Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Couch to 5K: week 5

Week five
There are three different workouts for this week. They are as follows:Running to Paradise
Workout 1: a brisk 5-minute walk, then 5 minutes of running, 3 minutes of walking, 5 minutes of running, 3 minutes of walking, 5 minutes of running.
Jane: How's the running going this week? I had a few bad nights sleep in a row so didn't run again until this morning - Level 5 run #1. It was actually ok. Still enjoying it, though it's not easy.
Jean: I missed lots of days too because so busy, planning to do Level 5 run #1 this morning but it's 37 degrees here so we'll see...
The 37 degree heat adds a big degree of difficulty but I'm okay this time.
Jean: DONE! Hot. Sweaty (didn't post that word on Facebook TMI!). Tired. The next two days look completely impossible, especially the 20 min jog. It's like falling: never look down. Aaaargh!!!!!
Jane: Well done - and in such heat too!
There's something very earthy about jogging. My face gets unbecomingly red, sweat runs down my back, and I gulp for air. The sharp scent of exertion fills my nostrils (and hopefully not other people's). When I get home, I badly need a shower.

I'm usually a thinker and an observer, lost in my own head, losing touch with things around me. But now I can feel every muscle and tendon stretching and striving. I love the way jogging gets me out of my head and into my body.

It helps that there's a drink to be had during my run. I stop at a bubbler half-way through, to put water on my face and neck and gulp some down.

For the rest of this very hot day I discover another benefit of jogging: I don't feel the heat. Sweating no longer seems like an enemy, but a friend.

Workout 2: a brisk 5-minute walk, then 8 minutes of running, 5 minutes of walking, 8 minutes of running.

The app doesn't work all that well, and I find myself doing 10 minutes instead of 8 - and I don't even notice! I can't believe what my body is newly capable of.

As I reach the end of the 10 minutes, it's as if my breathing begins to slow down. My lungs feel like a pair of bellows, puffing in-and-out, in-and-out. My body moves more smoothly than it has in years.

I come home brimming with feel-good-endorphins. It's like that joyous, free-floating feeling after a swim. I'm hooked.

Workout 3: a brisk 5-minute walk, then 20 minutes of running, with no walking.
Jane: Can't quite believe it, Jean - I just ran 20 mins - 3k!!
Jean: Well done Jane! I'm not feeling well so had to pause just before the 20 min run...my max so far is 10 minutes...but well done you!
Jane: Yes that was me last week and it set me back quite a few days. I actually wasn't at all sure I could do it, but Jess was right - she said to trust the program. I do feel great, and surprisingly, it didn't feel too hard until just at the end. Very pleased that I'm back to four shorter runs next time before trying to pull that off every time I go!
Jean: How do you feel? (I feel like the torturer from The Princess Bride - "It's for posterity, so be honest"...) 
Jane: Yeah the 20 min run was good. It felt difficult, but not too difficult. As always the last 2 minutes are just sheer grit and effort. I think that is just how it is - getting comfortable with feeling like it's hard.
Then, after I do the 20 minute run,
Jean: Yes, that last couple of minutes was a challenge! Normally I find the first part of the run hard, so those double runs killed me. But this time I was bounding after the gate: nothing like a week of rest!
And I realise:
  • the first few minutes of jogging are the hardest. Then my legs and lungs settle into it, I hit my rhythm, and it's (almost) a joy.
  • my app said, way back in week 2, "Breathe deeply and find a good breathing tempo to avoid getting out of breath". Now it makes sense.
  • a long run leaves you with a completely different feeling to a short one. It's worth persisting. I feel like I'm floating on air.

It's the end of week 5, and I can't believe how good I feel.


How did you find week 5 of Couch to 5K?


11 comments:

Deb said...

Jean, you are slowly sucking me into this. Every post I get a little bit more keen on the idea. I just haven't been able to work out a time when I could do this that wasn't dark and dangerous!

Rachel said...

"I'm usually a thinker and an observer, lost in my own head, losing touch with things around me. But now I can feel every muscle and tendon stretching and striving. I love the way jogging gets me out of my head and into my body."
That's me too, Jean. Running is a blessed relief. I'm loving your couch to 5k diary - brings back happy memories!

Heather T said...

I just did my first week 5 run yesterday but as I hadn't uploaded it to my ipod I went from my memory of what I read on your blog and actually ran the 2nd run which was 8-5-8 ending up running 16 minutes total. Like you I am amazed at what I can do now after four weeks. On the first week I was struggling to complete all my one minute runs!
As it is spring here in Ottawa my daughter and I have gone from running in trackpants, hoodies and gloves to shorts and tank tops in 4 weeks!

Jean said...

So lovely that you can run in Spring in Ottawa, I can run in Autumn in Australia, and we can talk about it here! :D

You might like this post...12 things I remember about Canada. I still miss Canada, especially when it's Autumn here.

Heather said...

Hi Jean,
I enjoyed your Canada memories.
We also love the fiery Autumn colours and the four distinct seasons we get to enjoy.

Maple syrup has become a favourite and we have enjoyed collecting it and boiling it up a few times.

Even though my children are homeschooled they still learned "O Canada" pretty quickly and I doubt any of them can sing Advance Australia Fair!

The central heating is pretty good especially compared to the house we left in Melbourne with one heater which was meant to heat the whole house but didn't.

And despite the cold and the shoveling I love the winter too; it is so pretty and I know summer will eventually come.

Jean said...

Amen! 4 beautiful seasons, and yes, a heater that heats the whole house would be nice! It's getting cold here in Melbourne - not Canada cold, but still... And I do miss the snow.

Jean said...

Just checked out your blog. Such beautiful photos. Such lovely memories. Thank you!

Rebecca said...

Hi Jean,
Your posts have caught up to me. I'm now at week 5 (it took me longer as some weeks I didn't make time for 3 runs). Today I completed the second run and it felt great!
I need to go shopping - I'm still wearing old daggy trackies and runners I bought for $8 at target!

Jean said...

:) Good on you Rachel!

Anonymous said...

Google led me to your blog when I searched for "Couch to 5k Week 5" after finishing day 3 of Week 4 today. It's wonderful and encouraging to hear that week 5 went well for you! I was worried I'd have to repeat week 4 as I don't feel ready for the 8 min runs, but now I feel like I'm ready for the challenge! I'm 35, a mother of two, and I've never in my life been a runner. So empowered by taking control and changing that. I'll continue to follow your C25k progress posts as I make it through the weeks.

Anonymous said...

Google led me to your blog when I searched for "Couch to 5k Week 5" after finishing day 3 of Week 4 today. It's wonderful and encouraging to hear that week 5 went well for you! I was worried I'd have to repeat week 4 as I don't feel ready for the 8 min runs, but now I feel like I'm ready for the challenge! I'm 35, a mother of two, and I've never in my life been a runner. So empowered by taking control and changing that. I'll continue to follow your C25k progress posts as I make it through the weeks.