Well I did it, folks. Kind of…no, I really did it. It’s not what I aimed for but it sure is a proud feat for me.
Lessons Learned:
- I can amaze myself when I push myself; my body is capable and so is my mind
- Temptation to binge, overeat, and yo-yo diet remains a weakness when I don’t have (or use) better coping systems
- I’m a runner and I like it 🙂
Exactly 2 months ago, I started the Couch to 5K program – and boy, was I ever starting from the couch.
I already walked fairly regularly but 1 minute of jogging straight was difficult after only a few intervals. I wasn’t perfect in doing the plan 3 times per week, but I committed every time to complete the time the plan set; and I did.
I had very painful blisters for the first few weeks, then significant pain in the outside of my left hip, both inclining me toward abstinence from all movement, which I thankfully resisted. I bought a few kinds of blister products before I found ReSkin to be the only one that actually worked at protecting my feet; then, eventually I didn’t need them, just good socks like SmartWool. The hip is still an issue, but I’ve got a routine of stretches and strength exercises and I’m working at improving form. Most of what I’ve read said hip pain is likely due to weak muscles around it, which I’m certain is the case for me. My lower back acts up while I run, as well, and even on long walks. Again, I’m slowly strengthening and focusing on a tall aligned spine and diaphragmatic breathing while I jog.
A challenge was maintaining drive to jog after a tiring day at work, but it wasn’t as painful as I expected. What they say is true, that exercise takes energy but it gives it back ten-fold (approximately, I’m sure). It was only when I overworked myself that my energy was truly shot, so I paced myself. The times I was doing my run and then walking for 2 hours with heavy bags on top of regular activity was too much. I was after all a true couch potato mere weeks beforehand (see evidence above).
During the first 7 weeks, I had my amazing boyfriend living with me for the first time and doing C25K with me. It was TREMENDOUSLY helpful to be committed to each other for the runs we’d scheduled and also to have nutrition become a bigger consideration eating together. I was all the prouder to complete each run because he was there to see me be dedicated and strong. I loved being able to inspire him and encourage him, and he did the same for me. We happened to have our biggest disagreements in this journey because the conflict of our different approaches felt frustrating when we were struggling with running and relying on one another more directly. Thankfully, this brought us closer from understanding and respecting each other more deeply. He still snapchats me his running times.
On top of all this, I’ve had a particularly hard time with depression lately, one of the main reasons I’m exercising more. Oh and also I was out for a week from wisdom teeth extractions. Finally, after my boyfriend returned to his city two weeks ago, I crashed psychologically and fell back to old unhealthy habits to cope. I’ve been overeating on ice cream, candy, pasta. In the past two weeks, I only trained once on the middle weekend and could really feel the effects of all the bloating, swelling, and lack of good fuel.
Even still, I didn’t make a significant change until the day before my scheduled 5K fun run – today. Yesterday, I didn’t restrict volume but focused on nutrition and avoided the ice cream still in my freezer. My dinner was flavourful salmon with zucchini and quinoa. I was purposefully downing water all day.
And then, while getting ready for bed, I realized I’d forgotten to pick up my race package! I emailed the organizers but it was too late. I was disappointed in myself and embarrassed because I’d told a lot of people about the race to keep myself accountable. I have trouble sleeping as is, but even sleeping pills didn’t help last night as I got maybe a total of sporadic restless 6 hours when I need more like 10. (No really, I need a decent 10 hours to hope I won’t yawn all day.) Still, I got up on time, ate breakfast, geared up, and went out to run my own 5K at the same time I would have in the race. I took a new route which was beautiful.
I felt heavy and tired from minute one but kept moving. According to my Nike + app, I maintained a slow pace of 11:30/mile pretty consistently. Half-way, I stopped to walk for one minute. I stopped for a minute two more times. My stretch goal all along was to complete 3.1 miles in 30 minutes. My more realistic goal set two weeks ago was 35 minutes. I did it in 37.
I know there were a lot of things I could have done better. And I still have a long way to go. Yet I’m thoroughly proud of where I am today. I refused to make excuses, for the most part, and that’s a big one. I could have not done it and said I did, but I didn’t cheat myself that way. I stuck to my deadline, no matter how hard I made doing that for myself. And I felt amazing walking home and stretching drenched in sweat. I know I pushed myself and that’s what it’s really about, exercise for total wellness, not missing my goal by 2 minutes.
Still… I do work in business and I do like numbers, so:
Environment: sunny 25 degrees Celcius (82 F) on paved paths along the river starting at 9am
Distance: 3.11 miles in 37 minutes for an average pace just under 12 minutes/mile, fastest being 10 mpm and slowest (3 times walking) 15
My current size: 5’5.5″ tall and 168.8 lbs, proportionate body distribution (aside from a self-proclaimed abnormally long torso and admittedly large breasts) with a 36.5 inch waist at the bellybutton (largest point for sure!)
Next Steps:
- Run 30 minutes or 5K three times per week
- Cross condition with strength training, yoga, swimming, etc.
- Nourish my mind and body for a happy healthy life
The Conscientious 