Ran a 5k

[senseiadams]

Background - 35 years old, 215 pounds, 6'4 of good intentions and zero follow-through.

 

So, I registered here with lofty goals and great intentions back in December of 2013.  I started power lifting, absolutely loved it, and then two things happened:

 

First, a military-related back injury flared up and landed me in the hospital

 

Second, I got laid off from my job.

 

As you can imagine, this put a damper on my mood, I lapsed into semi-depression, and I started eating poorly again.  I started drinking sugary drinks again, stopped eating clean, and generally made bad choices.

 

Three weeks ago, I was playing with my (now 2 year old) daughter, and realized I was breathing heavily.

 

While playing with a 20 pound toddler.

 

I was mortified.  My wife has had three children, and is still an avid runner with a 5'4, 102 pound perfect body that you would never GUESS was a baby-making factory.  Talk about giving me, the retired-military-combat-medic-wanna-be-powerlifter-former-karate-teacher an inferiority complex!

 

So I got off my ass.  I started doing the bodyweight program, since I'm afraid of messing up my back again.  If I can get past the fear, I'll be going back into Starting Strength.  But, I started running.  I work in Centennial Park in Nashville, in a large corporate complex, and the park is an amazing place to go for a run.  I started running old Army PT drills, which are oddly similar to the C25K program in retrospect, just with more yelling.

 

3 weeks later, yesterday, I ran a full 3.2 (slightly over 5k!) miles, nonstop.  I feel fantastic.  I'm down 7 pounds, I gave up sugar again, and I'm making my own lunches and dinners rather than "one last fast food trip" every day.

 

So, I'm patting myself on the back.  I have a long, long way to go to the svelte, combat-ready body I once had...but I know that with the right discipline and motivation, I can be the first man in my family to maintain a healthy lifestyle into my middle years and beyond.

[kriket]

Awesome job! 3 weeks for the 5k is amazing progress! I hear you about the yelling, sometimes I miss it, workouts are so quiet without a coach screaming "is that it? Get it!gogogogogo"

[kirstenanke]

Great job, see it's all still in there, you just have to channel your energy and focus and you'll be making yourself (and your wife) proud!!

[Nolondil]

Amazing. If you're thinking of going further, have you tried the couch to 10k programme? 

[senseiadams]

I haven't yet, but I'm debating it.

 

Still running 3x a week, adding weights back in as my back gets more confident.

 

Down 5 more pounds since original post!

[Purple_Panda]

Awesome!  I hope to complete a 5k in the near future, looking for your success! Good to hear yo!

[18ck]

Good work, fella! Hey, you're a scout and you didn't even know it!

[Lil’Rali]

What an awesome achievement. I am working towards running a 5k currently. I finished week 1 in my C25K app. 7 more weeks to go! Are you going to sign up for any 5ks in your area? 

[senseiadams]

I really want to do a Color Run, we have them on occasion here in Nashville.  I think it'd be a trip to dress the whole family in white, cover the strollers and run with the kiddos.

 

I'll probably do an official 5k soon, but I'm going to keep on training for now.  My end-goal at this point would be to be able to sign up with the wife for a full marathon sometime next year!

 

Well, that, and to not be overweight anymore.

[Lil’Rali]

We have similar goals! good luck!! 

[senseiadams]

Update - still running, still losing weight!

Weight loss:

6/20 - 230

8/15 - 215

10/16 - 202!.  Goal weight is undetermined and ultimately pointless as it'll change constantly when I add power lifting back in.

 

Registered for a Spartan 5k in 2015...lots more work to do!

[Nolondil]

Spartan 5k or a full marathon... I don't know which sounds more challenging! I've heard the Spartan challenges can be pretty tough, good luck man.