Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Running Update

I think you guys know I swear by the Couch to 5K Plan, and even have it in spreadsheet form (remember I'm a CPA and love excel!) that I've emailed to a million (at least!) people over the past 2 years. Hopefully you saw my post about how Mr. Sasha lost an amazing 60 pounds with the help of the C25K. He was hot before, but you should see him now. Seriously, go see him now.

I first completed the plan after the birth of The Politician in 2003 and was able to get 10 pounds below my pre-baby weight. I ran my first 5K in April 2004 with a time of 34:30.

I had to take a break from running when I got pregnant with The Wild Child in 2005 and had another difficult pregnancy. In fact, I had to continue to take blood pressure medicine until she was 5 months old, and that wore me out so bad that I didn't take up running again seriously until late summer 2006. Once again, I turned to the Couch to 5K.

My most recent goal was to get below 30 minutes in a 5K. I did that twice in 2007 and was so proud!

I have a few 5Ks I'll be running in this spring, and in mid-April I'll be running my first 10K as a leg of a marathon relay I am doing with some of my college sorority sisters.

I've been working on distance recently and am up to about 4.5 miles. In March I want to take it to 5 miles, and by the beginning of April be consistently running 6 miles. Yay me!

So how is it going for you guys?

17 comments:

Kate said...

Going well! I am in week 6 - I had to take 2 weeks off due to an injury (still worked out but couldn't run). I have lost the 6 lbs that creeped on last fall/holiday season and 2 of the 15 remaining baby lbs. - only 13 lbs to go until I am at my pre-1st pregancy weight (130). Plus, since I have been doing more weight training - I think I will be a much more toned 130 than I used to be:) On the speed front, I have been using faster speeds for the intervals & can now do the 5K in 30 minutes - woohoo!

Joy said...

I am excited to be able to leave an update this time! I finally got started this week! Just completed day 2 of week 1 & I'm sore but feel GREAT! I have been alternating running days with focused workouts (arms/abs) to try to get at least 30 min a day, since I can't workout on the weekends!.. I again want to Thank you sooo much! Your pic's of Mr Sasha also helped me convince my husband to join me on this journey! Which hopefully will keep us both on track & accountable to each other! :o) Now, I just need to find some great running tunes for the ipod!!

Anonymous said...

Um, yeah. Still thinking running is a crazy thing to do willingly. Sorry. Now walking? I'm up to 2+ miles 3 times a week. Walking I can do!

Lori said...

I fell back onto the couch for 2 weeks, but I'm off again and back on the plan.
Sounds like your an old pro, isn't it amazing how easy it is to stop and yet so hard to start again. You'd never know I ran a marathon 4 years ago based on the fact that now I can barely run 5 minutes.

Ashley said...

Geeze girl! You're doing great!

I hope to get there someday.

Rachael said...

Week 4. Haven't seen any weight loss (which I'd hoped for), but glad to be running again!

Multislacking Mama said...

Share it with me. Teach me, please. I need a diversion.

Multislacking Mama said...

To Sasha:

This is from Chandler. I have a kitten named Oliver. I have a cat named Phoebe. And she is cute. And she is mean to Oliver. I have a dog named Hailey. And I and she eats dog food. And then I have a dog named Daisy. And she is cute. And she is yellow. And she loves to play ball. And she loves to play with Hailey. And shes white, too. And Sasha from Chandler.

(notes typed by Holly)

A.D. said...

I'm in week 5, and I'm sick again so I'll probably be here for a few weeks. Other than having to repeat b/c of sickness, I've been making pretty good progress!

Jennifer said...

I am on Week 7. I feel great and have lost right at 24 pounds! I am running a 5k in April...a 10k in May and another 5k in July. I can't believe I am a runner..if I can do it...ANYONE can!

Southern Mom said...

Do you run in the morning or after work? I have been trying to start running ever since my daughter was born. She is three, so obviously what I'm doing is not working but hopefully this plan will!

Sasha said...

Southern Mom- on Tuesdays and Thursdays I go straight home and run and Mr. Sasha goes to pick up the kids. He gets home about the time I finish my workout.

I also get a run in on Saturday and Sunday for sure- so that's 4 times a week.

Although I am a morning person, I can't imagine getting up any earlier than I already do- 5:40!

Anonymous said...

I'm still going, too! I'm on wk 6... and since I'm pg, I think I'm going to step it up a bit more gradually than the c25k actually does, but I'm just proud that I'm still running!
I have said it a million times and I'll say it again... the c25k and Sasha changed my life - I started in Jan 2007. My hubby used to tease me about saying that... but he started c25k 6 wks ago and said the very same thing to me this morning!
Sasha, I think your revolution is on... :)

LSU Melanie said...

finished my first 5k in 32 minutes!!!!!! AND I was only on week 4.. Thank you Thank you Thank you for sending this program to me....IT MOTIVATED ME, I was not a runner EVER until I started the program!!!

Joy said...

Hi Sasha,

I would be honored to be added to your blogroll! I absolutely LOVE your blog & it's greatly because of you that I am on this Journey! Thanks!! I can't wait to add your bling to my blog... but holding that as motivation to get thru the next few weeks! (SAD, I know)I hope you don't mind that I added your link on my blog!! Hopefully I can start you a SC fan base & get the revolution going in this town! :o)

Joy

Anonymous said...

I am so doing the couch to 5k. you can download these nifty podcasts at Itunes by Ullrey to help you. I am just starting it, but I hope to be ready to run a half marathon in December.

Beach Bum said...

I am on week 4. Last week, I ran 6 out of 7 days! It's coming along! I LOVE the spreadsheet. I had to redo Week 3 b/c I realized while going through old emails that I should be running at 6 instead of 5. I was so excited to start the C25K plan that I didn't read ALL of the directions! I'm proud of myself and need to hit the treadmill again today! My personal goal is run a minimum of 30 minutes a day!