41 replies to this topic

[walk2lose]

Hi everyone!

So this past spring I decided I would do a 5k, turkey trot on Thanksgiving. I figured it would be a good way to get started. Then I signed up for a half marathon for early Oct. I'll be walking most of the half marathon. But I still want and intend to do the couch to 5k traing and run, ok trot the turkey trot. I am not and have never been a fast runner. Anyway many communites have turkey trots on Thanksgiving.

So the big question is would anyone else like to virtual train to do a 5k turkey trot together? It's 15 weeks away so that's more than enough time to be up and running even for a newbie like me. Or should I say a returning newbie, since I use to run years and years ago. By the way a 5K would burn about 300 calories minimum. I will probably benefit from a cushion like that on Thanksgiving.

If you interested in doing a turkey trot, let me know.

Nancy

[nebulous]

Nancy,
I am totally up for your challenge.....

As I posted a few days ago, I am going to attempt a 5 K in September, but I am also interested in another 5 K in November (to help support funds for the homeless in Dallas.)

How do you want this to work...any plan? I am ready to start "training."

[CarrieinDE]

Hi! I wish you luck -- I started running just about one year ago today and it was exactly what I needed to get the last 30 lbs off. Now I challenge myself with longer distances and improving my speed. I am super slow...

I am here on the sidelines, rooting you on. Go to http://www.c25k.com/ and also do some searches for mp3 downloads for running -- you can download podcasts and mp3s with music that can help cue you when you need to run vs. walk.

GOOD LUCK! (And gobble, gobble)
Carrie

[walk2lose]

Thanks Carrie,

Since I have 30 till my JC goal and 40 till my personal goal it's good to hear. Plus I knew about the c25k websites but didn't realize that you could download a program on your mp3 to tell you to run or walk.

Nebuous,

I'm pretty sure if week check the c25k sites we can figure a way to log our progress. I'll check some of the sites. I have them on facebook too. The one from the c25k site is pretty easy going but we may decide to follow at our own pace. Basically it's warm up for atleast 10 min walking then jog a short distance then walk for a while, and then repeat for 20 - 30 min. Plus stretching. Gradually you fill in the 5K distance with running.

We could check in daily or weekly with our workout info. I don't think they record times but by week and workout. I suppose part of it will be what keeps you motivated and if we have questions for each other.

I admit I'm not the best with charts and I'm not sure that this really requires one.
I'll check back with more information. Maybe I can copy the c25k plan or the website.

Nancy

[TexasJenn]

Sign me up! I grew up in Maryland- will be there this upcoming week in fact. I did the Turkey Trot at Camp Letts in Annapolis one year.

I'm not sure we'll be heading back for Thanksgiving, though- we usually go home at Christmas instead. That said, I'll just do one here in Texas instead!

I just bought new running shoes- man it makes such a difference. It's the best $100 investment in my mental and physical health! I don't have a ton of time these days so I'm walking whenever I can and then I run at the gym (it was 107 with heat index today- there will be no outside running. Walking is bad enough) for 20- 30 minutes a few times a week.

Jenn

[walk2lose]

Welcome Jenn,

I thought of all of you from Texas when I saw a weather map that showed TX with the word sizzle written across it. I don't know how you all do it, I whine that we've had 30 plus days of 90+ degree days here in MA. But I am working outside so 8 hours of 90's gets old. Glad you have some experience Jenn, since it's been so long since I've run.

Here's the C25k address: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181shtml
plus the facebook site: http://facebook.com/c25kplan

Hope these help. I'm going to download the c25k plan on to my mp3 so that it can cue me when to run and when to walk. I did a bit of running/ walking this morning. Did 3 miles total. Sadly I think it took me longer than my normal walk. Oh my! It will get better.

Nancy
PS. If you look at the facebook page, people check in writing W2D3 completed. In other words week 2 day 3. That may be a good way for us to keep track of our progress.

[Mrs.BClark]

Wow what a great thread. My husband is actually training for the Atlanta Half-Marathon on Thanksgiving Day and I was thinking about doing the 5k and having our son "run" in the kids "race". I did W1D1 yesterday and was amazed at how well I did and how much easier it was after 7.5 weeks on Jenny Craig and on my treadmill at home than when I tried last summer outside on a track. I am very glad JC has me feeling better and that I am much more active.

