Couch to 5K

About 6 weeks ago, I ran into my good teacher friend inside of Belk....I was telling her about how we were going back to the Y and Spencer was running two miles straight like it was nothing (although he is dripping wet from head to toe) and I couldn't make it past 1/4 mile....1/3 mile at the most.....I was just talking about needing to work out in general and she said, "Melanie, you ought to google couch to 5K and try it. She explained that she and her neighbor had done that last year and she actually ran a 4 mile race last November. My curiosity was peeked, but I'll have to admit, I was skeptical...

You see...I have never been able to run...EVER....Even when I was in great shape as a kid (doing gymnastics) and a teenager...I could still never run any distance and felt I was going to die while making an attempt...I thought I must have something wrong with me b/c every time I run, my chest hurts, I can't breathe, I want an oxygen tank, and to get far far away from the treadmill...

So I went home and "googled it". I thought...maybe I can do this. You start out jog/walking....You eventually decrease your walking while increasing your jogging...You can find the Couch to 5K plan here or here. I had tried a Jillian Michaels workout video 30 day shred in April and I'm gonna tell you....It just didn't shred and I was faithful on those workouts...So I decided my goal for this project could not be loosing weight (though I'm certainly not opposed to this and would be delighted if it were to come off), it would be to be able to run further each time....I started and I ran into my friend a couple of times during the past few weeks. She encouraged me and told me it would get easier.

I'll be honest and say it is not getting easier b/c the workout becomes progressively harder, but I'm trying the best I can and I've been able to do each day's workout UNTIL Week 5 Day 3.....I'm sad to report that I didn't make it...There. I said it...I knew two weeks ahead and I was nervous I wouldn't be able to do it b/c it was warm up with a brisk walk for 5 minutes and jog 20....awwwww man...That was too big of a jump from day 2 of that week which was 5 min. brisk walk, jog 8 minutes. walk 5, jog 8.....
I am happy to report that I did make it one mile. Yep it took 11 minutes and sheer determination and my ankle about to fall off (and my MP3 player turned up really loud), but I did it. I don't recall ever jogging a mile in my life....so for that I have to smile and encourage myself instead of being disappointed in myself for this setback....

So, tomorrow morning, I'm taking my butt back to the Y and I'm going to try again....Not sure if I'll do Week 5 Day 3 or Week 6 Day 1 (b/c it breaks the jogging up with walking). I'm not sure if I'm going to jog a 5K, but I'm telling you it would be a God-event if that happens....I'm going to keep plugging away at it....Just to push myself to do something I've never been able to do.....so we shall see....

Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Much Love,