Topic: Couch to 5K Accountability Thread (Read 89855 times)

Skewbrow · « **Reply #300 on:** 16 Jul 2012, 08:52 »

Last week I did two orienteering courses (the other one I only walked through) plus I cycled everywhere for a total of 70k+. I am inclined to discount those about 40 minute bike rides for the purposes of exercising. It has such low intensity. It might show a benefit (e.g. burn a lot of calories) if I did at least an hour and a half at a time. Vacation time here, so I just might...

Redball · « **Reply #301 on:** 16 Jul 2012, 09:11 »

Depends on your goals. 2 x 40 minutes in calories burned is close to that hour and a half. How long, duration and distance, are the orienteering courses? Through what terrain? I wrote a while back of my first impression of the sport nearly 30 years ago, pre-GPS, and I haven't paid attention to it since.

Skewbrow · « **Reply #302 on:** 16 Jul 2012, 13:41 »

The local orienteering clubs offer a choice 2 km (beginners), 3-4 km (intermediate), 5-6-7 km (advanced) courses all according to skill, endurance, speed, whatever. Lately I've been taking only those 3-4 km courses as my speed is what it is (15 + min /km). That is sort of average among the local hobbyists (or somewhat below, if I elect a tougher course). Of course, the athletes do something like 8 min/km, and (depending on the terrain) world class runner do around 6 minutes/km. The local terrain is relatively flat with patches of marshland interspersed with rocky areas. Mostly wooded (this is Finland, after all) of varying density of trees.

I would expect you get more variety in type of terrain in the US (or central Europe, or, for example Norway) than what I'm seeing here. In Finland you get very different terrains, if you go the areas where there are eskers, ridges and other formations dating back to the ice age, but locally it is more monotone (altitude variations about 100 ft or thereabouts).

This year my streak of 13 years of participating in our annual main event came to an end due to my foot injury. In that relay I have done legs between 8 and 12 km with more warying terrain (12 km is like a marathon to me). My teammates are somewhat faster than I am, but they don't
seem to mind too much.

Did you do orienteering while serving in the army or how did you get interested? IIRC it is not a big sport in the US, though it could become so, if suitable terrains are found within, say college towns.

Redball · « **Reply #303 on:** 16 Jul 2012, 13:58 »

I wrote about this somewhere, maybe here: My wife and I did some light hiking and camping in a Michigan recreation area not far from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the 1980s. It was light enough, but we camped out there at least once in every month of the year. One day, driving down a dirt road, we spotted a man in shorts and a T-shirt darting out of the woods to the side of the road; I think he eventually crossed the road and continued into the woods. There was something beige and indistinct on his T-shirt. We came to the park hq and discovered that there was an orienteering meet. I asked enough questions to understand the concept. We hiked, saw some of the stations with their punches or stamps. I was fascinated, enough to buy a book about it, but not enough to engage in it. My army basic training 20 years before was far too limited to teach overland navigation. And the indistinct beige on the man's shirt? I'm pretty sure he'd collected burrs as he bushwhacked.

Barmymoo · « **Reply #304 on:** 16 Jul 2012, 18:24 »

I haven't managed to run once yet, but I've done so much walking that I think my fitness won't have suffered too much and I can start running again next week. Hopefully I'll have acclimatised to the heat by then!

Skewbrow · « **Reply #305 on:** 16 Jul 2012, 22:26 »

Quote from: Redball on 16 Jul 2012, 13:58

I asked enough questions to understand the concept. We hiked, saw some of the stations with their punches or stamps. I was fascinated, enough to buy a book about it, but not enough to engage in it. My army basic training 20 years before was far too limited to teach overland navigation. And the indistinct beige on the man's shirt? I'm pretty sure he'd collected burrs as he bushwhacked.

Nowadays we carry a small piece of plastic with some electronics (a timer chip and a little bit of memory) inside. Next to each control point I can stamp it and the device records the visit. At the finish the organizers can read the data, and verify that I have visited all the control points in the correct order.

Burrs? I have carried some, but that's rare. Occasionally a misjudged choice of route has taken me through bushes of nettles. A more common thing is to end up thigh deep in mud while wading through a swamp or after misjudging my ability to jump across a ditch. Part of the charm, I would say.

Redball · « **Reply #306 on:** 17 Jul 2012, 03:49 »

Quote from: Barmymoo on 16 Jul 2012, 18:24

I haven't managed to run once yet, but I've done so much walking that I think my fitness won't have suffered too much and I can start running again next week. Hopefully I'll have acclimatised to the heat by then!

In this climate, it definitely helps to be an early riser. At 6:45 a.m. an hour north of Ft. Eed, it's 23C.

bainidhe_dub · « **Reply #307 on:** 17 Jul 2012, 04:54 »

While the high heat index in DC today is 40C. To which I say: fuuuuuuuuuck that.

