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It's time to run, it's time to run
Guys. GUYS. I did it!!!
Some of y'all might be aware that I've started running(TM) with the help of Couch to 5K. I started way back in April & it's been going well enough--I'm doing the no-pressure version where I don't actually care if I manage to run 5k within 9 weeks, pretty sure that ship has sailed anyway, and for a while I have been repeating the Week 3 program. The first 3 times I did it, I was baaarely able to scrape by, so I thought, hey, why the fuck would I move on to Week 4 if I can't yet do Week 3? That's just setting myself up for failure. My mental health is precarious enough as it is, I do not need another thing to feel like shit about.
So I did Week 3 for like a month, interrupted by my period where I spent a full week not doing anything, and then today I tried the Week 4 workout for the first time, which is:
And like?? I did it??? I managed to run both full 5-minute intervals! \o/ \o/ I felt pretty exhausted during the last 3-minute run & had to walk for a couple of seconds in between, but a) that's FINE & b) I found the 5-minute runs most daunting, so I am extra super duper proud that I managed both of those. (It also confirms a pattern I've noticed: I flag a bit during the second half of my workout, then catch my second wind towards the end. It's pretty neat to notice this stuff. I've never exercised consistently before during my adult life, so I feel a bit like a benevolent scientist watching a brave lil lab rat.)
I was sweating a lot, and it was hard, but I didn't hyperventilate once! No cramping or stitches in my side either. (I haven't gotten the stitch since literally Week 1, which I think means I'm great at regulating my breathing/not pushing myself too hard!)
I also think my brain is possibly getting on board with the whole thing? I usually avoid exercise because it makes me feel like shit mentally--I think when my heart rate goes up, my hindbrain is like 'time for a near-panic attack!'--but, while I do still feel flashes of anxiety when I run, the intensity is WAY down from what it used to be.
This is exciting as fuck tbh. I'm not sure how much more running I'll get done this week because we're expecting this summer's first big heat wave! But I'm looking forward to whenever my next run will be.
Some of y'all might be aware that I've started running(TM) with the help of Couch to 5K. I started way back in April & it's been going well enough--I'm doing the no-pressure version where I don't actually care if I manage to run 5k within 9 weeks, pretty sure that ship has sailed anyway, and for a while I have been repeating the Week 3 program. The first 3 times I did it, I was baaarely able to scrape by, so I thought, hey, why the fuck would I move on to Week 4 if I can't yet do Week 3? That's just setting myself up for failure. My mental health is precarious enough as it is, I do not need another thing to feel like shit about.
So I did Week 3 for like a month, interrupted by my period where I spent a full week not doing anything, and then today I tried the Week 4 workout for the first time, which is:
- Brisk 5-minute warm-up walk; run for 3 minutes, walk 90 seconds, run for 5 minutes (!!), walk 2.5 minutes, run 3 minutes, walk 90 seconds, then run for 5 minutes again.
And like?? I did it??? I managed to run both full 5-minute intervals! \o/ \o/ I felt pretty exhausted during the last 3-minute run & had to walk for a couple of seconds in between, but a) that's FINE & b) I found the 5-minute runs most daunting, so I am extra super duper proud that I managed both of those. (It also confirms a pattern I've noticed: I flag a bit during the second half of my workout, then catch my second wind towards the end. It's pretty neat to notice this stuff. I've never exercised consistently before during my adult life, so I feel a bit like a benevolent scientist watching a brave lil lab rat.)
I was sweating a lot, and it was hard, but I didn't hyperventilate once! No cramping or stitches in my side either. (I haven't gotten the stitch since literally Week 1, which I think means I'm great at regulating my breathing/not pushing myself too hard!)
I also think my brain is possibly getting on board with the whole thing? I usually avoid exercise because it makes me feel like shit mentally--I think when my heart rate goes up, my hindbrain is like 'time for a near-panic attack!'--but, while I do still feel flashes of anxiety when I run, the intensity is WAY down from what it used to be.
This is exciting as fuck tbh. I'm not sure how much more running I'll get done this week because we're expecting this summer's first big heat wave! But I'm looking forward to whenever my next run will be.
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