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| After my 1st 5K in 2017 |
I wrote some thoughts down before the program started:
Back in 2017, Lacey Township had the Couch to 5K program that I participated in and I really loved it. It was a great group and I met new friends. You can read about that adventure here.
Fast forward to 2022, I decided to try it again. I was a little nervous since I haven't run in a long and I struggled a lot with continuously running last time.
While I am feeling nervous, I am also feeling excited too. This provides me a great opportunity to get outside and move, which is one of my goals for the year. Its a win win for me. The program starts Monday June 27th and I am so excited to see how I do. My only goal for this year is to be better than my 2017 time at the 5K.
I went back in the archives to see the time I did in 2017 and it was 35:02:07. My pace was 11:17.
I had the best intentions of starting the program early on my own in June. I started the very first week in June with Week 1 Day 1 and everything was going great until I had an accident (TRUE LIFE!). Welp, that derailed my progress for a few weeks. I figured I would just start with everyone else.
This Year's Program:
Week 1: The first official day it was raining and I decided not to go. I ended up doing Week 1 Day 2 & 3 later that week on my own around the neighborhood. I felt like I was struggling, especially since I haven't really jogged in a LONG time.
Week 2: This week was moved from Monday (4th of July) to Wednesday July 6. I had ALL the best intentions to go since I was going to be home from vacation BUT nope, I ended up getting COVID.
Week 3: Recovering from COVID so I didn't run at all. I walked twice around my neighborhood toward the end of my quarantine.
Week 4: On my own, I doubled/tripled up on days and tried to catch up to start with the group on week five. It's been really REALLY hot lately so it'd been a challenge to find the perfect time to run. My neighborhood has been the perfect place for me to jog. I've seen and been able to pet so many fluffy dogs. (Hi MAX!) I found running in the mornings is a lot easier for me and I am more apt to do more than I originally planned on. Podcasts have really been a game changer for me too!
Week 5: I joined the group for the group run on Monday. I'm not going to lie, it was a little scared. I was going to back out of it but my friend asked me to pick her up and I thought to myself, welp, I guess I have to go now. So glad I did! I felt strong and I couldn't believe it was over so quickly. I felt pretty good and not like I was going to pass out. Adrienne did a nice little stretch at the end. I ended up re-doing day 1 with day 2 and I struggled through them. I was very worried what would happen with day 3 of this week; it was a 20 minutes jog. That would have been the longest jog I've done in a very long time. I set out on Saturday Morning with the words from Tina, one of the trainers, saying "YOU CAN!" in my mind over and over. I found a podcast that would take me through what I would hope would be the whole run. I kept saying to myself slow and steady, you can!, you got this! AND YOU KNOW WHAT?! I did it! I was able to do it and I didn't feel like total death afterwards!!!!
Week 6: Kyle and I did a mile around his neighborhood on Monday. It was challenging for me, he runs a quicker mile than I do. Needless to say, I walked some and he kept me company as he jogged with his weighted vests. Ha Tuesday I did day 1 and I'm not sure if it was because either was so humid or if I was just tired, but I struggled. I want to redo that one. Friday, I did day 2 and i felt pretty good about it. I definitely like the run walk alternating more than the one long jog. Sunday I did day 3. I gave myself a pep talk before hand- it was going to be one continuous jog and I was nervous. I remembered what Tina said " YOU CAN! " and I picked out a podcast to listen to and I said to myself, nice and slow and you can do it " I did the first mile pretty well. I felt good and then the second mile was shakey. I ended up having to walk a bit; it was hard for me to catch my breath/I think I was in my head.
Going into week 7, I'm a bit nervous. There are no more walk/run days, it's all long jogs. 6 more runs on the Couch to 5K app left until the full 3 miles. If I just remember "I CAN!" And "You Can Do Hard Things" "I think I can do it."
Week 7: I joined the group on Monday. It was HOOOOOTTTT out and I was kinda dreading this run. I knew I was going to be by myself because group A was getting pretty small. Kyle had asked if he could join and I immediately said YES! This scary 25 minute jog wasn't so scary anymore. He stayed with me and pushed me and I was proud of what I was able to accomplish. I told Kyle afterwards, I would have walked a lot more if you weren't with me. I ran again on Friday morning and I was surprised at myself for being able to run for 25 minutes with only 3 thirty second walk breaks. I downloaded the Nike run club app and started it when I stated jogging. I wanted to see my pace and I was pleasantly surprised by the 10:59 minute pace. I skipped last run of the week to rest.
Week 8: Join the group again on Monday. We ran for 28 minutes and for 20 of those minutes I ran. I was really proud of myself. My pace felt good and I wasn't dying. I only took 2 walk breaks that were probably only a 10th of a mile each time. Ran by myself on Friday morning. It was a bit of a struggle. I ran the first mile then I alternated walking and running. I ended up running longer than the app said to just gauge a time for myself for a 5K. I was surprised that I did better than I thought, beating my 5K time/pace from my first race in 2017. I was happy and thought, I can actually do this. I did my final run in the app on Sunday evening. It was HOT and sticky out and I walked more than I thought. My time was slightly slower than Friday's time but I have to account for being tired and it being hot and humid and my feet hurt. I am looking forward to the race.
Week 9: Trial 5K day. I was slightly nervous going into this trial 5K. I kept thinking "will I be able to do this?" "Is this even possible?" Kyle joined me again, to get a sneak peak of the course. We started out pretty well, we ended up being in the front of the group (Color me shocked!) and by the first turn on the road out of the park, I realized that I had to go to the bathroom. There was a Wawa ahead and I said to Kyle, " I need a pit stop" ((Mind you, its not even a mile into the race.)) He said okay, I'm coming. We sprinted away from the group into Wawa, into the bathrooms then back out. Those poor employees probably thought we were crazy! We sprinted back out to catch the end of the group. We got to what I think was the middle of the pack and some points, I needed to walk. Kyle would run ahead then turn around and jog backwards to wait for me to catch up. We made it through the course and while we thought it was wacky, its completely doable.
Thoughts going into the race weekend: I CAN DO THIS! I am just going to put on a podcast and go at my own speed. I already told Kyle that its totally okay if he wants to Zoom away from me. I will be cheering him on and I know he will be doing the same. If I just keep my head down, stay in my comfort pace and just keep going, I will be able to finish below my old time. My first goal is to finish, my second goal is to beat my 2017 time and my third goal is to have fun and enjoy.
SO excited to run on Saturday!
Do you run? What are some running tips? Leave your tips in the comments below
[[In Running, It doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack or last. You can say, "I have finished." There is a lot of satisfaction in that. - Fred Lebow]]
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