52

October Exercise Challenge – Who’s In?

Monday, October 1st, 5:46am

Starting October off right, although there’s something disconcerting about driving to the gym while the moon shines in full force.

You guys, I really dropped the ball in September in regards to exercise. Maybe it was the new house or getting the kids adjusted to their new schedules or just pure laziness, but I didn’t exercise half as much as I usually do.

Things started going downhill 2 or 3 weeks after I finished my 5k training program. I didn’t miss a day during that program (you know how much I like plans and goals), and after I finished, I continued to run 3 miles, 3 days a week. And then things started to get really boring for me. No more training goals, no more cool apps…just running. Ugh. So not fun.

So, I’ve decided to take the next step and train for a 10k. I’m going to be completely honest with you – I’m not super jazzed about it. Running/walking on a treadmill for 60-70 minutes? I can think of eleventy billion things I’d rather do, but hey, I’m willing to try. I keep hearing how the first 3 miles are the hardest…is this true, people? Am I suddenly going to feel light as air when mile 4,5 and 6 come around? Doubtful.

Wow, this is MOTIVATING, isn’t it? Run with me, people! I’m so perky and optimistic!

I am a little excited, though. I’ve never run further than a 5k, so I can’t wait to see if I can accomplish this. Also, I just read this article and it really resonated with me. It’s like the minute I start running, my brain starts a loop of all the reasons I should stop running that very second. Damn you, brain! No more!

In addition to the 10k training,  I will continue my Pilates training on Mondays and Fridays, and will do a really quick arm/full body toning workout at home once a week. So, here goes.

OCTOBER PLAN:

Mondays and Fridays – 6am Reformer class with Erica

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – 10k training plan (Using Run10k app, starting on week 5)

Wednesday – Quick Arm/Full Body Toning Workout

Sunday – (Much needed) rest

As for the toning workout I mentioned, Erica was so kind and awesome to film a 5-minute toning workout with me. I asked her to focus on arms, but in true Erica fashion, she turned it into a full body toning session as well. It’s awesome, and your arms and quads will be feeling it the next morning. I’ll put that video up tomorrow morning so we can all do it together because it will be Wednesday, you see. YOU MUST JOIN ME IN MY OCTOBER FITNESS QUEST.

What’s your current exercise plan? Are you sticking with the usual or changing things up? Anybody in on this 10k business? I don’t want to do it alooooooone. Oh, also related but unrelated, are there programs similar to Couch to 5k for swimming?

Share:
Categories:
52 comments
  1. Heather B.

    October 2, 2012 at 9:23 am

    I don’t know if anyone mentioned this but Susan has found a swimming program similar to C25K.

    Now you’re making me want to make a concrete plan. So, I’m in!

    • whoorl

      October 2, 2012 at 9:47 am

      Plans! Concrete plans! Don’t leave home without them.

  2. whoorl

    October 2, 2012 at 9:36 am

    I just posted on my FB page looking for recs of websites where we can start a group and track each others’ progress. Anyone know of such a website?

    • Lynne

      October 3, 2012 at 2:07 pm

      My Fitness Pal is my favorite exercise/journaling website that I’ve used. You can set up a group on there to hold each other accountable. (not that I need anyone seeing how much wine was consumed last night. Come on, it was TUESDAY!)

  3. gorillabuns

    October 2, 2012 at 9:41 am

    I only know of myfitnesspal.com. I’m not sure this is the type of program you are looking for…

    • Judy

      October 2, 2012 at 10:12 am

      I’ve been using sparkpeople.com. Count me in for the challenge. I want to try the C25K challenge…I am totally a couch potato and need to change my ways. We are definitely going to “rock-tober”!

  4. moorni

    October 2, 2012 at 10:53 am

    Hi there, visiting from ‘For the Love of’. I checked out your archives and had to tell you, you had me in stitches over the school photos for Wito. Oh my goodness, I’m still laughing. Thanks for my laugh of the day…

  5. Eva

    October 2, 2012 at 11:48 am

    I’m totally in! I’m getting married one month from today, so it’s time to kick it into high gear! I’ve been doing a fitness bootcamp 2-3x/week and doing at-home stuff the other days.

    I signed up for the Phoenix Color Run in January, and I need to get back to running again, so I’m checking out the Run 10K app. I do agree with the advice you’ve gotten about running a 10K — it’s the perfect distance! I did a 10 mile race a couple of years ago, and throughout the training, 6 mile runs were my favorite. It was just enough to give you the “runner’s high” and not too much that you can’t move for the rest of the day.

    Best of luck!

    • Eva

      October 2, 2012 at 11:52 am

      Oh! And I’m biking to work 3 days a week! It’s still about 105 degrees every day, but it’s only a 1.5 mile trip one-way. So far, I’m loving it!

