The Chairman's Fitness Challenge Blog

I tried to make the twenty-minute run at my normal pace - that was quite a stretch from the previous 8-minute maximum interval!  I only made it fifteen minutes, took a two-minute recovery, and then finished up the final 5 min.  Overall, I "travelled" about 2.6 miles on the 'mill - it's starting to feel like real running now!

This weekend, I'm going to try to get in two spin classes, then back running on Monday.  

I completed week 5, day two last night after my night class!  It was a challenge (I can't remember the last time I ran close to a mile non-stop for any reason) although I did shorten the planned 5-minute recovery time between the two 8-minute intervals since it felt like more than I needed.  The big test is next - a twenty-minute run non-stop.  Since I am trying to monitor real signs of progress, I've been checking heart rate at the end of each interval; I'm pretty much maxing out at about 85% of max at the end of an interval (and that drops quickly back to 60% or so within a minute or two).

I threw in a full-body circuit of what we used to call the "Nautilus machines" (not sure what they are called now) after the run.  I've been neglecting my weight training since starting C25K and I don't want to lose all the gains I've achieved, so a half-hour circuit can't hurt.  Once C25K is over, I'll be getting back into proper free weight training on an upper/lower body split.

It looks like the 20-minute run will take place Saturday- wish me luck!

I decided to skip the current 52-day challenge, since the combination of a new job, new classes and new support activities (driving the daughter to piano, etc.) made developing realistic goals a total crapshoot in terms of how often I would be able to work out, etc. For the first three weeks or so, I had a really hard time getting to the gym (but I pretty much maintained my weight etc.)

In my quest to find a cardio activity that wouldn't require a half-hour of round-trip driving to get to the gym, I got it into my head that running would be a great alternative! I jogged a bit way back when, running a two-mile circuit a few times a week, but this time around I decided running a 5k race would make a goal to shoot for, attainable but definitely not easy given my current weight and lack of recent running experience.

I found the couch-to-5k program (C25K - click here) and decided it would be my next challenge. Given the working out I've been doing, I decided to start with week 3, and do most of my initial running on a "random" setting on a treadmill at the gym (so much for eliminating the drive!). I'm at the end of week 4 on the program (my week 2) and so far it's going well. I added extra intervals onto the week 3 program to feel like I got a good workout, but really don't feel that need with week 4!

I haven't decided whether to jump into a forum like the MH running forum or one of the others out there - I might lurk on one or two for a while. And now, I'm obsessing about a proper pair of shoes (Stability? Comfort? Reebok, Nike or Asics?) for when I do start running outside. If all goes well, I'm about 5 weeks away from a 5k non-stop run!