Couch to 5k

Today Julia had her ENT appointment. $20 copay before I forget. Julia is a classic case for tubes in her ears, as expected. Outpatient surgery next Tuesday. We survived the horror of the endoscopy, so compared to that, we're not particularly worried about this surgery. The horror of the endoscopy was that she didn't eat from 7pm until noon the next day. By the end, she was just laying there without enough Julia gusto to even scream or complain. That, my dears, is a scary sight. Seeing Julia too weak to even protest being accosted by doctors and nurses is absolutely horrifying because Julia's feisty attitude is what makes her Julia.

Today I started the Couch to 5k program (C25K for short). Has anyone done this? Since couch is in the name, I kinda thought the program went like this:

Week 1: Lay on couch
Week 2: Contemplate getting up from couch
Week 3: Put your shoes on like Mr. Rogers and take a 5 minute walk
Week 4: Up it to a 10 minute walk
Week 5: Up it to a 15 minute walk

And somehow by Week 9, you're running a 5K. Whattya think?

Okay, I knew that was a delusional fitness path. But I did think the couch was involved in Week 1. The impetus to this plan is NOT running. I hate running more than I hate taking Julia for an endoscopy. The impetus is that I need to get fit. And walking is not doing it for me. My body is used to walking. I could walk 10 miles and not really feel it. I need to up the ante on my exercise program, and doing the horrific running had to be involved to start getting more aerobic benefit.

Stupid butt running.

S downloaded me a podcast that follows the C25K program. It's 30 minutes with warm up and cool down. And I freaking DID it tonight. And you're thinking, "Wow, you sat on the couch and contemplated getting up. Congratulations."

Oh, my dears, Week 1 of the C25K doesn't have anything to do with a couch. I really wish it did because I can make butt implant marks on couches like no one's business. No, couches were not involved. It was a 5 minute warm-up, many intervals of running and walking & then a 5 minute cool down. I RAN as in RAN for 8 minutes (spaced out of course). WTH???? Where's the couch part? Running 8 minutes is practically like running a mile. This is a stupid exercise program if you're running a mile out of 3 miles right off the bat.

The podcast is very helpful, but the music is horrid. I'm not a fan of electronica/raver music with a tad of Gregorian chant. The raver music is what my acid dropping friends listened to back in high school and community college. Ick. And the Gregorian chant is not appropriate ... ever. When I worked in the gynecologist office, the office manager would play the Gregorian chant throughout the whole place. Seriously, dude, not cool. So the music is not my favorite, but the cues to walk - run are helpful.

Another reason I like this exercise plan is that you only have to do it 3x a week. I can do 30 minutes of torture 3x a week.

Have I mentioned how much I hate running? If this program gets me to actually run a 5k, then anyone can do it.