  6. Sarah Filchak

    October 2, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    I’m fairly new to your site, but am so intrigued by your interest in 10K. I have been slowly ramping up my efforts, just ran 4.5 miles yesterday. I would love to be “in the loop” as I know that I need someone/something/a force to motivate me to continue to stay on task. My biggest obstacle is setting my alarm and then deciding that the snooze button is way better than actually getting up to run. And now that it is pitch black when I come back from work, who wants to run then? So please, please, please continue to post running things. I will respond… unless the snooze button gets in my way.

  7. Jenvictoria

    October 2, 2012 at 2:27 pm

    I just started the run 10k app 2 weeks ago at the 5 week mark. I had never run further than a 5k & need to boost my distance. So far, so good! I mainly run on a treadmill because I run @ 5am & have had some scary experiences running alone in the dark. Plus, this is how I keep up with tv shows! I have the app open on my phone & my iPad running a show. Weekend run is done on a trail at a more respectable hour and I really have come to look forward to that run. Overall, I’m really pleased with the app & how quickly i’ve accomplished 5 & 6 mile runs. Good luck! Can’t wait to read what you think.

  8. Amti'b

    October 2, 2012 at 7:25 pm

    In. Turbo kick m, t, f. Pilates m, th. interval class wed & spin sat. The goal is to attend all but happy with 4-5! No running, arabs dont run:)

  9. Andrea

    October 2, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    Yay for you! It was about this time last year that I was in the middle of my first half marathon training. I was feeling the same thing: I needed a plan and something for my type A personality to get motivated. Now I’m about to run my FOURTH 13.1 mile race at the end of the month. Ditto a couple of things that people have already said – try to run outside, you’ll go faster and farther and be better prepared for race day. Also, I’ve met the authors of Run Like a Mother and they are the real deal: awesome women and awesome plans that cater to moms. Love that workouts on their plan are geared toward outdoor running or treadmill running and not in multiples of 400 for those of us that aren’t serious track stars! Lastly, I so, so, so agree with getting past those first 3 miles are the key to feeling like you could run forever. I hate the first 3 miles of any race, including 5Ks! I really think it takes the body that long to warm up and from there, you just might run the back 3 miles faster. Can’t wait to follow your running journey :))

  10. Darci

    October 2, 2012 at 8:34 pm

    M/W/F – swim 1500 meters, T/Th/S run/walk 3 miles, Sun mat Pilates. The swimming has been sidelined for 2 weeks due to a very stubborn ear infection so I am needing a m/w/f filler. Sigh. I do my running primarily on the treadmill as the pavement caused lower back pain that was not worth suffering for beauty.

    I am 27 pounds into a 80 pound weight-loss journey. I will be happy to play with you in October.

  11. Lisa @ Lisa the Vegetarian

    October 3, 2012 at 6:18 am

    I think this is a GREAT idea! I too dropped the ball on exercise in September and I want to make October different. I’m thinking that I’ll start up this coming Monday (even though that means 1 week of the month will have gone by – I’m recovering from a slight injury right now), but I don’t quite yet know what my plan is going to be. Maybe I will finally get going on my own 5k goals!

  12. Audrey

    October 3, 2012 at 8:59 am

    As soon as I get over my first trimester energy suck, I am sooo back on the exercise wagon! I ran my first 12k in June. I trained, I did it (and found out it’s noted to be one of the hardest in the nation) and, sadly, I’ve run ONCE since then. I wanted to sign up for a half marathon since I was half way there anyways, but the one I wanted to run didn’t fit our schedule, and I found myself like you – no goal to work towards, so why bother with the running? I started a boot camp and got back into hot yoga, but both of those are not approved for me right now. Yoga once a week isn’t cutting it and I can’t wait to get back to my trainer next week, energy or not! Good luck with your goals – I’m sure you’ll be successful!

  13. chasinash

    October 3, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    This is so weird. I JUST finished paying for a 10K directly before coming to your page. I browsed over to my bookmarked blogs, thinking I’d take a quick break to read someone I hadn’t read in a while. BAM. You are doing a 10K, too! I’m doing Lolo’s “Easy 10K”. I’m jumping around on the weeks, though, because my race is in 7 weeks! I’m kind of freaking out about it and excited at the same time. Last Sunday, the program had me do 5.65 miles -> it was running4/walking1 – but I have my speed jacked up on the running right now. It’s more like interval training than straight jogging. I am going to try to bump up my running/walking ratio over the 7 weeks. Not sure I can keep up this pace, but I don’t want to bump it down to the next lower speed ’cause that’s the time I’m trying to beat!

    Anyhoo. Good luck, Whoorl!

  14. Nancy

    October 3, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    Thank you for this! I am trying to get back into running and can do 5k pretty easily but have never been able to get any more distance mostly because I just.get.so.bored when running and hit my limit at about 30 minutes. I decided I needed something to work towards and so I downloaded the 10k app, starting on week 6. Just did my first run today and it felt great!

    My plan is to stick to running 3x per week and 2x per week of a weight program from the trainer at my gym, plus one day of something else – spin, yoga, zumba – whatever I’m feeling!

    Thanks for the kick in the pants! Would love to join the group if you find a site to track progress.