My first 5k!

This morning, I ran my first 5k race! My chip time was 32:47.5, which was better than the 35:00 that I expected. (The race time was 32:54.7 because I started in the middle of the pack. I'll take the chip time, hehe.)

I positioned myself in the 30-35 min pack

So far, I had completed up to the end of week 4 of the C25K program. The next step - week 5 day 1 - was to alternate running for 5 minutes and walking for 3 minutes.

And we're off!

I decided to push myself a little harder for race day. My goal was to run at least 1k before I took my first walk break.

To my pleasant surprise, I made it almost to the 2k mark before I decided to take my first walk break - almost 11 minutes! This was a nice milestone because the first batch of firefighters were waiting at the 2k mark to pass out water (tee hee).

See the firetruck?

Sunnybrook Park was an absolutely gorgeous course! The fall colours were at their best, and the weather was perfectly brisk.

Another batch of firefighters greeted us at 3k.

In total, I ran probably somewhere between 3.5 to 4k out of the 5k course. I'm feeling optimistic that I'll be able to run the entire 5k within a few weeks. If I can do that, and if I start my next race a little further up in the pack and pace myself against someone faster, I should be able to break 30 minutes.

According to the lap times I tracked on my iPhone, I did the following:

Run 10:53

Walk 1:45

Run 6:37

Walk 1:37

Run 8:21

Walk 0:27

Run 3:18

The mister, and my friend Lena were cheering at the finish

A picture with Mr. Peanut for good measure

The race was great fun and I look forward to the next! Thanks to everyone who encouraged me!

C25k

This past weekend, I completed Week 2 Day 2 of C25k.

As I mentioned last week, this is my third attempt to learn to like running. I've always hated running, but quite frankly - I needed a way to exercise that was free.

The first year that I decided to give it a try, I vastly overestimated my fitness level and started off way too hard for a beginner. My first run, with a runner friend, was at the Queen's Park track; when I started feeling dizzy after only half a loop (about 400m), I thought I was doomed. (Have I mentioned that I hate doing things when I'm not immediately brilliant?)

The second year, I achieved some success. I found a virtual running buddy in Andrea, and the opportunity to gloat report to each other, as well as my upcoming wedding, kept me motivated for a few weeks. But I still dreaded each run, and when wedding planning became hectic, I found an excuse to let Attempt #2 fizzle.

This time, I'm finally following the Couch to 5k program (which I really should have done when Andrea started it last year), and what a difference it has been. I'm actually looking forward to strapping on those shoes - whoa!

What did I do differently this time around?

1. Start slow. Really slow. Week 1 of C25k consists of three workouts in which you alternate 60s of jogging with 90s of walking. Totally doable, right? Believing KNOWING that I can do it has made a world of difference in my willingness to go out and do the run.
2. Get real. During Attempt #2, I told myself that I'd do my runs in the morning before work. I am NOT a morning person. I managed it several times, but not happily. As a result, I started associating running with the dread of early mornings - not a great way to stay focused. This time around, I'm fitting my runs into my evenings, which is much more in tune with how my body works.
3. Get a buddy, preferably one who is at the same level as you. Reporting back and forth with Andrea helped me get much farther in Attempt #2 than Attempt #1. I now have a network of three others, which has been amazingly motivating.
4. Just do it. Doing it always feels better than NOT doing it.

I'm pumped for week 3!

C25k update

I do my running on the dirt path around Queen's Park.


View Larger Map

I usually go around 5:30 in the evening which is prime rush hour on the busy road around the park; lots of drivers get to witness my C25k journey.

I've noticed that a lot of people look out their windows and watch the runners while they're sitting in traffic. I like to tell myself that they must be thinking how awesome we are.

C25k progress: Week 1 complete, and I feel great! I can definitely feel that it's been getting progressively easier, and I also recovered more quickly from the second day than I did from the first.

Procrastination...

... breeds efficiency.

I can't take credit for this. Apparently it was a favourite saying of my friend Eric's dad.

In other news, I've begun the Couch to 5k program. This will be my third attempt in three years to achieve something with running. I just did Week 1 Workout 1. Wish me luck!