Week 9, Day 3: I’m a C25K Graduate!

I just completed the C25K program this morning with my W9D3 run! When I first started the program, I was definitely doubtful about my chances of completing C25K. When it comes to exercise activities, I usually lose interest after a few days. After all, it’s much easier to sit at home than it is to do something! But I made it my goal to build my endurance (which I accomplished). Plus C25K makes it easy to get into running. Looking back at when I started, it’s amazing at how far I’ve come. I remember my first C25K session I could barely complete the 1 minute running intervals, and I actually had to rest halfway through the session (that’s after a total of 4 running minutes…). Now I’ve completed three 3-mile runs! Had you told me a couple of months ago that I’d be running three miles in a few weeks, I wouldn’t have believed you. Well here I am, proof that the C25K program actually works! As I mentioned before I started C25K, I am hoping that someone else thinking about starting C25K or skeptical that they can complete the program will read through my progress over the past 9 weeks and see that it is possible, even for the worst of the couch potatoes!

Anyway, yesterday my sister informed me of the now-obvious fact that I could run the entire loop at my park in one session. For some reason I was under the impression that the path was much longer than it actually is — which is why I’d always run halfway through my session and then turn around. I thought that I’d end up having to walk 3 miles to get back to the car if I didn’t turn around. As it turns out, the path is 3.66 miles. Including my warm up and cool down walks, my runs are just about 3.6 miles. Perfect! I ended up completing today’s run just about where I started it. From now on when I run 3 miles, I will do the entire loop.

Physically, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to complete today’s run. I actually did end up having some ankle issues after Thursday’s run. My ankle was hurting Friday, but by Saturday evening the pain had gone away. I woke up today and it was a little sore, but I was walking normally and it didn’t cause any problems during the run. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow if today’s run was a mistake! Last time the pain didn’t kick in until the next day…

My legs were also burning like crazy for the last half mile or so of today’s run. I think this was due to the fact that it got much hotter pretty quickly this morning, so by the end I wasn’t running in nice, cool weather anymore. The heat just wears me out and takes everything out of me. Speaking of which, I have a long day of yard work ahead of me, so I better go get started.