Breathe...Breathe...Br - ACK!

No. That's not a typo. That's the sound of a new runner experiencing what it's like to go from her neighborhood where there are hardly any trees to a footpath that runs alongside the woods...and gagging on a bug!! I think it was a gnat. Gross. But I kept running!! I did not stop...and I did not throw up!

I am on week 3 of the C25K program and, I must say, it's not going bad at all! I feel stronger. I can run upright and not all hunched over, if that makes any sense. I feel confident. I like that. And...my gadget husband found some things to load me up with for my runs. He found an arm band that holds my iPod Touch. It fits snugly on my arm and my iPod hasn't fallen out yet! I wear it so the pocket is on the back side of my arm and I thread my ear buds through my shirt sleeve to my neck so that I don't have cords flopping all over while I run. It's so nice not having to hold on to that thing while running!

Gadget-Man also bought me a heart monitor to wear. I don't have heart problems, but wearing the heart monitor allows me to check my heart rate while running/exercising and to make sure I stay in my target zone. It came with a "watch" to wear and I can save the data from each run: calories burned, % of fat burned, how long I was out, and what my HI/LO heart rates were. Very handy, I must say, to be able to check your heart rate while exercising and compare how you did from last time. I was quite surprised to see that there were times that I went below my target zone while doing the program. What?? Then there were times that I was sure I was going over my target zone and I was only in the middle. I guess I need to work a little harder to stay in my target zone in between each run. I guess I can handle running after all...

...except for the bugs. ACK!

The First Step

Running. Can I call it running if I'm not really running the whole time I'm out there? I was telling a friend yesterday that I went on my first run...but...I didn't really run. I mean, I did run...8 times...but in 60 second intervals with 90 seconds of walking in between. So what do I tell others that I'm doing - that I went on my first fun-walk this week.

Day 1 of the Couch-to-5K program wasn't too bad. I had my C25K iPod app and I downloaded some running music. That was the fun stuff. The other stuff was not so fun - I mean, I felt so awkward running. Am I doing this right? Is my form right? What is all that jiggling back there? Plus, it was hot outside. We had a warm day and when I got out to run, it was close to lunch time. When I got back, I was miserable and my kids thought I was going to pass out.

Day 1 recovery was awful! I felt like I got hit by a truck my body hurt so bad. I just kept stretching everything and I paid a visit to my chiropractor to talk about running. He gave me some ways to rub out the "kinks" in my muscles after I run and we're going to keep an eye on how my hips are handling the running. I may need to schedule a massage. I like being able to tell my husband that I need a massage!!

Day 2 of running was awful. I went earlier in the morning to avoid the heat - which worked out fine - but now I think I may have gone too early. I felt so heavy! My feet were even scraping the pavement at times, especially up-hill. Will I ever feel "lighter?"

The good news is that day 2 recovery is better! I don't feel like I've been hit by a truck. Only my lower back is a little tight and my inner thighs are sore. Tomorrow (Monday) is day 3 of running. If you're a runner, what was it like when you first started running? Did you feel heavy, awkward, uncoordinated? Please tell me it gets better!