This post isn’t really going to make sense, as I will kind of contradict myself a lot.
I was dreading moving on to week 3. The thought of running any further than 90 seconds at a time made me a little panicky and my fears were justified. It was REALLY tough for me. But, at the same time, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. See, I said it wouldn’t make sense.
I think what I mean is, I built it up in my head that it was going to be impossible, and whilst it was most definitely tough, and at times I didn’t think I would get through it, I finished it – that’s what made it not as bad as I thought it would be. Am I making a bit more sense yet?
Week 3 consists of a 5 minute warm up and then a 90 second run, followed by a 90 second brisk walk, then a 3 minute run, followed by a 3 minute brisk walk and then the same repeated again before a 5 minute cool down walk. I am glad that it was not just 3 minute runs, and there was 2 lots of 90 second ones in there too. The 90 second run after the 3 minute one actually feels like a bit of a breeze, but it is just luring you into a false sense of security and then BAM – another 3 minutes of solid running.
I am sure there are lots of “runners” reading this, who have never had a problem with running before and they are thinking “3 minutes of running, that’s no big deal”, but to me, and so many people out there, it is a big deal. It is a HUGE achievement. For someone who couldn’t get out of bed without being out of breath 18 months ago, to be able to run non-stop for 3 minutes and not die at the end of it, well, I have to say, I’m pretty damn proud of myself. As tough as it was towards the end, giving up was not an option. The woman on the podcast put it quite well – “the disappointment you would feel if you gave up before the run ends would be harder to deal with than any pain you may be feeling whilst running”. It’s a good point, unless you are having a heart attack or something during the run.
I know I have said this before, but I really think I will be repeating this week again. Yes, I did get through it, but there are only 2 more of these run in this week and I can’t see me finding them any easier, and easy enough to kick it up a gear for the next week. If I have to repeat it, then I will. As long as I get to the 5k eventually, I don’t mind how long it takes. But, I really will try to move on. Who knows, my body might surprise me.
The hardest thing to deal with is the truly awful music on the podcast. You would have though, with how popular these pod casts are, that they could tailor them to different music tastes. ” Couch to 5K with Snoop Dogg” or “Couch to 5K with Pantera” (Yes, I do love working out to Pantera. Metal is the best exercise music!!). The “You Can Do It” motivational crap that they play is more likely to make me give up then push me to carry on. But, if that is my biggest complaint so far with the running plan, then I will take it. My ankles are still aching, but I figure they are just getting used to this new regime I am putting them through.
Am interested to see how the next run goes in this week.
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