Nate pointed out to me today that my one year anniversary of running came and went without comment on my blog. So I guess I should post something…
Although I did some informal jog/walk stuff in the few weeks leading up to it, I went for my first “run” of the Couch-to-5K program on January 2, 2007. The Week 1 Day 1 (W1D1) workout included “a brisk 5-minute warm-up walk, and then alternating 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.” After the workout I wrote, “The weather was around 45°F and clear. And I actually didn’t feel too horrible after I was done. But I was pretty winded.”
It was rough, but my goal was to somehow complete the C25K plan and then go on to complete a single 5K race in under 30 minutes (9:39/mi pace). At the time, it seemed like an almost impossible goal.
That was a year ago.
I finished the C25K plan in May, and ran my first race later that month (30:27)… and then I kept running.
I worked my way through some Hal Higdon running plans, and ran nine more races, with my fastest (PR) time at a respectable 24:21. I’ve run the battlefield at Gettysburg, on the Dover XC course, around City Island, and through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel with over 20,000 other people. Now I’m signed up for the YRRC Winter Series, running a 5K race this Sunday and my first 10K later this month.
It’s been a good year, and I hope to be looking back on two years of running this time next year.
I’m faster than I was, but hopefully still slower than I will be. ;)
Good for you John. You got me started on this crazy ride with your inspirational posts and C25K talky talky. Cheers brother. Here is to another year of running!
Yeah… If you’re a football fan, consider us (Nate and I) Andy Reid and John Gruden to your Mike Holmgren. If you’re not a football fan. Consider us lucky to have followed in your footsteps on the C25K. Congrats on one year of running. I owe you one.
Hey, thanks for the kind words!
Although I do find it amusing (depressing?) that both of you are now significantly faster than I am, and have completed far more lengthy races. Heh. I guess I need to step it up a notch this year. :)