get off (the couch) with me
September 25th, 2009
As Chad Fowler points out in his blog about the unofficial rubyconf 5k, the whole idea was born out of a conversation he and I were having about his new running habit, and how I’d been trying to get back into running for years and never had the right motivation. Well, there is little motivation to get back into it than helping to organize a 5k!
I just started back a little over a week ago and, this week, started the couch to 5k schedule. For those of you who have never run, or haven’t run in years, this schedule is absolutely fantastic.
It starts off with with alternating intervals of jogging for a minute and walking for 1.5 minutes for a total of 20 minutes. I immediately found that I was pushing much harder than normal for me during the 1 minute jogs, and after the 20 minutes I felt great! One week into this and I’m already jogging 8 minutes (sure, not in a row, but 8 minutes the 2nd week off the couch!).
Today I dragged my girlfriend along (she’s planning to run a 5k with me on Thanksgiving morning). Flor exercises regularly, but she is not a runner, yet she had no problem keeping up with me for these short intervals.
Of course I’m only a week into the schedule, and I’m sure it will get more challenging as the intervals get longer, but I’m pretty confident I’ll be able to keep up with the gradually increasing intensity.
So I encourage any of you who are attending RubyConf (or JRubyConf) to join us. We’ll have a website up with information and registration in a few weeks, but today is the day to start training! See you at the starting line!
September 28th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Great idea David! I find myself to often only exercising fingers and the brain and somehow I forget the rest of my body. As someone who used to run I’ve always found it easier to run with someone else. It helps keep the motivation going.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:20 am
I’ve just started c25k and I liked it so much. Unfortunately I’m in Brazil and I can’t go to RubyConf. Send some photos from c25k on RubyConf, okay? []’s
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
A few tips if I may. I have been running almost every day since 2008, for 15-60 minutes (avg: 25).
I would recommend a heart monitor, not because it is “professional”, but it keeps you in the right range.
For details see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Exercise_zones.png (Fox and Haskell chart)
I’m almost 30 and weight loss is probably one of the last things I’m worried about. So I set my rate to 145. If at any time I pass this value, the beeper kicks in and I STOP RUNNING. Even if people laugh at me.
The cool thing is you can concentrate on what your iPod is playing and not how long or how far you are running, or is it time to ‘alternate’.
How do you measure progress then? Your heart rate when you’re on the couch. Mine goes as low as 40 while active.
DISCLAIMER: I’m not a professional, but please find out for yourself if the above makes sense.
I don’t even run for health or sports. My primary reason is the joy it gives me.
Anyway, congratulations on your commitment!
April 17th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Hiya, nice article, and nice web site you’ve here! By the way.. what is this template that you are using… Is it custom made?