For CAS, we were given the opportunity to use class time in order to get on our feet and stay active. For these past few months, I have been consistently engaging in at-home fitness, however recently I was allowed to start going to the gym. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to begin my journey to running 5k, as mentioned in my initial CAS goals.
Before going to the Gym, it was important for me and my family to make sure we were taking health precautions. I did so by ensuring I brought sanitizer, a mask, and went at a time where the gym would be fairly empty. With some observation, I found the gym was most empty from 9:30 am until about 4 pm. This worked out well as my CAS lesson allowed me to go to the gym at around 9:30 when hardly anyone was present.
When I got to the gym, I decided to run on the treadmill for 20 minutes as a start to reaching my 5k goal. Looking at my previous experiences with the treadmill, the longest I had ever run was for 20 minutes, which is what I decided would be my goal for my first day of attempting to complete a 5k. This run was to see where I was at with running, as it had been a while since I ran last. I had been doing cardio during home workouts, but never as cardio-focused as running. Within the 20 minutes, I was able to run 2.6km, which is a triumph for me and a promising start. I ran for 10 minutes at an average speed of 8.5, speeding up to about a 9 after 8 minutes. I took a one minute break at a speed of 4 to catch my breath. I ran for another 10 minutes at an average speed of 8.5, speeding up to 10 for the last two minutes. This was all at an incline of 3, to add some resistance to the run. Looking at these numbers, I believe I would be able to run 5k in under 40 minutes in the future, however, this will take consistency in running, and commitment. Below is a screenshot of the statistics from my watch. The distance on the statistics is slightly less accurate since it is a watch, however, the BPM will be more reliable.
Running statistics from my watch
Believing a 5k is not impossible is very important to achieving my goal, as the mental boundaries can be overwhelming at times, especially when running for long periods of time. Your mind begins to wander, and when you start thinking about how tired or out of breath you are, your mental strength is tested. I have never been a runner, but for most sports, it is a large component (ie. football). Improving my stamina and running skills will allow me to work towards something which I believe would help me in the sports that I enjoy, even if it may take some time before I can apply these skills. This activity connects to the learning outcomes, as I constantly recognize areas where I can grow and develop, which for today seemed to be my overall stamina. To improve my running, I have decided to run at least two times a week, and focus on cardio and leg training during home workouts. I will follow a workout from this link to start targetting muscle groups and perform movements that will build my strength to improve my running.