Barmymoo · « **Reply #308 on:** 18 Jul 2012, 12:02 »

38C here today. We're in an air-conditioned cafe with ice cream sundaes.

bainidhe_dub · « **Reply #309 on:** 20 Jul 2012, 18:24 »

Has anybody spent Real Money on shoes before? I have a pair of Champion C9's from Target and I'm starting to get a blister because there's too much room/movement around my toes-ball of foot-arch area. I'm liking the whole running thing (I got a girl from work to start too!) but I'm still reluctant to spend the however-much ($100? I dunno) on actual fitted shoes. Plus mine are black and teal and pretty.

Oh yeah I did Week 6 Day 3 today. Not as brutal as Day 2 but something funny happened to my left calf about 10 minutes in? Not sure what to make of that. Plus the fucking blister. And I need to find a longer route, I was up to 2.72 miles today, had to loop back around a bit.

Redball · « **Reply #310 on:** 20 Jul 2012, 20:33 »

The one time I failed to spend real money on running shoes, I got gout. OK, there was almost certainly no connection. But I think running shoes are too important to be bought at Target. I bought my first in the early 80s, and spent $60-90 then and ever after. Unless you can work into the shoes you have -- different socks? tighter lacing? -- I'd spend the money. Meantime, can you use moleskin to protect the blistered area?
And good work!

Skewbrow · « **Reply #311 on:** 22 Jul 2012, 08:57 »

Siding with Redball here. You probably don't want to buy the most expensive running shoes the sporting goods store can offer, but you shouldn't go with the cheapest sneakers either. I don't run, but both my main sport activities require special footwear (orienteering cleets and indoor game shoes). For safety, support and such. I paid about 90 euros per pair the last time I went shopping. My country is on the expensive side for most things, so you can get away with less. Age and weight taking their toll, I need the extra support from my shoes. 60 sounds about right.

A side benefit of spending a little bit on the shoes is that then you feel compelled to use them regularly. That's how I used to justify it to myself (and my fairer half), when I didn't by the cheapest fitting pair.

Barmymoo · « **Reply #312 on:** 24 Jul 2012, 17:25 »

I got the biggest blister walking around in New York, I think, and then I got another blister on top of that. Ugh. I will start figuring out places to run here soon, so I hope I don't get another blister there. My shoes are not great.

Welu · « **Reply #313 on:** 26 Jul 2012, 09:19 »

Hello all. I'm sorry I'm so late to the party but better late than never I just finished my first run! I kind of botched the fifth running section because even though I planned a route, I improvised on the go a little and found myself on a steep hill for that one. It was both harder and easier than I thought it would be. Mostly harder because damn, it's hot today. Easier because running on solid ground is so much nicer than running on a treadmill.
I'm not sure how far I went but it registered about 450 moves on my move counter.

I'm gonna be using this podcast because it's the most bearable music out of all I've heard.

Barmymoo · « **Reply #314 on:** 27 Jul 2012, 09:38 »

Good luck! It's not too late to start, I'm stalled at the beginning of week six until I've got round to buying some more suitable running clothes for this ridiculous weather - I haven't run for about three weeks now. I am hoping I can go straight into week six without repeating week five for the third time.

Welu · « **Reply #315 on:** 28 Jul 2012, 04:25 »

Good luck with that. Hopefully all the walking around in the big cities has been keeping you fit.

Barmymoo · « **Reply #316 on:** 29 Jul 2012, 13:17 »

I am considering not running at all for now, until it's cooler in the mornings. Just walking the dog for ten minutes is wearing me out and making me sweat. I'm doing a lot of cycling on a fixed-gear bike which attempted to kill me yesterday but was fine today, and that will hopefully maintain some fitness.

Redball · « **Reply #317 on:** 29 Jul 2012, 13:26 »

Maybe it's the sleeping in. Low temps in Ft. Eed the next few days, before the sun climbs, are 16-20C. But the humidity is apt to be high.

Skewbrow · « **Reply #318 on:** 04 Aug 2012, 14:04 »

I largely missed the previous week (just one shortish orienteering course) due to a bridge tournament. This week I have been rebounding with one medium length orienteering course and 3 20k+ bike rides. I really should make them a bit longer. Targeting 30-40k later this month.

Redball · « **Reply #319 on:** 06 Aug 2012, 08:05 »

Recovered today from a relapse, only ran a couple of times each of the last couple of weeks, but ran a full 30 minutes this morning. Morning temps the next 10 days will be in the 60s max, in the 50 several days, even the 40s a couple of them. No excuses. And they shouldn't be that much different an hour south of here in Ft. Eed.

Akima · « **Reply #320 on:** 06 Aug 2012, 15:31 »

Quote from: Skewbrow on 16 Jul 2012, 08:52

It has such low intensity. It might show a benefit (e.g. burn a lot of calories) if I did at least an hour and a half at a time.

