With all this talk of Couch To 5K programs...

Disclaimer: Partially copied from my "May Sleevers" post. Sorry for the duplicate posting to anyone who is reading both!

I decided to get on the ball as well... so I started jogging yesterday... I can't even believe it. It was so spur of the moment I was shocked. I couldn't get my head off the pillow all day yesterday between the heat and humidity and finally put on my gym clothes about an hour before my support group meeting, realizing that there was no way I could make it to the gym AND the support group, so I figured I'd hit the gym after. So off I went and I ended up getting there 30 minutes early, and it's held at a local high school... so I walked down the 1/4 mile to the track (this HS has a humongous campus!), started walking, then thought "what the hay-- why not jog?" so I did! I did 1/2 lap jogging, 1/2 lap walking/recovering for the 20 minutes or so until the meeting was to start.

HOLY CRAP was it hard and was I sweaty! But I did it and I was proud of myself.

Then after my meeting I was planning to go to Karaoke with friends, but I had over an hour to kill, but not long enough to get home and shower, so I tried finding a branch of my gym close to where I was... to no avail... so I went to the local high school in the town nearest Karaoke and jogged on their track for 25 minutes, too!

When I got to the bar/restaurant people were giving me all kinds of looks, I looked like a sweaty beast... but I didn't care-- I was just so darn proud of myself!

I think I'll take the day off from jogging but will do my normal eliptical machine routine and add in some stair climber at the gym today, with resistance bands at home for my arms. It's just as hot/humid out as it was yesterday and I don't want to give myself a heat stroke before I have to work Friday-Sunday!

Also, I'm going to get my booty to a running store today to get fitted for some proper trainers and then sign up for the 5K I've been eyeballing lately.

I can't wait!

Good job, Emily. Smart to get fitted for good shoes. I just printed off the Cto5K info and plan on starting too. Happy running.

Way to go!

Where is this couch to 5K info folks speak of? I'm interested in getting started (bearing in mind that after 71 lbs lost I'm just a few pounds lighter than you started out!)

It will probably be slow going - I don't know if my kneews are up to actual jogging yet, but you can't get there without getting started.

Here's one that I was thinking of trying-- I might stretch mine out to last longer than the 9 weeks in this program, more to fit my "more walk/less jog" pace, especially in the beginning.

But you're right, Mom4Jazz-- you can't get there without getting started.

I've heard that you can download smartphone apps that play music with a fast beat to jog/run to and then shout over the music "start running now!" "walk and recover now!" at the appropriate times in the workout. But I don't have a smartphone, just a regular one, so I'm going to print out this program and try it instead:

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Good luck!

I donwloaded a free app for my iphone that follows a version of the couch to 5k program. 5k runner is the name of the app. It lets you play the ipod in the background and it will tell you when to run and when to walk...pretty dang neat. For Mom4Jazz....Couth to 5k is an interval training program that is designed to get a person from inactivity to being able to run a 5k in about 2 months.

Edit:  One thing I've been doing, since I am still pretty big and don't want to push myself too hard at first, is doing each step or day twice.  Fro example in the app I downloaded, day 1 is 5 minute walk followed by 6 sets of 1 minute run and 1.5 minute walks, all followed by a 5 minute cool down walk.  I will do day 1 twice before moving onto day 2.  I have been doing this for about 2+ weeks so I am on week 2 day 2 which is 5 minute warm up walk, 4 sets of 1.5 minute run followed by 2 miunute walk then 2 sets of 1 minte runs followed by 1 minute run followed by 5 minutes of cool down.

I am really enjoying it and it is neat to see how the prgression goes along.  It is definatly improving my stamina and I'm feeling great.

Good motivational post. Even if it is a duplicate.

Thanks, Rich. :)

You're welcome. Hope to be joining you on the track soon.

 Sweet.  I have contributed a little to the Couch to 5K buzz around here lately :).  I was never interested in doing anything like that before but am enjoying the challenge.  

There a 5K in October that I'm thinkin about signing up for...I can barely jog for 90 seconds at a stretch without almost dying but that gives me a few months to prepare.

Yes, between your posts and Miller's Daughter's posts and a couple of others I have jumped right onto that bandwagon.

I think you'll be able to do it by October! But don't forget-- even though the 5K is a race, our weight loss journey (including all of this increased fitness and healthy behaviors) is not. Take it at your own pace and enjoy the ride!