Day 4: Let's start week 2!

Week 2 starts with running 2 minutes and walking 2 minutes. I was actually excited for this week. I wanted to see if I could actually run for 2 minutes. When my feet first hit the pavement in my warm-up, it was all I could do to keep myself in a walk. However, when I actually started running, it was all I could do to keep going for the two minutes. Luckily, my husband was with me and I needed to save face. After the first couple repitions, it actually got easier for me and I finished the workout doing about 7 repetitions and then a cool down. It took me 40 minutes to cover 3 miles, which included my warm-up and cool-down. It made me wonder though, why it is so hard to change. I know my body could do the work, but the feeling of dread and lethargy that overwhelm me each time I start can be so discouraging.

I decided to remind myself why I am doing this. I have my own goal, of course. I want to increase my ability. I want to be able to say "I can do this." But there's more. I have five kids and I want them to see me run. I want them to know they can run too. My hope is that as I develop the ability to run, I will also be able to develop a love for running and instill that love in my children.

Day 3

It's raining today so I decided to hop on my treadmill to do the program. The program specifies repeating the run 1, walk 2 min 7 times for a total of 21 minutes, but after you add your warm-up and cool-down time, you are in it more than a half hour. I was walking at 3.3 mph and running at 4.5 mph (start slowly, I've been warned) and I wasn't even close to my 2 miles that I try to get in. I decided to throw in and 8th repetition at the last minute and I ended up doing 1.86 miles...good enough. I really wanted enough time to get in a good stretch before the kids come home from school.

I have now been challenged to train to do a 5k in the autumn with my good friend. A year ago, you couldn't have been able to get me to do a 5k for anything but so many different events have changed my mind about that. The biggest one was watching my cousin do a triathlon. It was so motivating, if I could swim halfway across a pool and wear my enell in the water, I think I would want to do that. I have been trying to increase my swimming abilities, but this is the year for running.

My friend has been running since high school, but recently had a baby and is working on getting back into the routine. She gave me a good tip yesterday that I tried today and was impressed by how well it worked. When running, keep your arms close to your body. Don't swing them. It really does help you breathe better. I had always thought swinging my arms would give me increased momentum, but if you think about it, it's more muscle movement, which raises the heart level even more.

The Bucket List #1

I will be the first to admit it. I am 39 years old. Contrary to popular belief, 39 is not old, so all you 28 year olds just hush. You can consider me old the day they start digging my grave and I believe that will be in about another 40 odd years.

I will turn 40 this year. I have spent my first 39 years fairly uncoordinated and very non-athletic. I rode a bicycle everywhere I went right up until I got a drivers license and I spent a couple years as a hiking guide on the smaller trails of my mountains, but I wouldn't consider myself athletic. I never could play ball, in any form and I really didn't want to. Recently some friends ran a half marathon which is 13.1 miles. I couldn't run 13.1 houses if I wanted to. However, in that it's my 40th birthday, I feel the need to mark it with a milestone. I would like to be able to run a continuous mile. This is a goal is a small goal for these friends of mine, but for me it's mammoth. I don't think I have EVER been able to do this.

I started this program this time with a plan. Two days ago, I started with a 2 mile jaunt around my local junior high track. This isn't a normal track....It's 1/2 mile around, so to do my 2 miles, I only needed to go around 4 times. I took my whole family with me. It was close to dusk. There was a slight breeze in the air. The kids had their bicycles, my husband had his roller blades, and I had my feet. I started walking for a bit and then I would run until I couldn't run anymore, and then walk to catch my breath until I could run again. It wasn't hard and I didn't go terribly fast. I completed my jaunt in 40 minutes. But it really wasnt that bad. I left the track feeling content. I was excited. This might be easier than I thought.

Today however, was day 2 of the running program. I took yesterday off. I knew I would have to get it done in the morning so I got up, donned my running shoes and headed out the door. It rained a good part of last night and there was a northern wind so I headed back inside to get some ear warmers. After my five minute warm-up around my little neighborhood, I headed north a couple subdivisions following the run 1 minute walk 2 minute plan. I call it the walk of shame because the route takes me through my running friends' subdivision and I know I don't look like them when I run. Wow! I wasn't prepared to feel like I was standing still. It is slightly up hill, and the wind didn't feel too strong, but those two things, along with my body being sore from the other night, made me want to lay down on the street. The only thing keeping me upright was my mile goal. The route takes me 2.43 miles back to my house and it took me about 45 minutes again. At the turn around spot, the sun came out, making it a bit warmer, and the wind stopped blowing. So much for counting on a tail wind to usher me back home. It was still downhill a little, and that made all the difference. I am happy to say I survived it!