Couch to 5k day 3

Wow!  I've completed week one of the couch to 5k. (Only 8 weeks to go.)  I don't really know how to feel about it....surprised, celebratory, relieved, shocked.  Really can't gather my thoughts and put a finger on exactly what I am feeling.  I procrastinated for 24 hours before getting on the treadmill for day 3 and although I stretched, my feet and shins still hurt a little. Not as much as last time though which is good.  I still struggled with the 1 minute run sections. Mentally and physically.  I can see improvement there definitely though as I recovered much, much better between running segments. I think I'm in for more character building than muscle building, fat stripping on this journey from couch to 5k.  As soon as I finished my little inner voice said "Wow! Done! Now next week I have to run for 90seconds each time. I'll NEVER be able to do that."  Such a seductive and convincing voice.  A week ago I would have said that I'd NEVER be able to run for one minute let alone complete a whole session which include 4 x1mins of running, then backed up and did it 2 more times.  So I'll have to keep this in mind next week when my self-doubt and lack of confidence start screaming at me again.  How much do we stop ourselves from doing in life because we listen to that voice?


Edited to add:  It's almost an hour and a half since I got off the treadmill and wrote the above post and I'm feeling really good.  Body feels ok and mood and general feeling of wellbeing have lifted to a lovely level.  I'll keep hoping the runners high hits me during the run instead of 90 minutes later!

Couch to 5k day 2

My body coped really well after my first Couch to 5k session.  No pain - my legs did feel a little 'used', but not sore. I experienced no fatigue either so that's a BIG relief and a big 'YES' to continuing.  So after a brief half hour of procrastination I got my butt on the treadmill and got to it. My feet and lower legs really stiffened up and felt sore during the run so I think I'll do some stretching prior to my warm up. The session looks like this....

• Warm up walk 5 mins (I do this at about 4.5km and speed it up closer to minute 6)
• Jog 1 minute (I'm doing my jogging/shuffling at 6km per hour)
• Walk 90 seconds (I'm doing 2 minutes between 4.7km and 5.2km)
• Jog 1 minute
• Walk 2 mins
• Jog 1 minute
• Walk 2 mins
• Jog 1 minute
• Cool down walk 5 minutes 

So I effectively run for 4 minutes all up.  Before becoming ill I used to have a lovely fluid running style and now I notice that I am doing that odd shuffle that you sometimes see runners do.  I can't seem to make myself run any differently and it feels odd.  I know, I know. I've just started. Just look at what I've overcome to get here. Give it time etc.

Am I enjoying it? Not really. :)  I feel good when I've done it - more mentally than physically. I've battled mental demons - who screamed and yelled at me yesterday - and it always feels good to overcome those nasty little voices in your head.  "I can't. I don't want to. Only do half a workout etc" Became "No choice. Just do it. You CAN do this. Only x seconds to go before you walk again. Good girl. etc"  I even woke this morning thinking about going for it again, but I'll follow the programme properly and walk today then get back to the jogging tomorrow.  I'm starting to feel a small glimmer of excitement that it may be possible for me to write here one day soon "I've just run my first 5k".  Putting the cart before the horse but I have to have something to dream of and aim for!  Stay well everybody and keep taking those little steps daily to improve your health and your life.