Week 4 Day 1 of Couch to 5K

I have started Week 4 of the Couch to 5K.  On Saturday, D and I went out to the Freedom Parkway Path.  The treadmill is a bit boring, and I wanted to know how I was doing on hills.  Unfortunately for me, I told him where I wanted to go before I looked at what Week 4 was.

Saturday morning we got up and finally got around to leaving the house.  We were half way there when D realized he forgot his Garmin.  I said I could turn around but he said no (which was good, because we both would have gone back in and sat on the couch).  I told him that it was a pretty accurate 3 miles from the 3 mile marker to Boulevard and back.

So D started with me to "warm-up" for 5 minutes.  When we got to the 3 mile marker (if you saw the path, you'd understand), D took off.  I walked another minute.  Then I started.  1/4 mile of running.  And it was on an uphill (or as D called, flat).  I did my best...I wasn't really sure if I held my speed.  It seemed to be the longest 1/4 mile ever.  Finally done.  Walk for 1/8 of a mile.  Then the hard part...run for .5 miles.  I started and hoped that I would hit the downhill but get to walk uphill.  To be honest, I got to .2 miles and wondered how soon I could die.  Seriously, so out of shape.  My legs just didn't want to move.  I no longer cared about the time, just when my watch would hit 1.12 miles (.25 warmup +.25 run + .12 walk + .5 run).  I actually ran down the hill under the tunnel and the hill back up wasn't that bad.  And then I got to walk .25 miles.  Around 1.3, I saw D as he was coming back. I hoped he wouldn't have to wait long.

The next .25 seemed a lot slower than the first one.  It all seemed to be a slow incline.  I haven't looked at my watch data to see if it was.  Finally I got to Boulevard and walked.  Of course back down the incline.  I was trying to psych myself for the .5 miles.  And then it was time to run.  I went for a while and it was definitely easier than the first .5.  Most of it was on a decline.  I really hoped I would have to walk when I got to the tunnel hill.  Finally 2.25 hit on the watch.  I was right before the tunnel!  Yes, no running up the hill.  And I was done the W4D1.  Except I still had .75 miles to get back to the car.  No big deal.  .25 miles was walking.  That would get me to 2.50.

I decided to run from 2.5 to 2.75.  By now my legs were shot. They really didn't want to move.  But I kept going.  Finally could walk.  I crossed North Highland and I knew the 3 mile marker would be there.  I hit 3 miles at 43:28.  Definitely getting faster.

And no pain in my pelvis.

Today it is going to rain.  My pelvis has been talking all morning.

Here is my watch from Saturday. (I did W4D2 on the treadmill).

W4D1 3.23 miles from start to finish