Run 10K and being realistic

A while back I had expressed an interest in trying to have a more purposeful workout, and a coworker told me about a workout program called Couch to 5K. I didn’t want to buy a video so I searched for it in the App Store. The Couch to 5K app did not have great reviews, so I looked for a similar app and found one called Run 10K. It had great reviews, seemed user friendly, and was still cheaper than a DVD so I bought it. I was feeling ambitious so I also bought the Nike+ sensor for my shoes, thinking to use both programs at the same time. (Side note: I do not care for the Nike+ sensor. It doesn’t work well – if at all – on an elliptical machine)

Anyway, I was initially all over the Run 10K app. I knew going into it that I wasn’t going to “run” 10K. I have a hard time running because of the size of my boobs (quite frankly, it hurts no matter how good the sports bra); however, I thought I’d power walk.

The app leads you into running. In that respect it’s very much like the couch to 5k concept. I like that! A person can go from almost no activity to running short distances. Each workout begins with a 5 minute warm-up and then leads into a jog/run and walk combo. In the first week, specifically the first day, you jog for 30 seconds then walk for 4:30 minutes, alternating this pattern 6 or 7 times. The first time I did it, I was freaking exhausted!! It was a killer. In fact the whole week (each “week” is comprised of 3 days) pushed me to my limits.

I gasped.

I panted.

I sweated like a pig in Arizona.

But you know what? It felt good! I like how hard the app pushes me and the fact that I am able to power walk (and even lead into a jog!!) for 3 minutes, three times in a week. I don’t care that the 3 minutes were split into 30 second intervals; it still counts!!

Then I got to week 2 …

Day one of week 2 has you run for a minute. This fat girl couldn’t do it. I tried week 2, day 1 on three separate occasions before giving up. I just could not sustain a power walk or light jog for 6, one minute intervals.

After three attempts I had to have a talk with myself:

Ms. S, I said, you need to know your limitations. You are a fat girl who is just getting into the workout mode.

But, I answered, I should be able to do it! I did week 1!

Yeah, but not easily.

*sigh* You’re right.

So maybe, I countered, you need to stick with week 1 for a while, really master 30 seconds of power walking. Get to the point where you can do a whole 46 minute workout without wanting to die. Then try to do week 2 again.

I had to concede that I was smart :)

So, this is how I’m going to achieve my goal: A minimum of 3 times a week I will go to the gym and do my 10K workout for week 1. If I do this, I will spend 2 hours and 13 minutes a week at the gym. If I go to the gym more than 3 times a week, I will only do the elliptical for 20 minutes so as to not lead to burn out. However, I have a feeling I won’t go to the gym more than 3 times a week. I’m going to continue this pattern until I feel like I can do week 1 of the Run 10K app with at least a little ease.

My experiences with this app – and in my 2 week hiatus from eating well and exercising – I’ve learned some things.

I need to have realistic expectations and goals.

I need to remember that even if other things in my life are going to shit that working out is something I can control.

I need to know my limits and not be disappointed in myself when I’m unable to the achieve the same physical goals as someone half my size.

I need to not overextend myself.

I need to remember that the scale my not reflect my actual weight loss.

I need to have faith in my abilities.