Tag Archives: racing

Couch to 5k: the result

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Race day, Saturday September 29th, was a sunny, cool 50 degrees.  I couldn’t ask for better weather.  It was hard to keep my heart rate down as I strolled over to the registration table.  After check in, I mingled with the crowd and talked to several friends and acquaintances who I was surprised to learn had entered the event.

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 75-100 able-bodied individuals anxiously wanted to get the race underway.  After a few instructions and a prayer, the gun went off.  Like a herd of cattle we launched ourselves across a grassy field towards a pond we would encircle.  It was immediately apparent this was a serious group of runners who had been training much longer than me.  I, along with one other gentleman, settle back to guard the rear of the pack.

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In hindsight, my training did help me mentally and physically prepare for this run.  Mentally, I knew I had completed training runs longer that the 5k distance.  Physically, I knew I could maintain the consistent pace necessary to keep from being winded.  My strategy was simple, to complete the first two kilometers in around 20 minutes and then throw caution to the wind for the final three kilometers.  That didn’t happen.  Determined not to fall too far behind the pack of runners ahead of me, I completed the first 2 kilometers four minutes faster than planned.  My body was not used to running at this pace.  For the next kilometer I focused on controlling my breathing.  Then, feeling I still had energy in my legs, I decided to maintained the pace until my body told me something different.  I was surprised to see my time was about 40 minutes on the big digital timer at the finish line, a 15 full minutes faster than expected!

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As good as this whole experience has been for my health (I lost 25 pounds over the summer), I have not made any promises to myself or anyone else that I will continue training.  I’m paying close attention to my knees, which have been little sore off and on the last few weeks.

Perhaps if I lost another 15 pounds I could entertain running (jogging) another 5k.

Here is a picture of yours truly showered and dressed post race sporting my new t-shirt.

 

Couch to 5k week 4: Reentering the fray

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Over the past several days the pain and stiffness in my leg  decreased dramatically.  I continued to do stretching exercises to loosen any tightness in my legs and stayed away from the track.  Saturday morning I got out of bed without having to gimp around the house.

Encouraged, I earmarked Sunday as the first day of my comeback.  It was time to reenter the fray.  (Yes, I could hear the theme song from the movie, Rocky playing in my head as I walk over to the college and stepped onto the rubberized surface of the 400 meter track.  My Rocky fantasy lasted for about one lap before I reminded myself to take it easy!

So, with some soothing contemporary Christian music playing on my iphone, I walked a total of 4 laps.  To my delight, I felt no tightness.  In fact, my legs were begging me to pick up the pace the whole time.

The following morning I was relieved to be able to walk around the house with a normal gait.  I intend to add a lap of walking each day until I reach 8 laps.  Then I will work on improving my time.  Stay tuned for more updates!

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Couch to 5k: Week 3, a comeback?

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Following the advice given by my chiropractor, I am resorting to walking workouts.  That being said, I am still hurting from whatever it is that is I did to my body.  Stiff hamstrings and sore knees impact my ability to have a pleasant stroll let alone walk with the goal of running a 5k.

After a couple extra rest days, I carefully set out on walk number 1.  It seemed reasonable to shoot for 4 laps, walking at a casual pace.  Casual, there is something odd about the word being used in the same sentence as an all-weather track.  As I traversed the rubberized surface, a voice in my head repeatedly whispered, “Hey this is a track dummy, pick up the pace!”

Even though my legs were tight and stiff the entire time, I managed to cover the distance in 20.5 minutes.  The next morning my legs were not telling me I made a huge mistake so I tried walk number 2 the next day.  Because the stiffness in my legs hadn’t abated, I limited myself again to 4 laps.  My competitive nature coaxed me to walk a little faster for the first 3 laps before slowing down on lap 4.  My time was a little better, finishing in 19.5 minutes.

I will be stretching over the next 2 days to see if I can make the stiffness in my legs go away, otherwise it’s back to the chiropractor.  Hopefully, this tired old boat of a body can be restored.

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