About a week ago I downloaded a C25k podcast into the hot pink MP3 player Lynn kindly passed down to me, partnered with headphones from Catch of the Day. I already had sneakers, track pants, and a great sport bra from Marks & Spencer - why is it so hard to get a proper sports bra if you're anything bigger than a D cup? Although I had everything I needed, it took me an hour after getting dressed to acually set out. I didn’t realise until I set foot outside the house that on some level I was quite apprehensive about running.
I spent the walk to my local park listening to the intro which, in a beautiful case of coincidence, was precisely how long it took. The park has a big loop around a grassy oval, with several paths criss-crossing around a little like a race track, complete with a couple of hills and a sandy stretch.
Tucking my MP3 into my sports bra, I started the official brisk walk that opens the program. Not long after Robert Ullrey's note that the warm up was at the halfway mark, I realised I'd been walking quite a bit longer than 5 minutes - somehow the earphone jack had slipped out enough for me to hear the (techno) soundtrack but not the vocal prompts. I fished the MP3 from between my breasts and re-started the audio, tucking it in the back strap. Another five minutes and I started to feel scratching behind me - pulling it out I discovered I'd lost the cap, and retraced my footsteps, hunting for a flash of hot pink, only to find it in my waistband.
Once I managed to get the technical aspects out of the way (slide the player in sideways, so the reset toggle's facing front and not reset by my breasts), I began the first run on my route toward 5k.
Good lord, 60 seconds takes a while! I made it, though the couple of legs that coincided with uphill sections of the path were tough going. I had to smile wanly when Ulley said I "should be breathing comfortably" when I had a respiratory rate around 44/minute! There was, sadly, no point when I was both (slowly) jogging and able to talk at a conversational rate. But I made it around, and felt a sense of accomplishment, as well as keenness to advance to the point where I can look back at this and look on it as a warm up.
I used a couple of techniques to keep going - I have a tendency to count steps anyway, and for the running sections I counted every time I set my left foot down, averaging 75 to 80 left steps per 60 second burst. I spent the walking intervals focusing on slowing and smoothing out my breathing. Throughout, as I felt discomfort, I'd take inventory of how I was feeling - noting where I felt fine, and cataloguing exactly where and how significant the feeling was. For the most part everything was fine, except for rapid breathing. I also paid attention to my form, hampered only a little by knowing next to nothing about how to run efficiently except that the hands should be open, arms loose and waist height.
I'm not a huge fan of techno, and though the beat works well for running, when I get the chance I'll look into alternatives. But I'll definitely be running again in two days! - Alex
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