18 March 2014

Hi,

Well I completed the 5k.  It took me under 44 minutes, 2 seconds under 44 minutes but that was a great result for me.

I had given myself a time of 1hour, if I finished within that I would have been happy.

My husband and my best friend came to cheer me on.

I was ready to go, even tho I was super nervous and scared.  Me and my running buddy got to the starting line, and we were off.

The first lap was hard, I didn't think we were going to be able to do it.  We had warmed up properly and even did a short run to get the muscles warmed up and the blood flowing.  But my legs just didn't want to run.

I had to stop first.  Me, I can run, but my legs were telling me NO.  BUt we picked ourselves up and started running again.

The first hill was hard, running on the flat is obviously different from running downhill, so going up that hill made every muscle in my legs scream, but we kept going, cos after the uphill comes the downhill.  The downhill, and the flat bit after it gets quite a bit of the lap covered, and knowing that is coming up makes the uphill just that little bit easier.

The second lap was hard, but we knew we only had one more lap to go.

The third lap I thought the muscles in my legs were just going to get up and leave me there, flapping on the ground.  Every muscle was screaming at me.

But we kept going, we did the final hill, the final downhill, then it was the last run toward the finish line.

At this point we had been lapped by everyone we figured we were coming in last.  But we didn't care, we were going to finish and thats all that mattered.  But that last bit was hard.  Both me and my running buddy were sore at this point.  We were ready to give up and walk (or crawl) to the finish line.

But then one of our trainers came running back from the finish line toward us.  Everyone else turned to see up and started cheering for us, encouraging us, keeping us going.

The trainer came back and ran beside us, keeping us going, giving us that last push we needed to get over the line.

The cheers were so loud from everyone that had already finished that it felt like I had ran and finished first in a big race.

I did it.

I finished a 5k.

I was so proud of myself, and so proud of my running buddy too.

We went out after to celebrate and it was good.

But boys oh dear, my ankle has not been the same simce.

My muscles were fine, my hips were fine, but my left ankle has decided it hates running and keeps telling me very clearly.

I haven't managed to get to the gym since the race on Saturday, and I didn't go to training last night.

I am going to the gym tonight tho, and training again tomoro.

I am a runner now.

And I feel great (sore ankle and all!!)

28 January 2014

Last night I ran for one mile, without stopping.

One mile.

I didn't run fast, but I did run the whole way.  Well, I jogged, but that's just running slowly.

I remember starting to think about running last year when I joined the gym.  After six months at the gym some of the girls were thinking about running the marathon, and I thought to myself, I wish I could do that, even just run one leg of the relay.  But I wasn't fit enough.  I was very overweight and I jut couldn't run the length of myself, let alone run for 6 miles.

I kept working at the gym, I improved my fitness.  I am still overweight, but less so than before.

This year I joined a C25K programme.  They told me by the end of ten weeks I could run a 5k.  Thats 3 miles.  I laughed, and said, "Nope, not me, but I will try".  And I have tried.  I have went every Monday and Wednesday and each time I try a little more.

On Wednesday I was running for four lampposts and walking for two.  Then on Friday I went for a run with R.  He pushed me hard, and I ran for longer than I had before without stopping. 

So on Monday past I decided to see if I could run for a bit, we run along the avenue in Wallace Park, its about 1/2 mile.  I decided to try to run the length of it, and when I got to the bottom, I just turned and kept running.  I ran a mile and was so excited.  I then walked/ran for another two miles.

Me....three miles of running and walking/running.

Thats practically 5k. 

I think I can call myself a runner now..don't u?

16 January 2014

The fourth session of the C25K programme was last night.  I rocked it!  LOL no not really but I am definately getting better.  I am pushing myself further and longer and just feel like I have more energy.

I have totally found that I work better when I have set myself specific goals, so training to do the Mud Challenge and to do a leg of the relay in the Belfast Marathon has given me something to train for.  And something to get fit for.

Talking to a girl today in work I was explaining how in three months I have only lost 2lb.  This is disheartening for anyone trying to lose weight.  I have to keep telling myself that I have lost nearly 4st now.  4 stone of blubber that is no longer around my organs or weighing me down.  No wonder I feel more like running. 

On the one hand not losing anything is hard, but on the other hand I haven't put any on either.

My clothes fit better.

I have more energy.  (usually, but this diet plan is making me tired)

I want to do more.

I know I am getting fitter.

So I am telling myself not to worry about the non weight loss.  When it is ready it will come off.  I am not on a diet, I am changing my whole life.  My fitness levels are increasing and I am creating a healthier person.  I will live longer.  I will live healthier.  So, if it doesn't come off straight away, that's okay.  It took a few years (like 20) to put on, if it takes a few years (like 2 or 3) to come off then that's okay with me.  At least it is coming off.

People in work keep telling me how much of an inspiration I am to them, me, the girl that sat on her ass on the couch eating for way too may years, has now become a fitness nspiration to others.  My answer is always the same "I'm not there yet, but I am getting there".

I like that I can jog up the three flights of stairs in work without feeling like I need an oxegen mask at the top.  I like that I can even contemplate doing a 5k run.

I am getting there.

It feels so good.

Find your good thing.

Find the exercise that you don't hate.

Find the goals that stretch you, but don't make you feel bad for not getting there.

Don't set specific weight goals, set fitness goals.  In four months you want to be able to.......run 5k?.....squat 30kg?......benchpress 60kg?

Find a goal, tell people, then just do it.

If I can, anyone can.

:-)

7 January 2014

Last night I went to the C25k program.

I was expectting it to be hell, as I haven't ran/jogged/done anything like running since I was in school (25+ years ago).  However my year of going to the gym must be doing something, as it wasn't as hell as I thought it was going to be.  In fact it was okay.

We did some talking, where the guy taking the 50+ of us who turned up for the first session, in the cold and wind, explained what would be happening.  He explained that we will only ever have to go at our own pace.  He explained that it won't be the instructors pushing us, but we will be pushing ourselves.  He explained how if we commit, after three weeks (of twice a week) we will see a big difference in our fitness levels.  He talked to us about now going too hard.

He stated there are three paces of running:
1. An easy pace where you can carry on a normal conversation with someone beside you.
2. A steady pace where you can carry on a conversation, but it is hard and you only speak in 1 or 2 words at a time.
3. A fast pace where if the guy next to you starts a conversation you want to punch them.

I laughed, so did most of the people there, but I figured I was never going to be at a point where I would be running that hard.

Then we did some stretches and then we set out for a jog.

He stated that we could walk the distance, jog the distance or do any combination, but to keep at a pace where we could chat to someone next to us.

It was a 10-15 minute distance, and I think I jogged about half of it, walking the rest.  It was hard, but not too difficult and to be honest I didn't push myself too hard.  I definately could have worked harder, but it was my first time so I didn't want to kill myself. 

After that we went back to the start position (and I wasn't last back, YAY!!) and we did more stretches and that was it.  My first hour training for the C25K programme.

Its hard to see that after 10 weeks I could actually run 5K but we shall see.

Have you tried this programme yet?  What do you think of it?  I'd love to know.