Week 5... hello and goodbye!

Week 5 is one of the most challenging weeks in the C25k program. Not only do you run your first 5 minute run, but you up the anti very quickly the rest of the week. With your first 8 minute run on day 2 and your first (GULP!) 20 minute run on Day 3.

My day 1 was done outside, on a BEAUTIFUL spring-like weather day with 2 of my LIO friends last Wednesday. It was awesome to be outside and to run with friends and to not be completely winded while running 3 reps of 5 minute run, 3 minute walk.

I had PLANNED to run again on Friday, but had to go to the grocery store during my lunch instead in prep for the birthday weekend extravaganza which was this past weekend. 3 birthday celebrations in 2 days... one with 11 children between the ages of 2 and 6, many whose parents did NOT stick around. Add to those parties hockey Sunday morning and a play date for Joshua (and Mark) late morning on Sunday... I didn't run again until Monday. And, as you can tell I had lots of reasons for not doing so (notice, I did NOT use the word excuse... because I am very comfortable with my decision. - mini "woot" for me!)

I hopped on the treadmill for Monday's run assuming the run would be a repeat of Week 5, day 1, with my reps set at 5:3:5:3:5. I plugged in to swoon over watch Mr. Dean Winchester fighting demons and taking names and began my comfortable pace. As the timer rolled over the 5 minute mark, I had a slight panic attack that I had chosen the wrong "day" on my running app... and not wanting to lose my stats, decided to go with it. At 8 minutes, the lady in my earbuds finally told me to slow down for my walk interval. My first 8 minute run since October (yay!). After completing the run, I double checked. Week 5, day 2 is actually a 8:5:8 run. Air fist pumps all around!

THEN I remembered what was coming next... (gulp) The dreaded challenging Week 5 day 3 run is the first 20 minute run without stopping.

"Don't be put off, you've been preparing for this for 5 weeks, just keep a steady pace and keep going."

That's is what the app says when you click on the w5d3 run.

JUST.KEEP.GOING. (cue the Dori quote from Finding Nemo that pops into my head every time I read that "just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...")

YIKES.

"steady run" - check -  gonna use the treadmill for this one because; well, I can manage the speed myself. Nothing more "steady" than that!

"keep going"... I was torn on that one. You see, after completing this program the first time, I started playing with intervals as a baseline. I found, when I stuck with 10:1s, I would be able to go FURTHER, at a faster pace. So, I was conflicted on whether I should go "balls to the walls" and see how far I COULD run at a steady pace, or if I should say "nuts to that" and go straight to 2 10:1 intervals. After all, the furthest I have run without stopping in the past 3 months was my last run of 8 minutes... and before injury, I had been using 10:1s for at least the last 2 months as well... Which means it has likely been half a YEAR since I last ran more than 10 minutes straight!

I decided to see how I felt as I went. And go from there.

And (double air fist pump!!), I ran for 15 minutes without stopping, at a speed of 4.5 MPH, and an incline of .5% (I know, lame, but still an incline!).

Let's let that set in for a moment...

Yeah. I'm pretty proud of myself.

After 15 minutes, I slowed down to 3.5 mph for a quick water break for 1 minute, then sped right back up for another 5 minutes. My LAST minute of running... at (drum roll, pls!) 5.3 mph.

AND I did it ALL BY MYSELF.

SMILES ALL AROUND.

I have a running date on Friday. I am looking forward to getting back outside again... but I really REALLY hope this blasted strong wind goes away before then!