Couch to 5K

After feeling the positive effects of drinking more water and less soda, I was ready to take on some exercise.  I had made resolutions before to start an exercise program.  They had all failed for different reasons.  I started too much too soon.  I had a hard time finding a consistent time.  The gym was too expensive.  My kids were too little to go to day care.  The Wii fit had some great features, but it wasn't enough to really get my heart rate going.  Tai Bo was intense, but got annoying fast.

And I couldn't run.  I had hurt my knee playing volleyball in high school, and every time I would try to run, my knee would give me trouble.  So, you see, I couldn't run.

I was venting my frustrations on this to my sister-in-law Heather.  She told me about a running program she had used that was designed to ease you into activity without burning you out, turning you off, or becoming injured.  She sent me the link to the Couch to 5K program, and I decided to give it a shot.  I was interested in running the Color Me Rad 5K that was being held in November, which gave me about 8 weeks to complete the program and be ready. So I went out and bought the cheapest pair of running shoes I could find.  I think part of me thought that I wouldn't stick with it, so I might as well save the money, right?

The first workout nearly killed me.  I was shocked at how running in such short spurts could wear me down so quickly.  The second workout was better, but not by much.  The third workout was tolerable.  Each week I would look at what I had to do for the next week, and each week I thought "I can't do that!  Run for 5 straight minutes?  You have got to be kidding me!"  And every week I surprised myself.  Soon I was running just under 2 miles without having to walk.  I still wasn't fast, but I was doing it.

And then my knee started to hurt.  It wouldn't hurt too bad during the run...it would wait until after.  It would swell up and I would hardly be able to walk.  One night my knee seized up, and I couldn't even straighten my leg.  I was in tears.  I ended up going to the doctor, where I was told that I had tendonitis in my knee and that I needed to stop running for a couple of weeks to let it heal.  I was discouraged.  I had just begun to relish my running time.  It was the only time I had truly to myself.  The only time that I could be in my own head without kids whining or crying or asking questions.  And if I took two weeks off, I would not be ready for the 5K in November.  Still, I didn't want to hurt myself any worse, so I spent nearly 3 weeks healing.  I had to let go of the idea of running the entire 5K, but I figured it was better than quitting altogether.

I resumed running, and was able to monitor my knee injury.  It was slower going than I would have liked, but I was still going.  When I went to pick up my packet the night before the race, I learned that I could sign a kid up for only 10$.  I decided that Seth would love to do it with me, so I signed him up.  Without having the pressure to run the whole 3 miles, I was excited to do something special with just Seth and I.

We had a blast.  It was so fun to feed off the feeling of being in a race.  I was struck by how there were so many different types of people at that race.  There were plenty of the type of people who I would have expected.  0% body fat. Six minute miles. The eye of the tiger.  But there were plenty who were like me.  Struggling to get into shape.  Looking to find the fun in exercise.  Seth and I had a great time.  We spent the race moving from color station to color station.  Seth struggled with running at first, and preferred to walk, but he soon discovered that he covered ground much more quickly at a run!  We finished in around 45 minutes.



























After the 5K, part of me felt like I had ticked the running box, and I didn't need to keep running.  Combine this with the fact that our house was being built, we were packing to move, and the fact that it was Christmastime, and I was stressed beyond belief.  I didn't spend a lot of time in my running shoes for those couple of months.

And one day, I was surprised to realize...  I. missed. running.

I had officially turned a corner. Not only could I run, but I wanted to.