You need to find some hills!

Skewbrow · « **Reply #321 on:** 06 Aug 2012, 22:53 »

Appreciate the advice, but that's a tall order!

Barmymoo · « **Reply #322 on:** 07 Aug 2012, 11:52 »

Edith has lent/given me some suitable clothes for running. I planned to start up again today, but then I woke up at 10.30 (oops, sorry dog who was waiting for a morning walk and breakfast!) and it was already hotter than a toaster oven outside. So I guess I'll start tomorrow instead! I'm not sure whether I'll go back into the programme or just run round the local park for a while, and restart the programme when I'm back in the UK and get hold of some decent headphones again. I'm not sure if the faulty ones were ever replaced: if they are, they'll be waiting for me when I get back. If not, I'll kick up an almighty fuss about it!

Lines · « **Reply #323 on:** 07 Aug 2012, 12:34 »

Have you tried going out later in the evenings? It usually cools off once it starts to get dark.

Redball · « **Reply #324 on:** 07 Aug 2012, 12:38 »

And were the headphones several cuts above the white Apple-style, i.e., in-the-ear, over-the-ear or behind-the-neck? I do OK with the Apple style. They don't seem to fall out of my ears while running. And I have a couple unopened, I don't know why.

Barmymoo · « **Reply #325 on:** 07 Aug 2012, 13:23 »

The ones which broke after two uses were over the ear ones which were great apart from the whole no-sound part. I apparently have small inner ears, because almost all ear buds make them ache badly and usually fall out when I move or breathe.

lepetitfromage · « **Reply #326 on:** 07 Aug 2012, 15:26 »

The same thing happens to me- but I have TMJ and have discovered that I can blame most of my ailments on that...

I found a nice & cheap pair that work for me- look for earbuds that come with multiple...umm...squishy things. I found a set with 3 sizes and the smallest size tends to work for me. The standard apple ones hurt like hell.

pwhodges · « **Reply #327 on:** 07 Aug 2012, 23:59 »

The expensive answer is to get ear moulds made and go to a manufacturer that sells in-ear monitors that are made to fit, e.g. Shure or Etymotic.

Skewbrow · « **Reply #328 on:** 27 Aug 2012, 06:23 »

After missing the preceding week I report back with two orienteering courses (and one day of commuting with my bike) from last week. Hopefully all the others have filled up their respective columns on that worksheet.

Lines · « **Reply #329 on:** 27 Aug 2012, 08:10 »

I'm not going to try this again quite yet, but I am going to be going to the gym at least 3 days a week! Starting either today or tomorrow. (I have a bag packed, but I didn't sleep well last night, so I might make up for it tonight a little and tomorrow afternoon.) I think my workout schedule will be cardio/core workouts (stationary bike, stuff with a pilates ball, possibly some weights, and so on) on Mondays and Wednesdays and swimming on Fridays. I think after a few weeks of this, I'll try the C25K again and see how I handle it.

Redball · « **Reply #330 on:** 27 Aug 2012, 08:18 »

After I finished the 9 weeks, up to 30 minutes but not 5k, I eased back to 20 minutes. And found excuses in the last week to run just once. Gotta restart. I'm nervous about my knees. No pain during running, but they complain to me the rest of the day.
Whatever, it's been a neat adventure with this crew.

bainidhe_dub · « **Reply #331 on:** 27 Aug 2012, 09:02 »

I'm on week 9 now, but I keep putting it off or it's raining or whatever. My last run was 3.12 miles in 40 minutes so I'm not up to 5k in 30 but I'm still working on it (or intending to at least).

Barmymoo · « **Reply #332 on:** 29 Aug 2012, 14:11 »

I simply haven't run since we got back from GenCon - I went twice in the hotel gym and did some of week six, or was it seven? Either way I will start again on week seven when I get back. I want to join a 5k running group which meets on Saturday mornings so I'll see if that happens, I might not be able to fit it into my schedule but I'm going to keep running. Having discovered that I enjoy running on a treadmill, I will use the college gym more often too.

bainidhe_dub · « **Reply #333 on:** 29 Aug 2012, 15:11 »

I tried to do Week 9 Day 2 yesterday and totally flaked. I just didn't want to do it and ended up walking for like half of it.

Skewbrow · « **Reply #334 on:** 10 Sep 2012, 06:55 »

Hey, all! What's with this thread? This is about a lifestyle change! Not just some fad that will fade away in a few weeks, right?

Last week's exercising: 25K on bike $:-\$ , one orienteering course, one hour of floorball (I'm so outta shape!?) Prospects for this week are slightly better.

bainidhe_dub · « **Reply #335 on:** 10 Sep 2012, 08:49 »

Yeah I was doing good and then I worked at the county fair every day August 11-18 and didn't run during that and then I kinda stopped. Now I'm trying to get back where I was because I'm still planning to do a 5K with some people on September 22nd and I hope to not die. (On the plus side, I've lost 15 pounds so far!)

