Training for 5K: Week Two

Right. That running thing I've been doing.

I "graduated" Couch-to-5K on August 6th. I finished the timed training program, and I was able to run for 30 minutes without puking or passing out. I was running 1.65 miles in that time, a pace of 18:13.


Fast forward six weeks. I started my own program of adding more distance every week. My furthest distance has been 2.26 miles. My pace is usually at 17:50. I've also signed up for a 5K on Halloween day.

I also started a training plan I found on about.com. When I counted back from race day, it brought me to Week Two last week, which was a 1.75 mile run on Tuesday and Saturday, and a 1.5 mile on Thursday with a Cross-Training session on Wednesday, and an Active Recovery on Sunday.

I got two runs in, NO Cross-Training, NO active recovery.

I'll admit: I was burnt. I had been working out 5 days in a week the past couple of weeks. I was finding reasons not to get up and go, even when I knew that I'd feel cranky later in the day. I just wasn't motiviated. In Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess, the author says this is okay, and giving your mind a rest as well as your body from time to time? Totally okay.

So I gave myself a light week for working out. And I wasn't hard on myself for it.

This week I'm on to climbing back up to 2 miles. I'm hoping to shave some time off as well. My goal for this first 5K is to come in under an hour. I know most people do them in 30 mimutes or so, but I'm being realistic. I'm a fat girl, learning to run. It's not going to be a 10 minute mile overnight. It will be a challenge, mile by mile, minute by minute.