Yeah, it's here, it's real, it's scary.

Embarking on the Couch to 5k plan - as in 3 miles. For starters.

Pedometer thus far before setting off on day 1 of the c5k:

5696 steps
2.337 miles
204.7 calories
52.34 minutes walking

The above includes to/from the subway and at work. I walked an extra mile to a more distant subway stop this afternoon.

I'm a little curious as to how the pedometer will work as I'm switching from walking to jogging a number of times. It's based on stride, and my jogging is going to be pretty small to begin with, so we'll see.

Did it. stats later I'm dripping right now and don't want to ruin my keyboard.

I have no idea how close to accurate my pedometer is for what I just did. I can use it referentially, though, and see how my time/distance changes proportionately.

1st session of c5k:

8 sessions of 60 seconds jogging, 90 seconds walking, for a total of 20 minutes. I walked for a 4 minutes before starting, and about 3.5 minutes when I finished. I went over on a few of the cycles:

3551 steps
1.457 miles
127.6 cal
28:49 minutes

Yay! Good job. We did it.

Wait, my pedometer is still clipped to my pants where I dumped them on the floor...

Ok, it says:

3615 steps
1.7 miles
225.9 calories
and it doesn't say anything else.

I was about to say - hey, close to yours! But then I remembered that I didn't actually have it on this morning when I did the c5k thing, I ran out and bought it when you mentioned yours, and that must be counting my day from around 4pm.

Regarding today, toward the end, the last 5 minutes or so, I really had to talk myself through the running part. I was breathing pretty hard. My mantra became: JOHN CAN DO THIS JOHN CAN DO THIS. ha ha. Because of course our purpose in life is kicking each other's asses at things. What's that old song? I think it's "anything you can do I can do better..."

Nice gym log. I still haven't decided where to log my "activity" progress.

Next: Wednesday

Let's add these together.

For Monday, 9/13/04:

9247 steps
3.494 miles
332.3 calories
82:23 (I think)

Plus what I walked this evening around the apartment - hey, don't laugh, it adds up.

Kate: for now or until whenever, you're welcome to log stuff here. Particularly if we're encouraging each other. It's fine with me.

About 3 blocks before I got back - just before beginning the last cycle of jogging/walking, I decided I was really glad I was almost done. I also realised one big advantage to jogging/running/walking outside versus on a treadmill at the gym. You're going in either a circle or a line - some sort of path that will get you back to your starting point. The thing is, at the halfway point, you can't quit. You can't step off the machine. Score one for free exercise! (Wait and see if I'll be saying this in January . . .)

The only real stiffness I feel this morning is in the fronts of my thighs. Otherwise, I feel pretty good.

40 rather poor-form sit-ups this morning. I'm aiming for another 40 tonight.

hey, that's a lot of steps! When I got my pedometer, I remember reading that 10,000 steps per day is supposed to be good, and I don't think I ever got near it more than once, and it was a little over 5 miles.

Today (make that Tuesday):

8070 steps
3.311 miles
290 cals
1:17:40 hours

I learned to touch type when I was in 9th grade (on a typewriter, thank you very much), but I never learned the numbers. I suppose it would help if I turned on the light, but I can close my eyes (better in my current state) and type the rest. Numbers suck.

Wednesday pedometer:

3155 steps
1.294 miles
113.3 cals
34:23 minutes

truly pathetic.

Off to run in the rain. And pick up a headlight for the car in the process.

Well, I jogged today, but my pedometer threw a fit and refused to register that I was actually MOVING. Either that or some kind of time warp was going on. I would walk or run a full block, and it would be reading the same. Of course, I didn't have my iPod this time, so I couldn't even see that I was timing myself properly. To top things off, I ran a different route because I had to go to an auto parts store and pick up a headlight bulb for our car.

Hey, at least my story is consistent.

I'm not even going to post the pathetic stats shown on the pedometer, because they are not accurate.

I did do two cycles of:

90 seconds jog
90 seconds walk
three minutes jog
three minutes walk

as best I could, estimating the time. There was one very long block that I jogged the entire length of, plus another shorter block as one of the three minute jogs, thinking that it might be about right. Just checked on yahoo maps, and it appears to be about 1/4 mile. The three minutes jog is supposed to be 400 yards, which is just under 1/4 mile, so that worked pretty well.

Another week down! You are a MACHINE!!!

And making the miles (to get car parts) useful, too, eh? Now that's cunning running.

It has been a long road for me to type without looking, but I did work posting checks at a bank once and so I am a wizard with the keypad on the right side of the keyboard. Unfortunately, my laptop doesn't have one so I am as good as useless.

And I will be around all weekend if you have any free time.