Thursday, March 5, 2009

Dare I Be Called a Runner?

If you follow me on Twitter then you know that I have been using the Couch-to-5K (C25K) running plan in hopes of becoming an official runner. I use the podcasts from Robert Ullrey to keep me on plan and am currently on Week 6 of nine. I'm over halfway to running a 5K!

Why is this such a big deal, you ask? Let me backtrack a little.

I have never been one to run. Not as a kid, not as a teenager, and surely not lately. I just never liked to run. I played sports like softball and tennis so I moved, but didn't really run anywhere.

When I first started teaching at my current school, five years ago, a group of friends encouraged me to join them at the gym. I fell into the peer pressure and eventually joined. I was impressed by the way they all ran. I began walking on the treadmill, increasing my speed every workout, and finally jogged a little here and there. It was great having them cheer me on and I must admit that not wanting to fail in front of them gave me more reason to run. Then the gym thing got old and I eventually stopped going.

After joining Weight Watchers in 07 I did get a treadmill for home and consistently used it for walking, but never really jogged. I've always been interested in running though. I know it burns lots of calories and around here at the beach during the summer, all you see is people running. I would watch them and dream of being able to run...and of having their legs and butts!

However, no matter how much I envied them their legs I never considered, you know, actually running. Then I read about the Couch-to-5K over at The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. I was intrigued. I checked it out, downloaded the first week, and decided to give it a try.

The first week started with intervals of 60 minute runs with 90 seconds of walking in between. The way I looked at it was that I could do anything for one minute and I DID. I finished the week successfully and I believe that is what motivated me to keep going. Week 2 then pushed a bit harder with 90 second runs, but 2 1/2 minutes of walking in between. I kept telling myself, "You can walk for 2 1/2 minutes, you just have to run for 90 seconds" over and over. When I finished week 2 successfully, I was ready to take on week 3. By the time I finished week 3, I found myself actually looking forward to running. I was enjoying the challenge and at the end of every run was so proud of myself that it kept me going for the next one!!

I can't believe that I am now on week 6 out of the 9 weeks of podcasts. I'm not going to lie and say that it has all been absolutely wonderful because let me tell you my first 20 minute straight run was not! Matter of fact I ended up having to walk for one minute in between. But, if you would have told me that I would be running the 19 minutes a couple months ago I would have laughed in your face.

So now I daresay that I could be considered a runner!!
WOW. I didn't think that word would ever be used to describe me.
It has a special ring to it, don't you think??
What about you?
Is there something that you didn't think you would ever be able to do, but did?
Are you like me and have thought about running, but thought you never could? If so, I challenge you to check out the Couch-to-5K program. If I can do it, then you can too!!

10 comments:

  1. i think it is so great when people challenged themselves, we usually can do more than we think. i have always been a runner but i did short runs, 5ks...i never thought i would finish a half marathon...last year i did it. this year i am trying a sprint tri !!!! what 5k are you going to do in the end. i love races and getting the shirts and seeing every size and shape of person who runs and finishes.

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  2. woo hoo! congrats for you! I used the cp25k program a few years ago - like you, to run for the first time in my life! I still run several times a week (still only about 3 miles (5k) - but it is a great program - and it works! For anybody! Congrats!!!

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  3. Congrats!

    A lot of the girls in our Homeschooling group have done this couch to 5k thing. I think only one made it to run the 5k though. It's tough with all the getting sick and life going on.

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  4. You rock!! keep it up, girlie!! You'll be done before you know it!! :D

    kelsnotchels
    www.kelseytoney.com

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  5. Good job! You can definitely call yourself a runner!

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  6. I used to run and I loved it. I really miss doing it - go for it!! You'll do great!

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  7. Congrats on running. I never EVER thought I would run. Yet, my good friend challenged me! 3 years ago I could hardly run for 5 minutes. I now have done a 1/2 marathon, 2 10 mile runs, and several 10k - 5k's. Running is almost addiciting. Good luck with it.

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  8. A friend of mine wants me to join her in doing a 5K this summer in Baltimore. I am SO NOT a runner either but I keep thinking this is something I'd love to do. I got on my mom's treadmill this week and decided to see what I could to do run. Out of a 30 minute time period I ran for about 10 of those minutes. Course it was out of the stress from work that I pushed myself on!! But still, I was impressed with myself too. I want to try and keep it up. This friend of mine also gave me that workout webpage to check out. I like it!

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  9. Congratulations! I have always wanted to run too. You have given me some inspirtaion to give the Couch to 5k program a try. Thank you!

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  10. Congratulations runner! You are a wonderful inspiration. I am working my way into doing exercise again. I found that I really like Leslie Sansone and will use her workouts to move my way into more down the road.

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Go ahead...tell me like it is!

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