So here's the thing. I have every intention of completing this training, but I am terrified that I am going to do all this great training on my treadmill and then fall flat on my face when I have to run up the Georgia hills. lol Plus, I think my husband might be running the half-marathon at the same time which means I would have to be pushing our heavy jogging stroller and 35-40 pound then 3 year old while I ran.

Do you think it would be ok if I just ran the Turkey Trot on my treadmill until I can find a 5k outside that doesn't have a race my husband is going to do at the same time??

[nebulous]

That should be fine.....most of my training I am doing right now is walking with my Leslie Sansone dvds....it is way too hot to go outside and walk/jog in Texas this time of year.

[walk2lose]

Hi Brenda,

Welcome! Sounds like your doing well on your training. As far as the Turkey Trots I'm doing the Feaster Five in Andover, MA. It's more of a fun run, they say it's not a race to worry about your time. People actually come with kids and dogs. I guess doing it on your treadmill would be fine, kind of lonely. Maybe see if someone wants to do it with you and share the burden, or watch the baby for a half hour. They could be the cheering crew. At my race apparently people dress up and there are like 3 Bands and whole families havedone it for years as a Thanksgiving tradition. So if you have family or friends coming for dinner maybe start a new tradition of running the race first together.

Misty,

I hope you haven't melted. I feel so greatful that we have finally had a couple cool days. Of course if it's snowing here for Thanksgiving, always a possibilty, you guys will be nice and comfy on race day. Could you walk/jog on a treadmill like Brenda and Jenn? The goodthing is right now if you do jog it's like for 1 min. max then walk. Take plenty of water with you.

Hope it cools down for you guys, I'll just buy more polartec.

Nancy

[TexasJenn]

I just got back from vacation with the family (completely intentionally non-Jenny- I now need to detox from cheese and hummus).

I walked a lot while I was there but it's not the same. We went straight from the airport to the grocery store where I stocked up on the fruits and veggies from the week.

School starts for my son tomorrow and I'm vaguely entertaining the idea of waking up early and doing a yoga dvd and then I'll walk during his piano lesson tomorrow afternoon.

We'll see! I'll report in.

Jenn

[nebulous]

Yes, school starts tomorrow. I am starting to cringe now....all those students wandering around a new building....needing help to open their lockers. It is going to be a busy day. *sigh*

My goal is to stick with the plan and continue exercising in the midst of a busy school year. I forced myself to walk 2miles this evening. I am glad I did it. Now we shall see if I can force myself to exercise after my first day back to teaching.

[walk2lose]

Misty, it might be kind of relaxing to get out and do some walking after school. Get all those combinations out of your head. Great job getting out today.

Jenn, glad you had a good vacation. Atleast you got alot of walking in and you'll be back on plan. Plus I can think of alot of worse things to have eaten on vacation than cheese and hummus. Sounds like you weren't too bad.

Well, I actually ran a mile straight, okay ran is a total exaggeration. Trotted really slowly, with the batwings flapping in the breeze and my jiggly thighs flapping too. Oh and it was on a main road. No one wrecked from the shock. I even ran most of the 2nd mile home. Then I saw myself in the window of an antique store, talk about irony. I realized I am one. But I was so happy and it felt so good to be troting along again. It's not a pretty site but who cares. I will get there and I realized that people driving on cell phones and not noticing me is a good thing. Hopefully they won't take a video and post it on youtube. Well if they did I'd authorize JC to use it in an ad. We are finally getting some rain for the first time in 3 months, like several windswept inches for the next 3 days. We need it deparately, but it may put a crimp in running outside. I may wiifit jog for a few days.

Good luck getting back in to the swing of the school year. Take care.

Nancy

[walk2lose]

It's official, I have signed up for the Feaster Five in Andover, MA for Thanksgiving morning. Wow! Does this mean I almost a runner/racer? They also have different seminars all week long that week in the evenings. Can't beleive I'll be running a race when I normally would have my hand inside a turkey.

Nancy

[nebulous]

Yeah Nancy!!! If you continue to train, you will be ready.

My first 5k is on September 11th!!! I think I am ready....granted I will walk most of this one. It is way too hot in Texas to do too much running/jogging.


So, I do not think I will be walking anywhere today....I figure that it is ok b/c I have spent most of the day standing, walking around my classroom, and walking around the school. I hardly had a chance to sit down today!!!

Good news, the first day of school is over. The bad news, it is going to be a long school year!

[Mrs.BClark]

Don't worry Misty, I'm sure your year wont be too terrible. So how many days to winter break? Just Kidding =D

Great job Nancy! I am still doing the interval training with Couch to 5k and the thought of running for an entire 5k still scares me a little, but I'm sure that will pass with time as my running part lengthens with each workout.

Jenn, glad to hear you had a good vacation and got some walking in. I hope sliding back into plan will be nice and easy for you.

I am pretty sure that I am going to run the 5k on my treadmill with my husband coaching me through it. He has decided that before my birthday (June 10th) of next year he is determined to see me cross the finish line in a real race and the longer the better and bigger the present lol. Yes my husband is bribing me to run, well in a half-hearted kind of way. Unfortunately work has put a crimp in his training as he is working 15 hour days, so he has demoted his Thanksgiving run from the Half-Marathon to the 10k, but has decided to run in the Nashville Half-Marathon the end of next April since it is only about a 4 hour drive from us and includes some free concerts for the participants. Plus we have never been so sight-seeing is always a big draw for me and my photographers soul.

Good luck with training this week!

[TexasJenn]

I managed the hour of yoga which was definitely needed- it was great. No walking or running today though- it was 102 in San Antonio today. I did vacuum up the inches of dog fur all over my house. Apparently all they did was shed while I was gone.

As soon as I know where we will be for Thanksgiving I'm going to sign up for one of the 5ks. We may have to be in SoCal at my Mother-in-Laws (love her, the rest of them give me the willies) so that would be a great reason to have to get out of the house every day while we're there.

Yay for everyone for sticking with it. Misty- I have such respect for teachers! I know I couldn't do it! In fact my 17 months as a stay at home mom were the longest months of my life. (and my boss was really demanding and the pay stunk)

Jenn

[walk2lose]

Misty, Congrats on making it throught the first day, only 2 more days this week. I read an article that actually reccomends that beginning runners do running and walking in their first races. They actually go faster and recover more quickly. So it's a win/win.

Brenda, even if you do a race just walking and there are lots of them it's good experience just to get use to the nervousness you can feel before a race. Hence the long lines at the port a potties before races. It would be good practice to help you gauge how to pace later. At the half marathon I'm doing in Portland,ME a group of runners from I think Seattle come and pace people through the race. Some run fast others even help the real newbies like me. Talk about a committed group of really nice runners. I will really appreciate them that day. I wish I had been able to just try out a race or two for the fun of it before my first race. My first one some other women tried to make it a big competition years ago, kind of ruined the fun of the race for me.

Jenn, good for you for the yoga, so good for you. Sorry about the heat. I've actually been chilly lately, it's been in the 60's and raw. Quite the change from most of the summer. I want to do a long walk Wed and Thurs.

I have had a little bit of a hiccup. I got rear ended on the way to work Mon. Car has some damage, not bad I hope. But I've been a little stiff and my back is sore by the end of the day. So I think I'll do some yoga tonight. I am fortunate that a good friend is a massage therapist and will do a long massage on me Wed. Plus she also is a Reiki master and knows accupressure. I can't wait to get on her table. So hopefully she will have me back in action. She told me to hold up on the running and do the stretching. Maybe just walk for a few days. Dang. But she is right.

Hope it cools down for those of you sizzling. Misty I sure hope your school is air conditioned, do you have be outside for recess? Take care.

Nancy

[TexasJenn]

Nancy!

Don't underestimate how much you can hurt from "just" a fender-bender! How are you feeling now?

Jenn

PS- time to pat myself on the back as I actually rode my bike to the conference I had to attend today. It was so fun. (and all of maybe a mile there and a mile back but still- it's better than driving!)

[nebulous]

Nancy, how are you feeling?

One more day and I will have survived the first week of school. I am planning on doing a ton of walking this weekend....I have my first 5k on September 11th.

Keep up the good work ladies!

[walk2lose]

Hi Ladies,

I'm doing better, it helps when a good friend is a massage therapist and Reiki Master. She did a great job and did also polarity work on mean, she did water to help with the weight loss. So far it is working well. I'll probably have her do another next week and also do air for my joints. I've gotten a few walks and just alittle bit of jogging in so far this week. That nasty TX heat is headed for us starting Sunday. This morning it is mid 60's cool, dry and clear as a bell. Not bragging just thought for those of you sizzling you could maybe use it as a visual mediation to help cool off.

Misty good luck on your 5k. You'll do great! Just do your own race and take it slower than some others at the beginning, people tend to go out really fast sometimes.

Jenn,
Good for you riding the bike in that heat, you rock.

Well time to get to work.

Nancy