Tag Archives: C25K

A Question for my Runner Friends and Readers

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Now that I’m running for longer distances outside–and I know 3 miles doesn’t seem like a long distance for some of you, but it’s still a marathon to me–I’ve been noticing that my lower back gets really tight. Painfully tight…about 4 hours after my run. It’s better, though still hurts, when I keep moving. If I have to sit for any length of time, like at work or in the car, it stiffens really badly and I have to stretch it out. OUCH! What am I doing wrong? My form? My breathing? Tightening everything too much when I’m pushing myself not to quit? Any advice would be really appreciated!

Monday Update-Now with More Puppy!

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So the whole tattoo thing went really well. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I way hyping it in my head and I absolutely love the way it came out. I will post a picture after it’s all done healing, should be about two weeks, I think.

This weekend bestie and I ran/walked another unofficial 5k, but this time I had mapped out a course nearby instead of doing a loop. We did have to backtrack on one part, and it was a bit hillier than I expected. Our time was better and I think we ran more, although we didn’t run for the full 25 minutes called for on week 7 day 2 of C25K. We had run the full 25 minutes on the treadmill a few days prior without a problem. It blows my mind how different running outside feels all together, I just can’t get over it. It’s much nicer, but much tougher all at the same time.

That afternoon I drove about two hours to go see some friends who had just adopted a new Great Dane puppy. Two Great Danes, a toddler, and a baby in one house—PHEW! But K-dog had a great time wrestling with the puppy. They had a lot of fun together! Here she is in all her glory (she’s only 11 months old and still growing!):

This morning we lifted weights, because I’m trying a beginner’s Zumba class tonight and I wanted to have some energy left for it! But in general we’re going to back off the weights for a bit, just on this last stretch before the 5k, to make sure we get all the training in. Then we’ll get back to it, but I’m really thinking I need to change up my strength training routine. Any suggestions? I’ve looked for a kettlebell class, but I can’t seem to find one in my area.

Tomorrow night is dancing and I’ll get to show off my tattoo. Wanna know a good way to get over the whole “I can’t be seen in a tank top because my arms are too big” thing? Get a tattoo on your shoulder blade that you really want to show off.

Sorry this post wasn’t terribly informational. Back to regularly scheduled updates soon!

How was everyone’s weekend? 

Hills and Valleys

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This weekend was discouraging. Well, not all of it, but most especially Sunday afternoon. It was a gorgeous day and Bestie and I had planned to do our Week 6 Day 1 of Couch to 5K outside on a local paved trail. I brought the dog, which I knew might be a little rough. He can be very good, but it’s been a while since I jogged with him and it’s hard for an active dog to stay at heel on that pace and for that long without wanting to sniff here and there (which means he crosses in front of me, which means I have to try not to bite it by tripping over him) . . .but I was ready and expecting that.

(Disclaimer: this pic is not from Sunday’s run, it was much too warm
to be wearing his Christmas sweater)

We hit the paved trail and started the 5 minute warm up walk. I made the mistake of saying to Bestie “Oh, it’s intervals today, it’ll feel like cake compared to our last run,” which was the first big 20 minute run. It didn’t feel like cake. It felt like something much heavier. It felt like I was dragging a ball and chain and running up a vertical incline. I felt weak, my feet hurt. I was breathing harder. I could tell that I wasn’t picking up my feet as well because I would scrape the bottom of my sneaker when we hit a rut or a small elevation change. Now this wasn’t a completely flat course, but I wouldn’t have classified it as a hilly one either. I was ashamed at the relief I felt when we had to stop for a minute during a run so Kasey could. . .take care of some business.

I did the entire workout. I did the entire workout at a snail’s pace, but I did it.

My first go around of Couch to 5K was the winter that mom broke her feet. I was on about week 5 when it happened, I think. That time I had no treadmill available. All of my running was done out in the cold on not-always-flat terrain. I wasn’t much further along then than I am now.

I was very discouraged at how hard running outside on a gorgeous day felt. Previously I would have said I was <this> close to being ready to run that 5K. Now? I don’t know. It made me feel kind of crappy. I ran Week 6 Day 2 on the treadmill this morning, still intervals, longer. My right shin was acting up. I probably shouldn’t have run 2 days in a row, but it seemed a better option to my muscles than lifting 2 days in a row (since we ran AND lifted yesterday). But ugh! Every step was a fight, every minute was 3 minutes long. Even Ke$ha didn’t make this run any better. My body was rebelling, every time I walked my shin was fine, every time I ran, the damn thing burned like fire.

I am far from giving up. But the finish line of that 5K looks farther in the distance to me today than it did on Friday.

P.S.  Note to Self: Do not allow yourself to be given a box of Spicy Buffallo Wheat Thins on a Friday night, because you will consume the entire box all by yourself by Sunday evening. This is not a win. (Wednesday Weigh-in here we come!)

P.P.S My new running sneakers came today, so here’s hoping the shin problems will fade again.

What do you do when you are feeling discouraged or have a setback?
For the runners: Was it supposed to be that much harder to run outside?