April 9, 2013

5K Linkup April 9, 2013

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It's 5K Challenge time!

I was worried about this post this week...the reason being is that it's been quite a struggle for me to improve the past few times out and I was getting discouraged.  And I mean, pissed off-crying-discouraged.  I am in Week 5 of the C25K, and it was kicking my ass.  I could not do it and it made me angry.

I had no idea what kind of a competitor I am and it's not that I want to beat anyone else...I want to beat ME.  I have found this inner beast within myself since I began my journey and I can't believe how strong she is.  Mentally and physically I am not the same person that I was when I began 17 months ago.

Then came this challenge...if you ever want to know what you're capable of, begin running.  Is that weird to say??  Honest to goodness, in my case, it is true.  In the past, if anyone asked me if I wanted to run, I would recoil violently and squish up my face in disgust and say, "NO!!  Why in the HELL would I EVER want to do that??  Have you ever actually looked at a runner??  No runner EVER looks like they are having fun!!"  And following those statements, I would go on a rant about how bad I'VE HEARD running could be for your body - your joints get all jacked up and seriously, WHY would anyone want to just RUN?!!

Now?  Well, I'm a runner.  I can officially say this because just last night, I ran a WHOLE mile straight...in fact, I ran 1.1 miles, thankyouverymuch.

But here's the cool thing...I was getting discouraged this last week because I was trying to do too much too fast.  Instead of staying on my C25K path, I decided that I could just do what I wanted to and even though I didn't have any distance under my belt, somehow I thought it would be pretty badass to try to shave off some time.  THIS was a bad idea.  I mean B.A.D.  I couldn't do it.  I was dying after just a little distance.  My heart rate was so high that I couldn't catch my breath and it was awful, I HATED it.  I seriously began doubting if I'd be ready for my June 1st race.

Then, one of my training buddies sent me this great article from RunnersWorld(dot)com and it MAGICALLY changed things!!  Basically, what the article states is that if you are running, you should be running at only 55-65% of your maximum heart rate.  And I wasn't...I was running very damn NEAR my maximum heart rate and that's why it was so hard.  What did all of this mean for me?  I had to slow things down.  If you have been following my 5K Challenge journey, you know that I like to call what I do "wogging" - a combo of walking & jogging because I'm not at all fast.  NOW, I had to go even SLOWER.  But guess what?  It freaking worked.

So for the next few weeks, I'm going to work my training this way.  And THEN I'll see if I can work on shaving some time off - right now, I'm not going to worry about how long it's going to take.  My whole plan all along was just to be able to run the whole thing - I have no idea where I got it up my butt to try to do it fast.  But let me tell you, I have tossed that idea right out the window.

BTW - that mile felt amazing - my first runner's high - yayyyyy!

I love this quote; it's SO me and damn if I'm not proud to shout it to the world:



13 comments:

  1. I love this post. I can relate to this SO much..literally every word. I ran last week and decided to try to beat my time too..which was stupid because I knew better. I thought I was gonna die! Lol. I am on Week 3 now and can't wait to make it as far as you. I have never been able to run a mile without stopping..so that is definitely my goal! Even if it is "wogging". LOL!

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  2. What an interesting article, I'm usually all over the place during a C25K workout from the bottom of my zone to the very top, and I try to keep my time in the middle of my zone as the majority, becuase it really does make a difference, I'm glad it made a difference for you too! enjoying a run makes it so much easier to go back again for more right?

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  3. You are awesome. I love this. You know, interval training (where you push yourself for speed like you were doing) is a GOOD thing--incorporating some of that can strengthen your heart and help you burn more calories. So I wouldn't totally give up on pushing yourself that way some of the time--but do it in intervals. You could try 30 second sprints (or faster jogging) and then 5 minute recovery periods (or however long to get your heart rate back down). Keep up the good work, girl!

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  4. I love everything that you've said here Jenn!! Holy moly, it's like we share a brain or something. I think I may be having the same problem.. I want to do too much too fast. I am my own worst enemy when it comes to that. Well, that and my pulled muscle.. OUCH!

    Way to go on your 1.1 miles! Woohoo!

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  5. I loved reading your post this week! Congrats on running that mile!

    So often, I want to run SO fast and see if I can beat my PR but I have to remember that it is almost hurting me to do that. Now I am just relaxing and trying to ENJOY my run instead of KILLING myself!

    Have a great Tuesday!
    Madalyn

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  6. Yay! for breakthroughs!! :) Good job on your mile!! I have experienced the runner's high a couple of times and it feels SO good. The first time was last year after we ran 20 minutes for the first time. Man, that felt good. Anyways...I definitely want a heart rate monitor. Maybe I shouldn't wait?! It is giving me something to work towards, though. I am so curious now where I am at when running. Thanks for this post and that quote. :) And for visiting my blog!! :)

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  7. YAY! I told you I move molasses fast, too. Shuffling. It's where you bounce when you walk. I find that I can do that for a long time. I would rather be able to go far than go fast. I will be able to pick up my speed soon enough. It's also why I like to do intervals on the treadmill. You are doing great and I so appreciate your wonderful comments about my Run this past weekend. It was fun and I really did find that I am excited to do it again. Good job, friend!
    Keep it up and don't rush it!
    Laurie
    Lulu and Daisy

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  8. A whole mile! You rock, seriously! I'm so glad that I've met you in the blog world because you are just an awesome person all the way around. You are kicking but at this program, no doubts about it!

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  9. Great job girl! I know that mile felt amazing! I've learned that too. I have to stay at my turtle pace if I want to go further! We are gonna get there!

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  10. It's it amazing how far your can go!?!?! Just keep plugging away! You'll get there!

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  11. Great job! (New follower :)) I am doing the C25K too. It's so amazing when you do things you never thought you could!

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  12. Haha that quote is totally me! Great job! I am always tempted to do my own thing too, but I'm trying to stick with C25K because I know from others that it really works. Easier said than done sometimes.

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  13. Yes! I had the same epiphany! Slowing down helped me finish C25K back in the fall. I'm still running and everyday I'm feel like I can't go any further I remind myself to slow down. And then slow down some more if I need to. Keep up the good work!

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