I am not a runner. I do not like running. I don’t get the runners high.
These are the messages I hear myself repeating in my head and when I speak to others concerning running.
Earlier this year, I started a couch to 5k plan to help myself become more physically fit. Some health and family drama happened around that time and I quit my training. The dust has settled in my personal life so a couple of weeks ago I decided to try training for a 5k again. I decided to start a few weeks or so in the program because after all, I wasn’t a complete beginner, right?
It is a struggle at first but each run does get easier. I am now up to 5 minute running intervals (5 minute run, 1 minute walk). Every time I bump up my minutes, there is a temporary struggle but then it does get easier.
Today when I was walking home from my “run” with my latte reward, I walked by an older couple who saw my 5K shirt from 2005 and asked me about it. I told them it was a race from 2005. The lady then exclaims “Oh you are a professional”. I about dropped my latte. To this I replied with a giggle “not exactly…I walked the race”. Her response to that was “oh that is good too”.
While I certainly don’t think I am a professional, it is all about perspective. To this lady who probably has never done a race in her life, I was a professional. Maybe I am not yet a runner today, but I can be a runner. Something that I thought was out of my reach can be really easily achieved. I can keep training and run an entire 5K just like that lady could walk one (barring any major health issues).
Hopefully when you see in a month, I will have run my first 5k (completely by running). Perhaps someday I can do a distance race, who knows?

This Saturday I ran another race. I completed the 2 miler in record time for myself. I still cannot run the entire course yet but I am improving so that is all I can ask for. I will be taking a break from races this week because I will be off in Colorado attempting to ski and snowboard. This trip should prove to be very challenging for me. I have had a total of 2 hours skiing time and 4 hours snowboarding time in my whole life. I think lessons are in the near future :). I am excited though, don’t get to see much snow in the Sunshine State. Before my trip, still have much to do. Have personal trainer session today, volleyball playoffs tomorrow and I have to pack sometime. Later…..

Note: This post was transferred from an old online journal but helps chronicle my fitness journey.

Last Saturday I completed my first 5k on my own. No distractions so I was able to go at my own pace. I was hoping to at least match my best time on the treadmill which is 45 minutes so far. I wasn’t really timing myself except when they called out the times at each mile markers. During the race I kept repeating what my trainer had told me on Friday, “You need to work on your endurance”. I repeated this while pushing myself to run more and more. I sprinted at the end and discovered that I had not only met my 45 minute goal, I had actually beat it by 5 minutes. So happy!
I have been trying to get into running all the local races as a means to get constant exercise. Previously I attempted to keep in shape by playing team sports a couple times a week. I found that softball and volleyball were not giving me level of exercise that I need. Who knows if I will keep up with this running thing. For now, running races gives me weekly goals to work at. This upcoming Saturday, I will be running a 2 mile – time to start training 🙂

Note: This post was transferred from an old online journal but helps chronicle my fitness journey.