C25K Update

There has been a reason why I have taken so long to post an update.  A very sucky reason.  I got halfway through week 2 and began having extreme pain in my left leg.  At first I though it was shin splints.  But having a painful throbbing wake me up in the middle of the night or barely being able to walk told me otherwise.  I googled it, and sure enough, my symptoms were telling me I had a stress fracture.  

I started taking my vitamins again and let my leg heal for 8 weeks.  I was really bummed out.  I had gotten to the point where I could tell my endurance was growing.  Besides the pain, I was starting to enjoy running.  

Now I had to start all over.  I started running again last week.  My new plan is to run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the treadmill while Tanner naps.  I didn't think to do this before because I figured it would be too loud since the treadmill was in the room next to Tanner's room.  But after running a little test (pun intended) I realized it's really not that loud.  And after running 3 days last week and Tanner never waking up, I think this plan might actually work.  

I've also got a pretty nice set up on the treadmill.  Instead of listening to music, I'm watching a show on Amazon Prime.  I've noticed I'm not clock watching and hating every second when I'm distracted with watching something.

I'm hoping I can finish this program and be able to run 30+ minutes at a time on a treadmill.  Once my endurance is where it should be, and the weather is nice again, I will take out the jogging stroller again.  

Week 2 begins today.  This is the point where the pain started last time.  I hope my new shoes, the rest I took, and stretching will keep the pain away.  

C25K Week 2

Week 1 was great!  Day 3 of week 1 I had to run on the treadmill due to sucky weather (and not wanting Tanner to catch a cold).  I started feeling my shin splints coming back.  I hoped taking two days off and starting week 2 day 1 on Saturday would make everything better.  

Nick and I ran on the track on Saturday.  Nick pushed the stroller and I really took it easy.  Week 2 is a 5 minute warm up walk followed by 90 seconds of running and 2 minutes of walking, for 20 minutes.  And then a final 5 minute cool down walk.  Half way through the running I felt the shin splints coming back, again.  I slowed my pace and finished.  Instead of walking the track for the 5 minute cool down we walked to the park so Tanner could play for a little while since the weather was nice.

Once we got to the park I sat down to rub my legs and the tremendous pain hit.  I never realized how bad shin splints could feel. I literally could barely walk.  Yesterday my legs weren't any better.  And today, still sore, but improving a little bit.

We went to the mall and I bought some new running shoes, so I'm hoping I can fix this problem. Also I'm Googling like crazy for good ways to stretch my muscles before and after I run.  Other than shin splints, I feel really good!  My endurance is getting better, and I'm feeling healthier.  

I was supposed to run today for week 2 day 2, but I think I will give my legs one more day to heal and run tomorrow morning.  Or if I can get the timing to work out I may run tonight.  

C25K (Couch to 5k) Week 1 Day 1

I've seen quite a few of my blogger friends and youtube moms make blogs/videos about starting the C25k training program.  All for various reasons: weight loss, to run a 5k for charity, become healthier...

My mom did the program a few years ago before I was married and I remember listening to the first podcast.  All I remember was how the music was really boring.  It wasn't motivating enough for me.  But after reading a few more blogs and watching videos the past week, I've started looking into it again.  The iPhone apps out there now have the capability to play your own music.  

Finally today, I dug in and did even more research.  I asked my friend's what apps they recommended and found a few ladies who want to do this with me (all over the country).  There is even a really awesome looking 5K in the city in May!  It might be something to look into!  I want to sign up for it now so I have something really pushing me.  But I think I will wait a week or two to see how I feel.  Hopefully I can stick with this.  I want to be healthier.  I need to be healthier.

I just finished my first run.  Week 1 day 1 wasn't as bad as I made it out to be.  The 30 minutes really went by fairly quickly.  I didn't feel like I needed to stop at any point.  (Although it was only stretches of 60 seconds running followed by 90 seconds of walking).  Typically I will have this nagging voice in my head telling me to "Stop! It hurts! Walking is so much easier!"  But not today!  I'm almost certain it's because I knew I would be walking soon, and I had my rock music playing.  

Tanner was such a trooper, too.  He was all bundled up and just hung out in the jogging stroller with us the whole time.  Didn't fuss one bit!

I really want to do this! Don't let me quit, ok?! :)