Couch to 5K

Well, faithful readers, you are hearing it here first. I am going to become a runner. I've been making ugly faces at my friends for years when they brag about their running 6 miles the other day, or they pass so-and-so on the running trail every day blah blah blah but all it really was was me being jealous that people do that, and actually enjoy it. That's right, I'm that shallow! And petty enough to say stupid things like, "Why would anyone run for fun?" So there you have it, I'm the petty jealous type!

SO, I had heard about this so-called running program that claims to be able to get your butt off the couch and into a 5K race in 9 weeks. Right. But at the same time I was silently mocking I felt a pull to be involved. (see earlier post about my addiction to being in the middle of everything all the time). And after my gluten tolerance test came back normal and I have no medical answers to why I am perpetually skinny despite my man-sized appetite, I figured if God gave me this body I might as well take delight in it and treat it well. That starts with getting in shape. Or at least able to climb a couple flights of stairs without breathing so hard it sounds like I've run three miles (or a 5K maybe?).

It's a pretty simple program, like baby steps for stupid people (which I consider myself at this point). My biggest hangup to starting was How to do this with my kids? I don't have a runnable -- yes I made that word up-- double stroller, so taking them with isn't an option. Today the problem solved itself. I took the kids on a walk down our street, with Carly in our lightweight single stroller, and Caleb pushing his Little Tykes fire truck. As I watched him running ahead of me, then stopping to wait for me to catch up, it dawned on me, "Why can't the boy run along beside me?" So that's exactly what ended up happening. I changed into my running shoes (why I even have running shoes is a mystery since before today I haven't run since, ahhhh, middle school maybe?) and off we went, jogging for 60 seconds, and then walking for 90 seconds, repeat for 20 minutes.

Let me just say this right now. That was the LONGEST 20 minutes of my LIFE thus far. Forget childbirth. Puh-lease. That was easy peasy compared to the stabbing pain in my side and my burning lungs after about half of this torture regimen. I'm going to have to take the remedial track of this program and give myself an extra week at the beginning. So I will officially start Week One next Monday. Check back with me around Thanksgiving and see if 1) I'm dead, or 2) I'm a running-obsessed freak planning a half-marathon in January.

I'm not saying I'm committed just yet, but given the fact that I didn't die on the side of the street today, and I have recovered enough to function like nothing torturous happened to me today, I think I will do it again.

If you'd like to run with me, leave me a comment and I'll set up an email accountability group. That will give me enough pressure that maybe I'll follow through.

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml