1. Train and run a 5k

Have no fear, faithful readers, I have not fallen off the planet. Nor have I given up on this thing. I have diligently gotten my 3 runs in each week. I just completely Week 4 Day 3, so you know what that means??? Half way baby!

If you are not familiar with the Couch to 5k program, it is a gradual build of walking to running. The lady living in my ear buds tells me when to walk and when to run and she's mostly pretty nice about it. Until she makes me run more than I wanna. So far, my basic view is that I hate what I am doing, and longing for the previous week's "easier" run, which I guess means it's working.

This journey has been hard. As discussed earlier, I dislike running. I hate the breathing heaving, the nose running and most of all the shin pain. BUT despite all these challenges, I have made it to halfway point and I have to admit, I'm pretty freaking proud of that.

All whining aside, starting this in the spring is by far the best thing about it. My neighborhood smells like flowers which is so delightful. The air is cool enough that I don't feel like I am wearing a wet blanket but not so cold that my lungs feel like they are going freeze up. And 4 weeks into this thing, I am a lot less concerned with how I look when I run. Mostly, because I am focusing all of my energy on willing time to move faster so the fire in my shins will go out but that is totally besides the point.

When I started this, running more than a minute was tough and now I am up to 5. It's not huge, but I will take it and I'll just keep waiting for that great run I keep hearing about.

1.Train and run a 5k

Week 2 Complete.Hurray!

Week 3 Day 1 in the books as well.Groan...

And I thought 90 seconds was bad. HA! It's cake to 3 minutes. (hmmm.. cake...)

I am not so secretly cursing my parents for not making me go out and run more often as a kid because this sh*t is hard as an adult. Honestly, the things I am struggling with the most are my shin pain and my breathing. I gave some new stretches a shot tonite and having iced the crap out of my shins on Sunday after our run, I noticed a difference. They still hurt but the pain has definitely decreased in intensity. Now, to work on my breathing so I stop sounding like I am giving birth whilst running.

On the plus side, having dropped 15lbs since the last time I gave Couch to 5k a shot, I notice a lot less strain on my knees which makes running slightly more pleasant but only slightly. Also, having a running buddy makes me more accountable. Thanks Hubby!

One of the things I struggle with is follow through and so hitting milestones like completing Week 2 is a big deal for me. Especially with something I don't really *want* to do like, pant and hiss and moan for 2 miles in my neighborhood. And I was especially dreading the 3 min straight run this week. But I did it and for that, I am going to glow with pride. Or sweat. Could go either way.

BTW, running in the rain today was kind of sucky but at least we beat the heavy rain!

1.Train and run a 5k

Week 2 Day 1.

The one where I learn exactly how long 30 seconds is. 

When I was a kid, whenever I said any amount of time wasn't "that long" my dad would always says " How would you like to hang by your toes for that long?" And I feel like I can now change this to "How would you like to run for that long?". Ug. I hate it so much and I want to quit.

This is hard (at least for me, I know some of you pro runners are like Oh it's nothing haha!) but I am not going to quit, despite all of the efforts I make to think of excuses why it would be ok if I did.

One of my goals is to improve my follow through. I have great ideas, I am not going to lie but I am royal suck at sticking with stuff when the going gets tough. (Things, not people. I am loyal as hell to people I care about.) So, as much as I feel like death while I am doing it, I will focus on the sunshine and the warm breeze and that at some point this gets easier.

It does get easier, right?

1.Train and run a 5k

I hate running. I always have. I don't like sweating or breathing heavy and to be very honest, I think I look stupid when I run. With all that being said, I put on my list "Train for and run a 5k" . Why might you ask? Because I'm an idiot who likes to torture myself? Nah. Because at some point I will learn to the love the sweat and learn how to breathe correctly and eventually I won't care about how I look when I run... right?

Couldn't be more accurate

Truth is people talk about running like it's this amazing thing. And I want to like it. I just have get past the panting and feeling like I am dying first, I think. The only way I know to get to that point is to have a goal. So I got a Groupon for registration for the Color Run 5k in June. Knowing myself, I need something to help me stay accountable and that's where you come in, my fine readers. This particular item is going to be a series of posts until June as I train.



Today was Day 1 of the Couch to 5k program. I had wanted to start once I finished the cleanse but it was ass cold. And last week I was fighting off some sinus crapola. So today was the day. And believe me, I tried to talk myself out of it. It was a balmy 40-something degrees when I got off work and it was windy. Maybe tomorrow it will be nicer..... NO. I know if I don't start on a Monday I'll put it off til NEXT week. But I kind of have a headache... NO. It's not that bad and the fresh air will do me good.



So I panted and my nose ran and I just wanted to stop but I did it. 32 mins, 2.06 miles.