Comments on: On C25K – Early Days

By: Medley

Medley — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:05:22 +0000

Bill, given that C25K assumes 3 days/week, I’m letting myself skip 2 days once in awhile — in particular, W4D1 sort of kicked my butt yesterday (first time I feel like I haven’t bounced back quickly once the plodding was over), so I’m waiting until Wednesday to do W4D2. But my rule is that on at least one of those days in-between, I’m hopping on the exercise bike for some cross-training/quad work.

I have good shoes – I apparently over-pronate (buh-whuh?), a guy in a running shoe store told me once, so he recommended Brooks.. I have two pair and will switch to the newer pair probably around week 6 or 7. (Even the old pair doesn’t have that many miles on them.)

I’m still procrastinating on joining the group – first of all, there are no open paths outside right now due to Snowmaggedon, and I want to wait until week 6 or 7 when I’ll be doing (in theory) longer stretches of running.

Thanks for the notes, all!

By: Bill Altreuter

Bill Altreuter — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:45:47 +0000

I went through the process you are describing a few years back. It gets easier as you find ways to make it more of a habit, and the best way to do that is to try not to miss two days in a row.

Having a workout buddy is also a big help, even if it is only once a week. Join the group– it’ll help keep you on track.

The best way to avoid injury is to make sure you have the right shoes. If you are running in an old pair of kicks (or even a new pair of kicks) that you didn’t get at your local running store, go to the running store and ask to be fitted. If what you are in are fine, they’ll tell you, but if you are in the wrong shoes you can really set yourself back.

Your knees will continue to feel better as you get stronger. So will the rest of you. Excelsior!

By: Dineen

Dineen — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:57:51 +0000

What Mike said.

You’re doing great, and I am sure you will continue to surprise yourself every day! I wish I could be there to cheer in person, but know I am cheering from afar every day.

By: Mike W.

Mike W. — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:53:00 +0000

What you’re doing is great, and based on the way you tell the story, you’re doing exactly what you need to be doing and learning all the right lessons along the way. I remember that I hit a point in my training when it became less about exertion and more about investigation – how will my body react if I attempt this distance, this speed, this surface, or this nutrition? The Nike Plus or its equivalent really help with that, help feed the geeky brain bits that keep our bodies moving. Heck, you’ve even used the word “experiment” so it sounds like you’re already there.

What you may not know, is that there are people reading this who had never even considered doing it for themselves… but because of you, they will. It’s hugely inspiring to see someone make a major leap forward, and in my view, just starting out is the biggest leap that anyone could take. It’s more inspiring to go from couch to 5K than it is to go from half-marathon to full.

This is really fantastic – I hope you continue to succeed.

By: acm

acm — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:22:05 +0000

wow, great for you!

having somebody waiting for me at the gym (that is, my racquetball partner) is the only thing that keeps me going there every week — as evidenced by my failure to go solo if he has to cancel — but I imagine that having a concrete goal is good for a stretch of time too. in the longer term, maybe finding other friendlies will make it easier to get out and about after the race day passes. building exercise (i.e., the walking part of our commute) into our lifestyle (see: “urban hellhole”, pluses) has been my main strategic choice, but even there, pregnancy was only one of many things that made it seem worthwhile to wait for a bus instead, blah blah blah…

ah, the pleasures of the couch! but man, the really tangible pleasures of feeling more energetic and less achy from just moving around a bit. good luck with the whole endeavor!