You helped me succeed, Thanks to all of you! Here's my story
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 4:02 pm
I have enjoyed the camaraderie, support and encouragement I have read in the forums as I progressed through the C25K program. I have visited the forum just about every day since beginning the program and now I want to add my experience to the mix.
I am 31 and although I am not obese I certainly considered myself a couch potato prior to beginning the program. I smoked cigarettes, loved fast food, and spent most of my life sitting down. My belly was getting jiggly and the man boobs were starting to fill in, I would get winded going up stairs on occasion, and wanted to get outside to enjoy the beautiful weather rather than sit around and watch TV. Those factors as well as health issues being experienced by family and friends have helped push me to change my ways and improve my health.
In the past I tried to get in shape by using an elliptical machine and some other gizmo you would see on infomercials every Sunday morning. We got both of them from my wifes mother and kept them in our basement for a number of years. Every once in a while I would pull them out of storage with the intent to get fit but a week or two later I would stop using them. They would always find their way back to the dark corner of the basement along with my hopes of getting fit. I had to try something different. I wanted to try running because of its low cost of entry, its simplicity and the wonderful side effect of exercising somewhere other than my basement.
“I don’t know if I can do this, but I want to do this”
I had not run since I was in college and I was not particularly good at it back then. I always finished in the back of the pack when we had to do a mile run in gym class. I hated running, it hurt my legs and I was always panting for my next breath if I tried to keep up with the pack. Combine those physical aspects of running just described with having to do the running on public streets where everyone and their brother could see I was struggling made running an even worse experience back then.
I heard of the C25K program some time ago and I found myself drawn to the program because of its proven history of helping people like me get into running. I have a tendency to research things a lot before making a decision, whether it is a new TV or running shoes. I needed to learn how to run. That seemed like such a stupid question to ask, everyone know how to run, we’ve been doing it since we were kids right? I guess not. The most important discoveries I found were my flat feet make running a difficult chore for my body without the proper footwear and also that I was really trying too hard to run at a pace my body was not ready for. With that new found knowledge, and knowledge is power, I felt more confident that I could give running another chance.
I have an IPhone so I naturally went to the app store to see if any C25K apps existed and if so, pick one to use as my guide. Obviously I chose the Get Running app. It is slick looking, provides vocal encouragement, and really is simple to use and follow. Along with the app I had to purchase new running shoes that are compatible with my flat feet. Speaking of shoes, anyone else find it difficult to find shoes that do not look like a rainbow just threw up all over them? I prefer a much more subdued color scheme and settled on a nice pair of Asics that suited my feet as well as my personality. In order to fully outfit myself, and I think to mentally give myself the best chance of survival, I also got some running shorts, shirts, and socks. Now that I had invested a reasonable chunk of cash into this latest desire to get fit I had even more reason to not give up.
I started W1R1 May 13th with nervous excitement. I found the runs manageable but certainly difficult enough that it confirmed I was out of shape. As I progressed through the rest of week one and on through week two and three I could feel that my endurance was actually improving. Each run completed was building my confidence that I would survive the next.
"I can do this!"
As I progressed I really had to work on keeping myself at a pace slow enough where I could conceivably manage some kind of conversation while still actually jogging. On occasion I felt like my walking pace and slow jogging pace were nearly identical but keeping a reasonable pace really is a key to success. With the closer monitoring of my pace I found each subsequent run to be perfectly manageable and I truly began to look forwards to the next run. What!? Did I say that? Looking forwards to running? Gasp! I Know, Right!
I was becoming a runner and continuing to smoke was incompatible with that goal. I quit smoking June 12th, the day I started week five. I knew this week was a huge milestone in the program and I had to give it my best. The longer run times of W5D1 and W5D2 were milestones in themselves and I got a huge sense of accomplishment when I finished them that pushed me to believe I really could complete the ominous W5D3.
I ran W5D3 yesterday with success! It was beautiful out, not too hot with a mild breeze which helped. I kept my pace low, head up, and kept my gaze on each next street sign down the road. I was in the zone, focused, determined, committed. As every five minutes message came I knew I was getting closer to the goal. Five minutes completed, half way through the run for the day, Quarter of an hour! Holy $#!^, FINISHED! I did it! It was a struggle, I was out of breath at the end, I was sweating like crazy, I felt it in my legs, but I did it.
I really want to stress that if you did not succeed you first attempt at W5D3 do not give in, the conditions will all fall into place for you to succeed, give it another go, watch your pace and focus, you will be so happy you did!
I have come a long way in the past 5 weeks. I don’t know if I have lost weight since I have started the program (I don’t have a scale and the weight of new muscle probably offsets any fat lost right now) but I do feel that my body is getting toned and I know I am certainly getting in better shape. I no longer smoke cigarettes and feel there is an excellent chance I will stay away from them since I am now a runner. Lastly, I enjoy, really, seriously enjoy, getting outside in the sunshine for a jog around the neighborhood. I feel confident that I can complete the program, and look forwards to doing so.
As I mentioned in the beginning of my story I have enjoyed the camaraderie, support and encouragement shown on this forum. It has given me the strength to continue on and see that success is possible. I thank all of you for playing a role in giving me the confidence to stick with the program and succeed.
