I’m hoping that working to fit exercise into my schedule will have some kind of cascade effect and I’ll start being more organized bit by bit. Probably a pipe dream. BUT I did go through our clothes on Saturday and got six huge garbage bags ready to go to the Vets.

  7. Kim Says:

    Oh, I am getting started myself and Cindy W’s comment about week three is so familiar – I have been stuck on week 3 for a month! But your story gives me encouragement that I will get past it – eventually. The idea of running for 30 minutes is startling. Thanks for sharing!

  8. kdiddy Says:

    @Kim, most people seem to have a point where they get stuck. Just keep trying and tell yourself that you can push through that urge to stop and eventually you will.

  9. BHJ Says:

    I love running. I hate running. It’s really confusing.

  10. kdiddy Says:

    @BHJ, indeed. I’ve been finding that I get nervous right before I run, and kind of miserable in the middle, then kick-ass near the end and afterward.

  11. jodifur Says:

    I think your amazing, and you have been such an inspiration to me. I’m at the 25 minute run, but I don’t go very fast. I can’t imagine ever running an actual 5k.

  12. kdiddy Says:

    @jodifur, thanks, lady! you’re doing awesome! want to be nerds with me at BlogHer and go to the hotel gym?

  13. jodifur Says:

    I would, except I’m staying at the Sheraton.

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