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You are here: Home / Running / The One Where She Runs.

The One Where She Runs.

| Filed Under: Running

Yes, this is me all sweaty and tired but oh-so-happy.  Earlier this week I just finished a training program called Couch to 5K (aka C25K), it’s an app I found in the app store for my iPhone (here). If you follow me on Instagram you have probably seen all these pictures…this post is basically a review of my running challenge to myself! I thought I’d share it here in case any of you are thinking about getting out there and starting a running program. It’s always nice to know others have done it and what they think, right?
Couch to 5K basically gets your bum off the couch and outside running and trains you to run a 5K. And can I tell you a secret?  I can’t believe I finished it!  Really.
I don’t think I have actually done any real running since college and even then I would run for time and not for distance, I was just never a runner.  So I could “run” for 30 minutes on the treadmill but at such a slow pace that I maaaaaybe ran 2 miles…ha, ok maybe it was more of a fast walk! I really wanted to start running mainly to get out there and exercise (sewing, blogging, crafting…well, they are pretty sedentary activities, eh?) I was finding it difficult to get to a gym with four littles, one of whom is napping 2x a day. A run sounded so nice in that you can feel so accomplished in just 30 minutes…you get those endorphins flowing, it’s a good cardio work-out, and you don’t need much to actually do it, just a good pair of shoes, so it’s pretty low cost.
 
Now if you are not a runner, 3.1 miles sounds like a marathon and it totally did to me but I was determined to accomplish this goal and get there.  Thank goodness I have a very supportive husband.  He is a runner, it’s in his blood. He would cheer me on when I would come back from a run and tell me how great I did running my intervals of 3 whole minutes, ha!  He pushed me to run on perfect weather days, on a rainy days, and on a hot and humid days.  I love him so much for it. Otherwise I am one to start skipping workouts if the weather isn’t juuuuust right, ya know what I mean. He even encouraged me to get outside at 8 at night while he put the kids to bed after we returned from a mini vacation just so I could get my run in…now how’s that for love!

I ran every other day as the program suggests.  And after every run I wanted to do more, can you believe that?  Me? Yes, me!  I wanted to do the run again! Couch to 5K does a really nice job of interval training and mixes running with fast-paced walking so after a 30 minute workout I totally felt like I could do it again….I actually thought, “it really wasn’t that bad to run for 3 minutes or 5 minutes straight” yeah, I thought that!

There are running prompts in the program so it will signal you when to start walking and running.  I used the C25K program in conjunction with a GPS app (this one) so I could log my milage as well as so I could figure out how much time it was taking me to actually run a 5K.

I did a fast-paced walk as a warm-up and a cool-down and stretched after every run and I didn’t get shin splints, plantar fasciitis, or IT band issues!  I think the every other day training really helps to set you up for no injuries as it allows your muscles time to rebuild and repair, hooray!

Of course, I think good shoes also help with that!  When I decided to start running I went to a real running store (not Famous Footwear, etc) to have my gait analyzed while I ran on a treadmill. Then I was fitted with a shoe that worked best for my gait.  Hello! What a huge difference this made!!!  I know running shoes are expensive but a good pair is totally worth it in decreasing any possible injuries that may side track you from your goal.  Also as a bonus for me, if I was going to spend that much money on a running shoe I sure as heck was going to get my money’s worth out of it…so I better RUN!

Some other running necessities for me are pictured above as well.

  • a hat to protect you from the sun….and catch all that sweat!
  • my iPhone arm band.  I have this one and I LOVE it!
  • a good pair of earbuds…the ones that came with my phone never stayed put and it was sooo annoying to deal with. I found this brand here at Target and I love, love, love them.  Especially if you have smaller ear canals, ahem, ladies!


Partway through my c25K training some of my girlfriends and I ran the Dirty Girl Mud Run.  It’s a 5K race but there are 12 muddy obstacles throughout it so you don’t actually feel like you are running at all.   Our team had 11 awesome girls and we had so much fun laughing and cheering each other on. I totally recommend a race like this and not even if you are a runner. More for the good times and great memories you’ll have with your friends!

And now since I am officially done with my 5K training what’s next on the agenda? Well, I signed up for my first 5K…in TWO weeks!  Ermagawd!!  I am excited and nervous but definitely more excited than anything!

I’ll keep you posted on how it goes…hopefully it’s not going to be 100 degrees with 100% humidity. My best 5K run time has been 31:57…I have very lofty goals to get that down to a 30 minute run but with the amount of humidity we have had lately I will be happy just to finish it!!

If you want to follow me as I continue my running challenge or just my day-to-day life with my 4 crazy kids, hop on over to Instagram and say hello! A picture is worth a thousand words, right? 🙂

XOXO,

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    Comments

    1. Roslyn says

      Awesome! Go Maggie! I finished C25k earlier this year and I’m doing my first 5k fun run this weekend. I’m a bit nervous but it should be good 🙂

    3. Regina says

      I am not using the app (no smart device to put it on), but using some of the same concepts – just passed the 1/2 mile mark and am running a 1 mile fun run with my son on Sunday while hubby does the 5K. We are doing a family 5K at hubby’s alma mater in October -so something to work towards. I agree – that 30 min makes you feel energized!!! Way to Go!!!!!

      • Maggie says

        YAYYYY Regina!! That is awesome!! I am looking for some family runs in my area….I think that would be sooo fun. Good luck and have fun!

    4. RegencyKnitter says

      Congrats! With a practice run time of 31:57, I’m sure you can easily do a 30 minute run two weeks from now! I did a couch to 5K app this spring and ran a 5K in May– my fastest run time practicing with the app was a little over 33 minutes, but I ran the actual event in 29:00 exactly! There’s a lot of adrenaline involved on race day, so it’s normal for you to run a little faster.

      Btw, I downloaded the mapmyrun app after I finished the couch to 5K app so I’d still have some guidance in running after the training was over- it’s free, and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something to fill the gap until race day!

      • Maggie says

        WOW! That is so great to know! You are sooo fast! That would be awesome to run that fast! It is so humid here lately that all my runs are now in the 33 minute mark…I’ll just be happy to keep it there on race day! That is the exact app I used with C25K..love it!!!