Having completed week 4 of Couch to 5k, I am about half done.
And the pattern remains: if I run on the day after I do a P90 routine, it’s torturous. Like, legs saggy and completely without energy after 90 seconds of running. Now, I don’t know a damn thing about physical activity, but this sounds to me like my body is too busy repairing itself (“micro-tears” from exercise, etc.) to be ready for what is some of the most concentrated activity it’s been subjected to in 20 years.
So I have a bit of a dilemma. On the one hand, I think a broader exercise regime is really important, more fun, and probably meets my overall fitness goal better (cardio AND strength). On the other hand, I’ve got a fair bit of momentum with the running — plus, Eon’s doing it, and we both have signed up for a 10k with our neighbors. So, social support/pressure there. Result: apparent conflict!
So, naturally, the way to fit it in is to do the P90 on the same day that I do the running — to give my whole body maximum recovery time between workouts. But that means carving out about 1.5 hours, 3 times a week. I’ve tried doing this in the evenings, and it’s a disaster for my sleeping pattern. But with taking the kids to school in the mornings, it’s hard to fit that in. …And this method might not even work!
I suppose I could punt the P90 until after the 10k, and just focus on the running after all, and spend the other day only doing push-ups, or something hyper-focused on other parts of the body that wouldn’t impact my running endurance.
Or, option number 7 or whatever, I could just keep running week 4 runs until my body builds up enough endurance to handle it. …But then I might run out of time to train up to run the full 10k distance.
No good answers. But I’m pretty sure that if I do my P90 workout tomorrow (later this morning, really), then Week 5 day 1 will ABSOLUTELY KILL ME. Perhaps I’ll take an 2nd day off between weeks (a “weekend”, as it were). But that’s not sustainable. Blargh.
