couch 2 5k: week 9, day 3 {5.8.2013} – graduation edition!

I DID IT!

I completed each and every session of Couch 2 5K and I cannot even begin to believe it!

I was stoked for this morning’s run. Of course, this made me nervous, too, because the more excitement I have, the more I tend to run myself out.

I also faced a challenge. My friend asked me if I was going to actually run 3.1 miles, and I really wasn’t sure. The final week of C25K is pretty much all the same: five minutes of warm up, five minutes of cool down and 30 minutes of running. I’ve been logging over 3.1 miles overall in that time, with 2.6ish of that being actual running, so I’m definitely finishing a 5K in under 40 minutes, but I haven’t run a precise 3.1 miles.

So I decided that I would do my warm up, knock out my running, and then I would try to run through my cool down to hit the desired distance mark (I would still have some walking to do to get home, so I figured it would even out). I wasn’t as good as I wanted to be.

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These numbers aren’t 100% exact. I ended up walking .64 miles in eight minutes and running 2.97 miles in 32. Sadly, I was a little under hydrated and I got a nasty cramp between my shoulder blades that hung me up for a bit. But I am right there. And I am confident that by the time I get through a week or two of my 5K-10K training app (by active.com), I will be running 3.1 and beyond.

I’m excited to move on to the next stage of my journey. With my tonsilectomy scheduled for the end of June, I am not expecting to make tons of progress, but I will do what I can and pick it up after my recovery period.

In the meantime, Mr PugRunner is just starting Week 9. I don’t think he’s planning on going further than the current program, but I think he will continue with the status quo, which is great. I’m very proud of him for his efforts, and I’m excited to be running with him and our friends at our first 5K.

I’ve definitely noticed some changes in my body. My legs are starting to show some serious definition (especially my calves and my quads). My clothes are hanging looser. I used to have a serious sweet tooth, and while I still do enjoy desserts, my cravings have tended towards proteins and salty foods instead, which is completely new to me. I’ve managed to stay off the Diet Dr Pepper (except for a glass occasionally while eating out), and am sticking mostly to water, with some Gatorade thrown in if I need a boost after a particularly hot run (Which I admit, I do not love. The Gatorade, not the hot run).

And remember when I was all “socks don’t matter?” Yeah, well I get it now. I couldn’t find my running socks the other night before I headed out for a 7 mile walk with my girlfriend, so I grabbed a pair of plain cotton instead. I didn’t notice anything while I was actually walking, but when I got home and stripped them off… Well. All I can say is that I made a big mistake. I’m going to have to get some more pairs because it seems my washing machine or dryer has eaten two of the three pair of good socks I bought when I got my running shoes. I’m a bit annoyed by that.

I celebrated tonight with an ice cream sundae on the couch. It seemed like the right thing to do. I’m giving myself a day to rest, and then I’m hitting my 5-10K app!

Can’t wait to get started!