I have a triumph I want to share. Kinda silly, but something I’m proud of, so here goes. This month marks one year that I have learned to be a runner. Last year, around the holidays, I decided that it was time to begin exercising in earnest. I knew that the time had come where my metabolism was letting me down and that I was going to have to make an effort to keep weight off or I’d be in trouble soon. And, I have to admit, that I’ve always thought runners looked so healthy and fit. I’ve secretly always wanted to be a runner, I just never wanted to do the work! Phil said, “I haven’t seen you run since 10th grade gym class!” And he was right! Was I crazy? Who was I kidding? Me? Run? Ha!
Well, as most of us do when we’re looking for a solution, I Googled it. “Beginning running” produced many search results, but the one that stood out was the “Couch to 5K” program. More research produced an iPhone app, and that cinched it. I set out in the dead of winter, iPhone in hand, bitter cold late December day to learn to run. And I am proud to say that one year later, I’m still running! The program was genius. In 9 weeks, it taught me to run 3 miles by starting out doing intervals of running and walking. Very doable intervals, I might add. And by the time I got to week 7, I didn’t need the program anymore and set out to run on my own. I now run 2-3 miles 4-5 times a week and I truly love it! I’ve lost about 15 pounds and I feel great! I’m not out to run a marathon or even a 5K Run - I just run to stay fit. I love it! I highly recommend the Couch to 5K program, not as a tool to be the world’s best runner, but instead, a tool to be healthy!
