Taking the First Step - Literally!

OK. I told y'all that I am NOT a runner...but...I'm not really a walker either. I mean, when it comes to exercise, I'd rather be in a gym or in a pool. (Again I ask...what..am..I..doing?) So....I walked my first mile on Monday and I walked my second mile yesterday. This is not part of the Couch-to-5K running program. This is just me - the lovely couch potato - getting out and pounding the pavement. Literally! Taking the first steps to getting moving...and let me tell you I am GLAD that I'm doing this before I start the program next week. My legs are already feeling the burn. Didn't realize I was THAT out of shape!

My wonderful, in-the-know, tech-savvy husband found the Couch-to-5K running program available as an App for my iPod Touch. (As he says, "There's an App for that.") We are testing it out while I'm typing this. This is pretty cool. It has all the workouts laid out and the running segments timed for you so all you have to do is select which segment you're doing and go! It also gives you vocal prompts in a lovely British accent to encourage you and let you know how much time you have left. While you're using it, you can listen to your favorite music and still be able to hear the cues to start running or start walking. It's really very simple. I'm excited that I don't have to take my stopwatch with me and try to keep up with how many minutes to jog and when to go back to walking.



Today I'm walking another mile. My neighborhood is laid out quite well for walking. I start out walking downhill for turns 1 & 2 then level out on the back side until turn 3. On the home-stretch, and through turn 4, it's a slow incline all the way back to my house. I go around twice and that's a mile. I'll check it with my pedometer today to be sure.

Let's do this!

Running the Race - The Preparation

What. Am. I. Doing? I can't believe I'm even saying the word...running. I am not a runner. So why do I have this annoying - no - nagging feeling telling me to start running? I mean, you've seen the date of my last blog entry. It's been a year since I posted anything. It's been 8 months since I even put workout clothes on. Running? Are you kidding me?

For the last 4 months this running notion has been floating around in my head. I can't even fathom why it's there except that I'm to learn something extraordinary from the experience. I have no desire to run for weight loss and I have no longing dream of running a marathon. I've never even run before...well there were the elementary and high school track & field event days where I ran a 50 yd. dash and a relay race...so I know absolutely Nada when it comes to running distance other than needing some really good shoes and a lot of mental determination. So I find it rather ironic to be sitting at my computer researching running and how to get started.

In my search for how to begin running (OK...I know how to run but I think you know what I mean) I came across a running plan that sounded right up my alley: The Couch-to-5K Running Plan from Cool Running. This was designed just for me - I know it! It's a beginning running program designed to ease you into running gradually so you don't wind up miserable as you take up running. Too many people have been turned off to running because they start too fast and their bodies rebel. The idea is to transform me from couch potato to runner - running 3 miles - on a regular basis in just two months.


I feel there's hope that I can become a runner and that I might actually like it. I know friends who have started running and they say that they feel great and that they love it. Not to mention that they look great too! I think I'm sold on the idea. Can I turn this idea into reality? Yes!! If you are thinking of running, print your own running plan and join me on the quest of finding out what running is all about. Or, you can just join me from your couch.

First order of business: Get awesome running shoes! While I'm looking into that, I've started walking. I walked a mile yesterday. It was approximately 1485 steps on my pedometer. Two times around my neighborhood is a mile. I got showed-up by some young kids preparing to run for the Kid's Bloomin' Mile for our 84th Apple Blossom Festival this weekend. Hmm...that's OK. I'll get 'em next year.