As we embark on our third week of 5k training I’m curious…. WHERE are you running?
I know when I started it was all about the treadmill. There was something comforting about seeing the minutes and mileage right there on display. However, once I took the leap to running outside I never looked back. Nothing beats hitting the pavement on a beautiful spring day.
So if you haven’t already, consider taking the leap to outside running. Even if it’s just one of these workouts this week…
Week 3 – 4/3/2011
- Workout 1
- Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: 1.) Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) 2.) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) 3.) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) 4.) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)
- Workout 2
- Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: 1.) Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) 2.) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) 3.) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) 4.) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)
- Workout 3
- Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: 1.) Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) 2.) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) 3.) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) 4.) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)
Now let’s check in with Mara and see how she’s doing…
Ugh. This week was HARD. Well, it started out hard. My knee started feeling a little weak bit during my first workout this week, and I’ve been having to take extra care (icing/arnica/stretching etc.) to make it through the week. However, on Saturday I had the extreme pleasure of being joined my youngest sister for our run around our hometown. It was sunny, the company was wonderful, and getting to spend time with her was definitely the highlight of my week. It also made me realize how fun running with someone else can be! For those of you who are running with me, I’m curious – do you run alone or with friends?
(Note: Mara is the writer behind the body-image blog, Medicinal Marzipan, and she is sharing her training with us weekly.)
What a great question Mara! I also like running with partners now and then but I must admit, I love my time outside alone best.
Finally, let’s check in with New Balance and Holly Perkins. Holly has some great advice for us this week!
This week you will get to run for 3 minutes non-stop. While 3 minutes doesn’t seem long, it is a new stimulus on your body. An interesting factoid: it takes the human body 2 full minutes to fully adapt to any change in exercise stimulus. So at the 2 minute mark while running this week, you’ll see exactly how challenging your running speed is on your body. Then, because you get to run for 1 more minute (3 minutes in total), your body is fully subjected to this new physical challenge. Again, even if you know you could run longer, it’s important to stick to the running program as dictated here.
Another fun factoid: Many people think that they get fit during any given workout. But the truth is, the goal of the workout is to fatigue the body beyond its current abilities. Then, it is during recovery that your body actually becomes fit. Therefore, you want to challenge yourself during workouts, but also ensure quality recovery time for the body to rebuild, restructure and “remodel”. This week, be sure to get high quality sleep of at least 7 hours per night.
OK, your turn: Are you a treadmill or outside runner? Do you like to run alone or with friends? Inquiring minds want to know! 🙂
I'm training for my other events (8k, rides, and triathlons) but plan on running the 5k while I'm there. I may shoot for a new PR though I'm not sure if it'll count if it's not timed. Wll it be timed?
Unfortunately it's not. I hope as FitBloggin' grows we can get more official but right now it's just a "fun run"
Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to make it to FitBloggin this year 🙁 but I wanted to follow along and run a 5k around the same time. This had been SO HARD! But I'm doing it and I couldn't be more proud. As of right now, I'm still running on the treadmill I hate starring at my basement wall and I'm so itching to get outside but its still a bit cold (It snowed this week again here in Michigan) and I don't want to drag my daughter along in the cold. So hopefully I will be outside enjoying the spring air! Until then its all about listening to music.
I won't be at Fitbloggin' but I will be doing a 5k with you that day from home. I did my first 5k in June last year, then did one per month thru November. I haven't done one since, and I've been having some back problems since then. I have been running a little though, and definitely will be doing more when the weather finally improves for good. I will be doing a 5k that morning "with" the rest of you. I'll tweet about it! 🙂
I'm an outside runner!!! I do think the tready can be a great place for speedwork. Also, if it is icy where you live during the winter and you hate wearing yak tracks like myself, the treadmill can still be a great place to train as long as you have the incline set to at least 1.
I was lucky enough to run here this weekend;
http://geekturnedathlete.com/2011/04/oh-now-i-rem…
i do both outside and treadmill at the gym.. afterwork it's easier for me to just go straight to the gym.. on the weekends though, it's all about the outdoors ;:-)
I'm running my first 5K this Sunday! The training schedule worked well (though it was mighty cold running outside in the northeast in February!) and I feel ready – and a little nervous. Most of my training was outdoors, only two treadmill workouts when the weather just didn't cooperate. I run with my best friend (my husband 🙂 but we don't talk during the run, only during warmup/cooldown. During the run I really like to focus on my breathing, form, etc.