Couch to 5K W1D1 - COMPLETE

Ever since I was in high school I have had this dream about being a long distance runner. This is funny because I think that the last thought that comes to anyone's mind when they look at me is "runner". I'm short, heavy in muscle on my legs (they look like tree trunks) and pudgy in the hip/waist area (even pudgier since I gave birth to my daughter 19 months ago). But I have always equated running with a sense of freedom. You get to run away from whatever it is that is going on in your life for a brief time. I always look at people who are running and wonder what they are thinking. I've decided that they probably aren't thinking anything, they're just letting the gentle rhythm of their steps take them into a zone that is void of all outside thought.

I've tried many times to start running. I told myself after my daughter was born that I would run. My parents bought us a jogging stroller so that I could start running. It didn't work. Sure for 2 or 3 days in a week I would try, but then I would miss days because of my crazy schedule. Or I would think that I wasn't running right and just stop. There were also times that I stopped because I thought I was too fat to run. But now I think that I have actually found something that might work for me.

I am participating in the Couch to 5k Running Plan. I have many friends who weren't runners before and have done this program and are now avid runners.  I like this plan for a few reasons, but the most important reason is that it doesn't start you out with serious running right away. It eases you into running. The first day consists of a "Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes." I did this today while pushing my daughter in the jogging stroller. I did my 5 minute walk up a hill and then did my alternating run-walk just like I was told. I actually ended up doing 29 minutes, but that's because of the route I took and I still made sure to alternate running and walking the whole time.

My legs felt like jello and my arms hurt from pushing my 25 pound daughter in a jogging stroller with underinflated tires (note to self: inflate the tires correctly before taking the jogging stroller running again), but I was proud of myself. I was proud that I had decided to start a program and stick with it. Yes, today is just the first day, but I didn't give up at all during those 29 minutes and that to me is a step in the right direction.

I would recommend to any of you who want to try running to look into the Couch to 5k Running Plan. I know some real couch potatoes who are now avid runners. I figured if it worked for them, then it probably will work for me too.

I'll be sure to keep you updated on my progress!