You Can Run 5K - Complete!
Me: Male, 57, 230lbs, and proud girl dad.
In mid-February I bought a Peloton Tread (treadmill) with the only goal of becoming more mobile and finding the time to at least walk every day. For the first 6 weeks or so, I walked every day (M-F) for at least 2 miles. Before work, in the evenings, many times while on work meetings, I just walked.
8 weeks ago, I started the You Can Run 5K program. Honestly, I could not mentally picture myself running 1 mile let alone 3.11 miles but I put my trust in the program and started doing the work. Through-out I was fighting hip bursitis that made it harder than it should be. After week 7, the week with the longest interval runs, I went into week 8 (this week) completely doubting I was even close to being ready to run a 5K. The two runs in week 8 were taper runs and then 3 days recovery before "race day". After the two runs, I could hardly stand on my left leg due to the inflammation in my hip. My wife saw my left leg collapse and not hold my weight when walking up the stairs this week. It was embarrassing and so de-motivating. I spent the 3 days of "recovery" feeling very down on myself. My hip hurt so much, I knew the goal I had worked for may be delayed for weeks. I iced my hip every day, I stretched, I used half a gallon of Bio-Freeze but it was just miserable.
Today, after doing a couple hours of yard work and a hot shower I realized my hip actually felt okay for the first time this week. Tender, ouchie, but not flaming hot poker inserted into hip joint pain. I decided to head upstairs, put on my running shoes, and just do the work and see how it went.
I ran 3.25 miles or just over a 5K. I did not set a land-speed record but I also never stopped or slowed down my pace. In fact the last mile I increased my pace above my "moderate" pace I'd trained at for the last 8 weeks. With the amount of stretching over the last 3 months I'm also moving so much better (the last week excluded). I hit my goal but I also feel like this is just the beginning. Today, I'm a runner.
I am so f-cking over the moon proud of myself. Now, where did I put that Bio-Freeze?
And thank you to those Peloton members who were on the same training schedule. We only exchanged high-fives but it meant a ton every run day to see you there doing the work with me. I hope you’ve successfully completed your race day!