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!