1.15.2008

Is anybody out there?

I don't know if anyone is still clicking by every now and again, but if you are, I'm impressed. If you aren't ... I don't blame you one bit. Hopefully I will be able to get some of you back and some new readers as well. I can use all the advice and encouragement I can get.

I've been keeping tabs on all of you and kicking myself for dropping the running.

But I'm starting over. Again. It's a little embarassing to be starting from square 1 again ... but I've lost everything I gained.

Anyway - if you don't know me, I'm Lisa. I'm a graduate student in Exercise Physiology. Some joke that I'm not in good shape at all - except, not such a funny joke. But, the point is - I know all about running, what it does to you physiologically, etc. But I'm not good at mentally - and feasibly. So that's where you all come in, hopefully.

Last time, I had a bit of a problem starting out slow, which I think ended up causing me a lot of pain. So this time around, I'm sticking to my schedule and not doing too much, too soon.

Here's the plan:
Week 1 - (run 1, walk 2) x 10
Week 2 - (run 1, walk 1) x 15
Week 3 - (run 2, walk 1) x 10
Week 4 - (run 3, walk 1) x 8
Week 5 - (run 4, walk 1) x 6
Week 6 - (run 6, walk 1) x 5
Week 7 - (run 9, walk 1) x 3
Week 8 - (run 12, walk 1) x 2, then run 6
Week 9 - (run 15, walk 1) x 2
Week 10 - run 30!

comments?
Let me know if you think this is doable - or if I should maybe change it somehow.

For now I'm doing my runs on the treadmill at my apartment complex. I only have to get up 40 minutes earlier than usual and I can watch the news while I'm doing it if I feel like it. Plus, I think it will help with my pace so that I don't go faster than I should be. I don't know what an ideal pace is to start out. I did the minutes this morning at 5.5mph (~11 minute pace). This seems slow to my legs, but I don't think faster right now would be good for my breathing, etc. But what do you think? Too fast? Too slow?


Finally, some longish-term goals (by the begginning of Spring - March 21st):
run 30 minutes w/o walk breaks
run 3 miles w/o walk breaks
hopefully do these two things at one time: (10min/mile pace for 3 miles)
then, run my first 5K sometime in April

3 comments:

Ellen Mae said...

I think that's a good plan. Stick to it. Sign up for that 5k and know that you paid $$ to run. I don't think training on the treadmill exclusively is a good idea though since the 5k will be on the road. The impact is different on your legs.

Anyways, good luck. You can do it!

I recently started blogging about my training (as in this month) and have just been looking for inspiration everywhere (including running blogs). I find that if you tell enough people (i.e. email everyone you know your plan and your blog and what you hope to accomplish) that you'll feel a little more obligated to keep it up. That's whats gotten me to stick to it lately since I know family and friends are expecting me to do it.

Got your link through completerunning.com.

Jim said...

Hey Lisa:

Yes, someone is out here. (C: I found you off the RBF site...

Your plan is sound. Like Ellen Mae said, stick to it! And if you get injured, sick, or discouraged, then just dust yourself off and start over again. And again. And again. Until it sticks. That's what I had to do, and 4 years later I can say that sticking with it was one of the best things I ever did. Good luck...I'll stop back by to see you, and please do the same at my blog!

Frayed Laces said...

Hi there--saw that I was getting a few visitors off your page. Thanks for stopping by and referring me along! Keep up with the running. I will pass along my favorite quotation: There will be a day when you can no longer do this. Today is not that day.
That always gets me on the road when I'm feeling discouraged. You can do it!