My Fitness Apps: RunDouble

So as I mentioned earlier, I've started running again.  I actually ran cross country for a year in high school once I'd stopped playing volleyball, which is pretty funny if you know me and how much I hated running. I think I cut a minute off of every race, because I really had no idea how to run.

Add to that the fact that I had a pretty major surgery in March, and I feel a bit like I'm starting from point zero. But, I've found this really nifty tool that seems to be helping with that.

From RunDouble

Enter RunDouble. It is an app that, after doing some research, I downloaded onto my android. I believe it is also availble for the iPhone.  It takes the Couch to 5k plan and puts it on your phone. It is also available for 10k, half, and full marathon training plans, but obviously I'm starting at the beginning.

Here's how it works. You choose either a timed or a distance plan, and off you go. The whole point of the couch to 5k is to alternate running and walking to build up your endurance. What I love about this app is that it keeps track of which one you should be doing, and notifys you with a buzz and verbal signal to switch. I just finished the 2nd (of 3) workouts for the third week, and so far so good. I've been using the timed app, which is nice because I know how long I'm going to run for. That said, I'm not yet running fast enough where I get to the 5k distance. Hopefully that will come within the next few weeks.

Note: the first two weeks with the app are free, after that it is paid. However, I got the whole thing for free as part of AchieveMint. I'll get into that in another post though :)

Goal: 5k Color Run and a Disney 1/2 Marathon

Coming out of 5 years of chronic shoulder pain, I have some big goals. I've been lucky and still stayed moderately active over the last five years, although not nearly as much as when I was younger. I really want to get more involved with my physical fitness. Prior to my shoulder problem, I played volleyball, basketball, tennis, and biked. I can still do those things, but regret it quite a bit the next day. My hope is, as I recover from my surgery, I can start reintroducing some of these activities.

But, goals are all about having something concrete to achieve. So, here are my two big fitness related, post shoulder problem goals.

1. Run the Albany Color Me Rad 5k on September 21st, 2013

via Color Me Rad

2. Run one of the Disney half marathons, ideally the Wine and Dine in 2014

via RunDisney

Don't these both look like so much fun? I feel like, if I'm going to try to start running in races, they should at least be FUN ones! We have a family friend who has run several of the Disney half and whole marathons, and she has said they are by far her favorite races.

So, what am I doing to acheive this goal? Well, I did some research, downloaded some apps, all that jazz, but really I've started running. I'm currently on day 3 of the Couch to 5k program.

My biggest problem right now is that my lung capacity isn't great. My comfortable stride is pretty long, but my lungs can't keep up with that yet. I could run a full out 5k right now, but I'm hoping by going through the training program I'll give my lungs a chance to catch up and hopefully that will help me increase my speed a bit.

Mostly I'm running along the Mohawk Hudson Hike-Bike Trail, conveniently located near our apartment.

From the Friends of the MHHBT

Although this isn't a photo from the stretch I usually run, it is really that beautiful. The section I like to take goes past an old Erie Canal lock, and it is beautifully overgrown. It is also nicely paved, a few little hills but nothing bad, and generally very clean. Everything I read says when you're starting off to not go out too many days in a row, but it felt so great running the last two days, I want to go out again today!