Inside the Mind of Suz

I’ve been struggling with how to fit in some of my c25k running sessions with my ongoing committment to ChaLEAN Extreme. I don’t want to overdo things, so it’s been a trial and error process.

I think I’ve finally figured out what I’m going to do. I changed the order I do my CE workouts. Instead of doing cardio (Burn It Off! or Fat Burn Challenge) on Saturday, I’m moving that workout to Tuesday. So, weather permitting, I’ll plan to run that day instead of those DVDs. Mon/Wed/Fri strength workouts will remain the same.

Now, I have toyed with what to do on Thursday. I really enjoy the Burn or Get Lean Intervals workout, and don’t want to double-up the cardio on that day by adding a run in addition to ChaLEAN’s tapes. So, for right now, I’m going to leave that day as is. It’s the most intense cardio burning workout I do right now.

So, Saturday – the day that used to be a ChaLEAN cardio day, is now a designated running day. And when I’m done, I’ll do the Recharge DVD to wind down for the weekend. Sunday is my new, and only, day off now. I almost feel like running isn’t that hard on my body, so I don’t mind having one less day off. Of course, judging on how I feel, I may take another rest day here or there, but for now, this is my plan!

Ideally I’d like to get in 3 runs per week, but right now, I’d have to double some days and I’m not ready for that right now. Maybe in a month or so. So, for now, I’m doing 2 per week. Gotta ease my way into things!

Yesterday I did my second Week 1 workout and I already felt a difference in comparison to the 1st one I did. Later in the day, after that first run of the season, my shins were a little sore. I’m not sure if that was because it was my first run in over 6 months or because I did a ChaLEAN Extreme workout after I finished my run. Yesterday, that was not the case. Even though female cramps nearly caused be to stop mid-run, the rest of me was fine. No soreness whatsoever! I felt really good afterwards and told Mother Nature to shove it. She did, too.

Anyway, that’s my plan for now. I hope to be ready to run some 5ks earlier this year than I was last year. I wasn’t ready until mid-to-late August. That only gave me about a month or two to race and pickings were slim. The good stuff tends to be earlier in the season (May/June/July) and I’m not done with the program yet. I’m still toying with the Komen Race. It’s next weekend. I’m nowhere near ready. At least I don’t think I am. I really wish this race was later in the season. We’ll see, though! I’ve got a week and a half to think about it. I think what I might do is enter the race, but use it as just another training day for Couch to 5k instead of a full-blown 5k race. That way I’m still supporting the cause and getting my training in.