Strategic retreat

Nice walk with my wife this muggy morning. Temp in mid 70s with heat index over 80 before sunrise. Last week I tried to do the 1st week of the 9-week C25K program, I was not totally pleased with the program (likely due to my lack of fitness). I felt like when I completed the 1 min run/1.5 min walk, that I never really caught my breath. I was not having a strength or stamina problem, it was a breathing problem.

I read through a couple of Jim Galloway's excellent books... Running- Getting Started and Galloway's Book on Running. Both of these books advise a much more gradual program by increasing running, starting with as little as 3 to 5 seconds of running followed by 1 to 2 minutes of walking; All of this in order to not get out of breath and not "huff and puff". He also believes that it is best to personalize exercise progams for each person.

So, my plan is to rachet back my program to this: I'm dropping back to brief runs of 10 - 15 seconds with 1+ minute of walking between..... running each time I feel totally rested.

Based on this morning's exercise, I feel like I could go on indefinitely.... We'll see. :)

Happy Elvis Week

Completed w1d3 of c25k. Wow, I was hoping for lower humidity this morning. And yet being up before sunrise and greeting the day hear the birds chirping... it is all worth it. I think I'll doing more walking on my "off" days....

Have a good weekend.

Hump Day

Wednesday mornings week 1 day 2 of c25k was a few degrees cooler than Monday. Probably 70 degrees. But humidity was 88% which still made breathing a little hard. But things did go better. I'm using the PODRUNNER: INTERVALS program, which I think is great. By easing back on the running intensity, I was able to do all the 1 minute runs except the last. I am encouraged and look forward to cooler, dryer weather.

First day recap

August in Mississippi isn't necessarily the best time to begin an exercise program, but that's what I'm doing. There's no time like the present. For timing and pacing, I'm using the PODRUNNER: INTERVALS program which I dl'd from iTunes, which appears to be a pretty standard c25k program found on the web. The music is original techno typo tracks, which hopefully will keep me on a steady pace.

At five-thirty the alarm sounded. I quickly dressed in my technical duds and my new Mizuno Wave Alchemy 8 shoes. After drinking a big glass of water I headed out the door to start my Couch to 5K program. The brisk ~138 bpm 5 minute warmup went well and I had already walked almost a 1/2 mile. The first 1 minute run started and I started noticing the thickeness of the air and felt a burning in my upper airway. I made through, then reversed direction and did my 1.5 minutes still at a brisk walk.

The second 1 minute run was harder, and I dropped to a walk around 45 seconds. Well, to cut the story short, I kept up the brisk walk pace through the rest of the workout and got back home safely.

I'm glad to have started a program that will improve my health and wellness. I know it will get better little by little.

Reading and reading

This is supposed to be a blog about my experience with a C25K or Couch to 5K exercise program. I am reading through various sources and contacting friends for advice in advance of my beginning the program. Tomorrow I will head out to get some proper apparel. Hopefully, the following day, Monday, my journey will begin.

Thanks to my cousin, Mark Simpson (www.marathonmakeover.com) for the inspiration and Chris Solaas for the encouragement.