I hope you found my story inspirational but I recognized as I wrote this it may not have been particularly entertaining for you to read. Perhaps you did enjoy my story or perhaps it ended up being more of a therapeutic exercise for me. Either way, thanks for your time, and Get Running!
I am 31 and although I am not obese I certainly considered myself a couch potato prior to beginning the program. I smoked cigarettes, loved fast food, and spent most of my life sitting down. My belly was getting jiggly and the man boobs were starting to fill in, I would get winded going up stairs on occasion, and wanted to get outside to enjoy the beautiful weather rather than sit around and watch TV. Those factors as well as health issues being experienced by family and friends have helped push me to change my ways and improve my health.
In the past I tried to get in shape by using an elliptical machine and some other gizmo you would see on infomercials every Sunday morning. We got both of them from my wifes mother and kept them in our basement for a number of years. Every once in a while I would pull them out of storage with the intent to get fit but a week or two later I would stop using them. They would always find their way back to the dark corner of the basement along with my hopes of getting fit. I had to try something different. I wanted to try running because of its low cost of entry, its simplicity and the wonderful side effect of exercising somewhere other than my basement.
“I don’t know if I can do this, but I want to do this”
I had not run since I was in college and I was not particularly good at it back then. I always finished in the back of the pack when we had to do a mile run in gym class. I hated running, it hurt my legs and I was always panting for my next breath if I tried to keep up with the pack. Combine those physical aspects of running just described with having to do the running on public streets where everyone and their brother could see I was struggling made running an even worse experience back then.
I heard of the C25K program some time ago and I found myself drawn to the program because of its proven history of helping people like me get into running. I have a tendency to research things a lot before making a decision, whether it is a new TV or running shoes. I needed to learn how to run. That seemed like such a stupid question to ask, everyone know how to run, we’ve been doing it since we were kids right? I guess not. The most important discoveries I found were my flat feet make running a difficult chore for my body without the proper footwear and also that I was really trying too hard to run at a pace my body was not ready for. With that new found knowledge, and knowledge is power, I felt more confident that I could give running another chance.
I have an IPhone so I naturally went to the app store to see if any C25K apps existed and if so, pick one to use as my guide. Obviously I chose the Get Running app. It is slick looking, provides vocal encouragement, and really is simple to use and follow. Along with the app I had to purchase new running shoes that are compatible with my flat feet. Speaking of shoes, anyone else find it difficult to find shoes that do not look like a rainbow just threw up all over them? I prefer a much more subdued color scheme and settled on a nice pair of Asics that suited my feet as well as my personality. In order to fully outfit myself, and I think to mentally give myself the best chance of survival, I also got some running shorts, shirts, and socks. Now that I had invested a reasonable chunk of cash into this latest desire to get fit I had even more reason to not give up.
I started W1R1 May 13th with nervous excitement. I found the runs manageable but certainly difficult enough that it confirmed I was out of shape. As I progressed through the rest of week one and on through week two and three I could feel that my endurance was actually improving. Each run completed was building my confidence that I would survive the next.
"I can do this!"
As I progressed I really had to work on keeping myself at a pace slow enough where I could conceivably manage some kind of conversation while still actually jogging. On occasion I felt like my walking pace and slow jogging pace were nearly identical but keeping a reasonable pace really is a key to success. With the closer monitoring of my pace I found each subsequent run to be perfectly manageable and I truly began to look forwards to the next run. What!? Did I say that? Looking forwards to running? Gasp! I Know, Right!
I was becoming a runner and continuing to smoke was incompatible with that goal. I quit smoking June 12th, the day I started week five. I knew this week was a huge milestone in the program and I had to give it my best. The longer run times of W5D1 and W5D2 were milestones in themselves and I got a huge sense of accomplishment when I finished them that pushed me to believe I really could complete the ominous W5D3.
I ran W5D3 yesterday with success! It was beautiful out, not too hot with a mild breeze which helped. I kept my pace low, head up, and kept my gaze on each next street sign down the road. I was in the zone, focused, determined, committed. As every five minutes message came I knew I was getting closer to the goal. Five minutes completed, half way through the run for the day, Quarter of an hour! Holy $#!^, FINISHED! I did it! It was a struggle, I was out of breath at the end, I was sweating like crazy, I felt it in my legs, but I did it.
I really want to stress that if you did not succeed you first attempt at W5D3 do not give in, the conditions will all fall into place for you to succeed, give it another go, watch your pace and focus, you will be so happy you did!
I have come a long way in the past 5 weeks. I don’t know if I have lost weight since I have started the program (I don’t have a scale and the weight of new muscle probably offsets any fat lost right now) but I do feel that my body is getting toned and I know I am certainly getting in better shape. I no longer smoke cigarettes and feel there is an excellent chance I will stay away from them since I am now a runner. Lastly, I enjoy, really, seriously enjoy, getting outside in the sunshine for a jog around the neighborhood. I feel confident that I can complete the program, and look forwards to doing so.
As I mentioned in the beginning of my story I have enjoyed the camaraderie, support and encouragement shown on this forum. It has given me the strength to continue on and see that success is possible. I thank all of you for playing a role in giving me the confidence to stick with the program and succeed.
I hope you found my story inspirational but I recognized as I wrote this it may not have been particularly entertaining for you to read. Perhaps you did enjoy my story or perhaps it ended up being more of a therapeutic exercise for me. Either way, thanks for your time, and Get Running!