Author Archives: Not Your Average Athlete

Couch to 5k – my 2017 do-over
I am starting 2017 off with a couch to 5k do-over. Last January, I had an epic fall and was not allowed to exercise for 3 months. By the time my ortho finally released me for exercise, I had gained weight and lost most of my fitness.
I tried to get back into the routine of running and going to the gym regularly, but it was tough to find the motivation. Everything was really hard and I felt defeated. My workouts throughout last year were inconsistent at best. I managed to get through a half marathon in October (barely) but that was it.
I must admit, I am a bit disappointed in my current level of fitness and how I handled last year in general. I started going to the gym again in mid-November and it feels like I am starting over. Things that once were easy now feel impossible, but instead of getting frustrated and quitting like I did last year, I am going to be kind to myself (words I preach but rarely live by) and start the couch to 5K workout plan again.
The couch to 5K plan is how I started 7 years ago when I began my journey to lose weight and get fit. Honestly, it has been around so long I don’t remember where it originated but for those of you unfamiliar with it, it is designed to help the average person to run/walk 3 miles over a 2 month period incorporating intervals of running and walking (gradually increasing the run intervals while decreasing the walk intervals). You can find a great outline of it here.
There are also a number of couch to 5k (C25K) apps and podcasts to choose from. I personally will be running along with my girl Chubby Jones who I have mentioned before. She has several versions of C25K on her podcast and a great mix of tunes to go along with it!
Have you done couch to 5k?
Do you have a favorite app or podcast that you use to workout?