I read an awesome guest blog at Healthy Tipping Point the other day titled “Running is for Crazy People.” It documented the guest blogger’s journey from an unhealthy lifestyle to becoming a health and fitness nut and avid runner. It was a really great post that I strongly recommend, particularly if you’re a newbie at this health thing like me, or if you feel at all frustrated with the lack of role of fitness and health in your lifestyle.
Anyway, back to the title. Turns out, running really IS for crazy people. But no worries, I’m going to continue to be crazy.
I told you on Sunday that I was going to start Couch-to-5k this week, and today, that happened.
One of the many reasons it took me so long to get started this week is because I didn’t own running shoes. I had walking shoes and cross trainers, but none for running. Sure, you can run in the others, but it’s not as good for your joints and I’m accident prone, so I just thought I should wait until I had time to buy the right shoes. Based on various mentions I’d seen on Caitlin‘s blog, I went fora asics, which also happened to be on sale. I REALLY liked them, but more on that later.
New shoes! And they're PINK :)
I got all dressed and ready for my first run in 12 years.
I totally stole this pose from another blogger. Too bad I can't remember who. Great way to photograph yourself!
I learned a few things from this short experience:
1. I hate running. REALLY hate it. But I guess I already knew that. I hate it so much that it makes me look like this.
Sad Lobster Post-Running Face!
2. I CAN run. It does make me dizzy and it is vertigo, not just that I’m breathing incorrectly, BUT, it doesn’t make me so dizzy that I can’t do it. Once I’ve stopped for about an hour, I’m totally better, and I’m never dizzy enough to not be able to perform basic tasks or even drive. It’s a very mild dizziness, which means my only excuse not to run is my hatred for it.
3. There’s a reason I’m an “English person.” The experience was made significantly worse by the fact that I did that I did the math wrong, turned around way too late, and had to walk about 20 minutes further back to my house than I should’ve had to walk according to the Couch-to-5k program.
4. I love stretching. I guess I already knew this too. Although instead of normal stretching, I did myofascial with Gaiam‘s myofascial roller.
The setup. Old pilates mat I haven't used in over two years bc...well...I haven't done pilates in over two years. And myofascial roller.
5. Charlotte doesn’t understand that, just because I’m on the floor (stretching/myofascial), it’s not necessarily so I can play with her.
She's cute.
The program is actually really well setup. Today was my first time running in 12 years, and it really wasn’t bad except for the fact that I just don’t like to run. I’ll keep on anyway, though. I’ll just have to remember that I get to come home to Charlotte kissing me while I stretch.
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I did the couch to 5k program last year! I think its setup well and from everyone I talk to it the simplest and best program around. I got stuck somewhere in the middle though and just kind of maintained for the longest time when I did it. I need to try it again. We should become virtual running buddies! haha
PS. I pretty much love your blog now dear. LOL, it brighten up my inbox every day!
Yay! So glad you like it! I’ve become a healthy living blog addict. I’m a much happier person getting so much encouragement from all the other bloggers out there! Question for you: before your triathalon, how did you learn to swim? Obviously, I can swim, but I’d love to find a way to learn to do it for exercise sort of like C25K. Any ideas?
Well, I swam competitively in high school so I kinda learned it all there. I helped some of the other gals in the tri fix there strokes prior to the race, if I wasn’t so very far! I’d show you what I know, but alas! haha.
I know one girl took a few lessons from a swim coach to get the technique down, and I know there are programs out there, especially for tri training. Most triatheletes aren’t the strongest swimmers when they start out.
It depends also on if you are swimming for speed or distance, but most programs consist of swim 50 yards, rest a minute, swim another 50, rest a min and a half, swim 50, rest a min, swim…..and so on decreasing the amount of rest you take the next week, then increasing speed. Same with distance, just over the weeks you increase the distance. I would say this isn’t a bad program.
http://www.active.com/triathlon/Articles/12-Week-Swim-Workout-Plan-for-Sprint-Triathlons.htm
I used the self try a tri program when I trained, it has a little of everything in it. http://www.self.com/tips/try-a-triathlon
I do have an iphone or ipod touch? My husband is doing the C25K and there’s an app that he downloaded that lets you play your own music but a voice comes in and tells you when you need to run and when you walk and stuff per the program. I can ask him what it’s called if you want.
Yes! That’s just what I need. Please ask him for ne. I have an iPhone. Does he use an arm band for his? I haven’t found a way I like to run with my phone yet.
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