5k... What?

My weight loss efforts to this point have been a little frustrating. I’ve enjoyed my workouts, and I’ve put in 100% doing them. I’ve watched what I ate, scheduling meals every 2-3 hours and keeping the caloric count low. I quickly lost the couple pounds I gained on vacation when I wasn’t being so strict on my eating and exercising, and I was even encouraged by the fact that I only gained 3 lbs. But, here I am, still at the same weight I was last October when I got really serious about getting healthy. I’m convinced it’s because I have PCOS which makes it extremely hard to lose weight, despite all the effort I’ve put in. So, I have a plan to continue working with my doctor, and trying new exercise routines.

Running is a great calorie burner, I can keep exercising outside, since that’s been one of my favorite parts of working out this summer, but I can take it inside when the weather gets nasty, too. I’m not a fan of running, though. Never have been, really. I remember when we would have to run the mile or even just laps in high school gym class – I never did it. I walked; every time. Why? I don’t know. I’m lazy? I just never felt the need to really try.

I’m not really sure what possessed me, but I’ve decided to try to run a 5K. I’m in better shape now, than I have been in a year or so, but I still get winded easily so I need to learn how to overcome that. And my knees are weak. Jogging and biking tweaks my knees and then they hurt for days after. I’m hoping that a slow start up and gradual progression will strengthen my knees enough that there won’t be any more pain. Then I can add runs to my routine and burn more calories and hopefully it will make a difference in my weight problems.

A friend told me about the Couch to 5k training program that gets you off your butt and running a 5k in 10 weeks. I pulled up the recommended schedule and have decided that this is worth a try. The first week is very mild, and I know I can do the 2 and 3 minute jogs with no knee problems. Adding time is questionable, but it increases so gradually that I’m hoping my endurance and my muscles improve at that same pace. I guess that’s the point, right? Couch potatoes don’t have lean muscular runners bodies, either, so I can totally do this. It’s still intimidating to look at week 10, so I don’t. I’m on week 1 and that’s where I need to focus.

Today was Day 1. The kids, my sister, and Jerry came with me so Jerry could show me a trail he thought I’d like. It’s a soft dirt and woodchip trail that should also help reduce some of the impact on my knees. It went well and I think the kids had fun with it, too. We might just turn this into a family event!

I’m including the schedule, which I got from http://www.fromcouchto5k.com/articles/training/the-couch-to-5k-training-plan/ for anyone who wants to try it out for themselves.

The Couch to 5k Training Plan

Week	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7
1	5 min walk 2 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 2 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 3 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
2	5 min walk 3 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 4 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 5 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
3	5 min walk 6 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	4 min jog 5 min walk 4 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 7 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
4	5 min walk 7 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 8 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 9 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
5	5 min walk 9 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	6 min jog 5 min walk 6 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 10 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 11 min jog 5 min walk
6	5 min walk 11 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	13 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	15 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
7	15 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	8 min jog 5 min walk 8 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	16 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	17 min jog 5 min walk
8	17 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	18 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	20 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
9	20 min jog	Relax!	12 min jog 5 min walk 12 min jog	Relax!	24 min jog	Relax!	25 min jog
10	25 min jog	Relax!	27 min jog	Relax!	30 min jog	Relax!	Race Day!