Barmymoo · « **Reply #336 on:** 14 Sep 2012, 07:58 »

I wish I were doing a 5k on September 22nd

I wanted to do the one round the zoo but I couldn't get out of choir. So I am instead going to join the 5k running group who meet on Saturday mornings, and go to the gym when I get back. Couple of weeks and I'll be back in the saddle!

Redball · « **Reply #337 on:** 14 Sep 2012, 08:25 »

I ran Wednesday. Hoping to again tomorrow; cool weather should make it easier, but I had no good excuse.

bainidhe_dub · « **Reply #338 on:** 14 Sep 2012, 15:13 »

I'm officially registered for my 5K! I should run tonight but I'm going to eat pizza and drink beer instead. I swear, the people we deal with must get together and plot how to make our lives difficult.

Redball · « **Reply #339 on:** 14 Sep 2012, 15:26 »

I think you're ahead of the rest of us. Enjoy the race.

Skewbrow · « **Reply #340 on:** 15 Sep 2012, 11:54 »

This week like the preceding one. One hour of floorball, one orienteering track, and I just came back from 27K bike ride. Testriding a new route. It was a pleasant ride, but it is getting a bit nippy out here. I'm glad I had a pair of gloves with me.

bainidhe_dub · « **Reply #341 on:** 22 Sep 2012, 08:40 »

I did it!!! Our official time was 36:26.

Barmymoo · « **Reply #342 on:** 22 Sep 2012, 14:27 »

Good job! How did it feel while you were running and once you finished?

idontunderstand · « **Reply #343 on:** 22 Sep 2012, 14:36 »

How much is 5K? 5 kilometers or... as always, idontunderstand.

bainidhe_dub · « **Reply #344 on:** 22 Sep 2012, 16:52 »

May - It was good. I was with my friend and her sister and we stayed together. The second mile was going down a big hill, then it went onto the highway and looped back about half a mile to the finish line. We walked for about three minutes in the last half mile because we were just too tired to keep running.
idontunderstand - yes, 5 kilometers or 3.1 miles (plus a bit because we were a little ways back from the official starting line)
Here's my runkeeper data: http://runkeeper.com/user/bainidhe/activity/119831672

Redball · « **Reply #345 on:** 22 Sep 2012, 18:55 »

What an accomplishment! If this C25K chapter was a contest, you won! In fact, I'm thinking of resuming a C25K program, and I"ll take all the encouragement I can get.

lepetitfromage · « **Reply #346 on:** 23 Sep 2012, 18:49 »

I'll give you some more- you can do it!!

Skewbrow · « **Reply #347 on:** 10 Oct 2012, 12:36 »

Good luck to anyone contemplating a couch to 25K program!!

I have been a bit busy with the semester starting (and my sleep schedule out of wack), so I have missed most of the cycling I was hoping to do (rain, rain go away...). But our 35+ floorball gang of local dudes started yet another season. Meaning I'm getting 3 hours of fun cardio per week (2 hours with them, one hour with the younger dudes at work). I also started going to gym. It's been only a week and half so too soon to tell, if I can continue to fit it into my schedule. Anyway, the last couple of Wednesdays have put a lot of strain on my joints (knees in particular) given that I have first done an orienteering course in the late afternoon, and then floorball in the evening. In early September I tipped the scale at 110+kg, but last Wednesday I got a reading of 108.6 and tonight a 107.4!!!!! Ok, so I was horribly dehydrated after the days workout, but THE TREND HAS TURNED. The first goal is to keep this up. The second goal is to get back below 100 (I was there two years ago). To be on the safe side I should set a target in the low nineties (which is what I weighed in my early thirties), but I'm not gonna rush things.

And I gave myself an imperial pint of beer as a reward. That may have negated some of the days work, but ...

The sad thing is that orienteering season is drawing to a close. I may try night time orienteering once or twice, which should be fun.

Barmymoo · « **Reply #348 on:** 11 Oct 2012, 02:00 »

I haven't been running yet, I am exhausted all the time at the moment, but I'm still doing a lot of walking while my bike is stuck (found another place that might cut the lock off, but would involve carrying the bike, locked, for twenty minutes across the centre of town) and last night I carried £35 of shopping home in four very heavy bags and I feel like I've run a marathon.

Running will 100% start again some day. Some day when I do not ache in every muscle of my body.

Barmymoo · « **Reply #349 on:** 12 Oct 2012, 07:04 »

Running restarts tomorrow! I have some headphones, although they are not perfect, and I have all the requisite clothes. I am going to run off all the biscuits I've eaten this week.

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Author Topic: Couch to 5K Accountability Thread (Read 89855 times)