Couch 2 5k & WT runners

[stormy weather]

I have question...well more like an explanation with a question attached.:tongue_smilie:

I have started to do C25k on my treadmill because I can't seem to wear shoes anymore and the temps and lack of pavement here are not conducive to running outdoors without shoes. The problem is, I can only get about halfway before my asthma kicks in. I could push through and finish I think but then I would be coughing all. day. long. Would it be as effective to do half a workout everyday instead of a whole one on alternating days? The main reason I'm doing it is to get into shape. TIA

[LarlaB]

I have asthma as well, and have found it is possible to run w/out meds. I can somewhat control it by watching my exertion level, but mostly by making sure I focus on deeeeep breathing.

 

So starting out, its key to take lots of breaks and not push too hard/too long...I started out w/ intervals and built from there. Where-ever you're at- walk 2 minutes, run 1 minute and go from there. So to answer your question, NO I would not recommend running everyday. You need a break to recover mentally/physically- the recovery is where the gains are made.

 

Good luck!

[Mejane]

Agree with the pp that you shouldn't run everyday. There's some evidence that working out in short spurts can be just as beneficial as one long session. You could do two short intervals one day, and still rest the next day.

 

See this article:

 

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=202

[Carol in Cal.]

I used C25K as a jumping off point rather than a set of rules. I go out for 40-70 minutes instead of 30. I try to fit in 3-4 runs in a lot of walking. I don't try to run continuously the whole time, I just try to do a little better each time.

 

I have asthma as well, and my allergy/asthma specialist got ticked when he found out that I had started running and that I got a little faint from not being able to take deep enough breaths the first couple of times that I did it. He said to work up to it gradually, starting with working up to being able to walk for an hour a day, 5-6 days per week, and with making sure that the asthma is healed before starting to run. He said that not only can you exert yourself to the point where you can't inhale deeply enough to catch your breath with asthma, but you can also trigger exercise-induced asthma where your lung passages actually get smaller with exertion. Walking doesn't usually do that, so that's the place to start.

 

So I have used C25K mostly to give me that idea of running and walking interspersed, and interpret it really broadly. It's been great. I have developed my conditioning quite a bit in the last few months because of this. If I had tried to stick to just the plan, I would have had far shorter workouts, and they would have been too intense for me at times. I probably would have quit, and ironically, even before quitting I would have gotten less exercise. Slow and steady sometimes does win the race.

[stormy weather]

Thanks, I'll stick with doing half I guess and little by little add to it and see where it gets me. I really need to do something though. I am not getting any younger or thinner:glare: