Couch to 5K - day 1

Well, here's where we start a new year.

I did the first session of week 1 in the Couch to 5K plan this afternoon. I was surprised how easy it was to jog for 1 minute intervals between 1.5 minutes of walking. I was also surprised at how well I hold up, even with intervals like that, when I'm watching TV. =D I popped in a Farscape and away I went! I intended to do more than the 20 minutes outlined in the plan, but at 22 minutes my computer shut down and I was without Farscape, so I called it good at that.

Still, I did it. I started when I said I would and I am on my way!

It's a good way to start a new year. Now for a shower....

Couch to 5K

Well, I just signed up to do the Couch to 5K running program with my Babyfit friends. It's a little scary for me, as I've had trouble running, but if there's any program that will get me running, this is it. I just have to make it a priority. We're planning on starting after the new year, and the plan goes for 2 months. So it fits perfectly with my plan to get back on the SparkWagon after the new year. Here's the plan:

Week 1

Workout 1 Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Workout 2 Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Workout 3 Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. 2

Week 2

Workout 1 Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Workout 2 Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Workout 3 Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes. 3

Week 3

Workout 1 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:

• Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)

Workout 2 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:

• Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)

Workout 3 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:

• Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)

Week 4

Workout 1 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Workout 2 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Workout 3 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Week 5

Workout 1 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Workout 2 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
• Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)

Workout 3 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog two miles (or 20 minutes) with no walking.

Week 6

Workout 1 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Workout 2 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)

Workout 3 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2-1/4 miles (or 25 minutes) with no walking.

Week 7

Workout 1 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).

Workout 2 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).

Workout 3 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).

Week 8

Workout 1 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).

Workout 2 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).

Workout 3 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).

Week 9

Workout 1 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).

Workout 2 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).

Workout 3 The final workout! Congratulations! Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).

I'll be doing it on the treadmill, while Ellie's taking her nap each afternoon. I wish I could say I'd get up in the morning and do it before she gets up, but I know I'm not disciplined enough to do that. Maybe I can work up to it, but for now I'll just plan to do it during naptime.

So there you have it. I am committed. Hold me accountable!

Once the holidays are over...

... it's back on the SparkWagon for me. I've been snacking on too many holiday goodies and I'm starting to be able to tell. And yesterday I drank my first glass of water in I-don't-know-how-long. Things have GOT to change. After the holidays...