Running Update

I started with the 8 week from the couch to a 5k program last night. We went out to dinner with Rachel's brother and mom and when we got back, we changes clothes and went to the local middle school where they have an outside track.

Rachel walked about a mile while I did my jog/walk routine. I followed the directions and warmed up by walking briskly for 5 minutes. That was able the time it took us to walk from the car to the track. Then I ran for 60 seconds and followed that by walking for 90. I kept alternating the same amount of time for 20 minutes. I finished just under 2 miles in 20 minutes time. Not too shabby. I forgot to reset the lap time after finishing the first mile, but I think I finished the first mile in just under 11 minutes. I tell ya, jogging for 60 second intervals may not sound like a lot, but when you haven't ran a whole lot lately, 60 seconds is the perfect amount of time. So if the weather cooperates, I plan on doing the same routine Wednesday and Friday night. I feel really good today. My legs and back were killing me after my first run, but I feel great today. The backs of my ankle and calves are a little tender, but I think thats because my running form is a little unorthodox. Rachel said I run sort of flat footed. I'll have to work on that.

I did a search online last night and throughout the year, there are several 5k runs in northern Virginia. One that really intrigued me is a "fun run" in Manassas through the old Civil War Battlefield. If I actually stick with this, I may actually enter one. There is also a 5K turkey day run in Centerville on Thanksgiving Day, but thats kind of close to Rachel's due date, so I don't know if I will risk entering that one.

Next week I am supposed to progress to 90 seconds of running and 2 minutes of walking for 20 minutes. That should bring my time down to where I can finish the 2nd mile in 20 minutes. Last night I finished 1.85 miles after 20 minutes. Walked back to the car, and that brought me up to 2.05 miles.