Running

I started something a few months ago – something I never thought I would ever do – I started running. Not just running here and there, but for real – long distance (if you will) – with the goal of running a 5K as soon as it seemed plausible.

This running is really out of my comfort zone. I ran a bit in high school (one track season) and I was pretty terrible at it – running the 400 – not a sprint and not long distance – this terrible, in-between distance that I wasn’t ever properly trained to handle. I gave it up as quickly as I had started.

Over the years I have dabbled in exercise – bike riding, playing tennis, walking, pilates, aerobics, circuit training and resistance machines – but never stuck with it more than a year or two consistently. Kids came along and I never thought I would be able to move again, which was true for a period of time.

I was inspired by my brother who took up running while working in Africa over a 3 year period. He lost 100 lbs. I was blown away by what he was able to accomplish.

I downloaded the Couch-To-5K (C25K) app on my phone and…did nothing for a couple of months. A week before vacation I just got out there and did it. Trying to keep up with it on our vacation was hard, but I had lots of encouragement from my brother and sister-in-law.

After about 3 weeks, I was outside watching the kids and I looked at the sidewalk stretched out before me and I was itching to run it. I was mentally committed to this and to actually crave it was something I never thought could happen to me.

After 5 weeks I was amazed at how I was actually able to breathe through the running intervals. I wasn’t so tired all the time. I could hike through sand with beach gear and not get winded.

My goal was to run to lose weight, but although the weight is being stubborn, the other benefits made it worth it for me to continue. At about 6 weeks, I ran my first 5K – before I was finished with the training. I walked about 5 minutes of the run in 3 small intervals. I finished in 42 minutes and the rush of running through all of those people at the finish line was incredible. I felt great after I finished and was surprised at what I had just done – me - a non-runner – running 3.1 miles.

I recently finished the C25K program. While I don’t consistently run a 5K during each run, yet, I can’t believe that I can keep running for 30 minutes straight. I have much to learn and more training to complete, but I think it is safe to say that I’m a runner now. I’m still having trouble believing that and I find that running is not only very physically demanding, but it is also a mental game that I’m constantly fighting. But I’m not done yet – I have another 5K scheduled and then I will see where I go. The idea of running the Detroit Free Press half marathon this time next fall sounds very appealing. Crazy, eh?