the rundown

I should really call it the "jog"down! Running is probably an overstatement, but 10 weeks ago today is when I started a running program from nada! This post is filled with goals/tips not to say "Look what I did," but to say, "If I can, YOU can!" :) I have had so many people ask me about this so here is a rundown of what I have done. If you're a real runner, this will all probably be hilarious, but I hope it helps and encourages anyone that is considering starting.

Warning -- I started this a few days ago and kept adding random things I thought of.

I bounced between Couch to 5K and Jillian's. Here is another if you get bored with those. I have not skipped more than 1-2 days in the 10 weeks. Not because I'm sooo disciplined but because I'm soooo scared that it will be as hard as it was on week 1 if I put too much distance between my days. The first 1-3 weeks, I aimed to do every 36 hours because I was mostly walking. I have reached the goal of being able to run 3+ miles nonstop -- this is much more attainable when I jog on the treadmill. But I have not hit being able to run 3 in 30 min -- still working on speed.

I have kept a calendar with details of every attempt. How long each mile took, how long the total run was, etc. This way I can look back and see that I cut 4 minutes off of my time in a month or whatever. Shows progress. I need to see that progress now as much as I did at the beginning.

I invested in some gear. This is especially a must for kicking this off in the summer. Target has great stuff for under $20 and works just as good as the few Nike things I got. Dry wick t-shirts, thin socks, etc. are a must. Get something fun and cute! :) This was a great use of the Christmas/bday money I kept stashed all year. December bdays have to hang on to it! I had barely used running shoes that have worked fine, but Alex had to get fitted. Who knew you couldn't just buy the cute color!?

The fun in this really emerged in week 5 or 6 when I started meeting friends. What started off with a sweet friend who really "trained" me and got me through my first nonstop 5k route, has grown into a regular meeting of 6-8 girls at 6am twice a week. Accountability works wonders for me. We can't breathe enough to chat and we don't all stay at the same pace, but we all do our 3+ miles! Who wants to join us!?

6am sound ridiculous to you? It sure does to us, but it feels soooo good to be riding home before 7am and know that it's checked off. I found this ebook recently and LOVE it: Maximize your Mornings. This is the morning game plan I have SO been needing. Print it and read/work through it as soon as you can! I certainly don't wake up at 5:10 thinking, "I love this," but I do think that after the fact. I am selfishly excited about the day I can wake up a little later and skip pumping beforehand! Guys don't read blogs do they!? Sorry, guys. I certainly couldn't do this without my man who runs before me on these mornings and then helps with our early risers while I'm gone!

Google has a program where you can map routes so that it tells you distance, calories, etc. I didn't find it until after several drives mapping routes the old school way! I'm sort of addicted to knowing my time, mileage, etc. We borrowed a Garmin watch, and I finally gave in and used a bday amazon gift card for my own! Try to talk someone in your group into getting one or tell Santa. :)

Doing an actual 5K race helps. I did one at week 7. I had to walk every once in a while in miles 2 and 3, but it was interesting just to see how it works, see a finish line, see old men schooling me in their short shorts, etc. Learning what to eat before/after helped for this. There are races every month providing fun goals to look forward to! There is talk of a 10K or half-marathon, but I think I may be sticking with 5K for a while.

What I've really found in this newfound hobby is solitude. There are few quiet moments in my day, but getting out early provides great quiet time for me to think, pray, recite "I can do all things through Christ" as we power up a hill, or just zone out! It has been great "me" time! I think all parents need some quiet me time to think uninterrupted thoughts! So it's not that I heart running, but I am loving some time of peace.

If you've made it this far in the post, I'm shocked, but I hope this answers questions for anyone wanting to start. I think this is everything I've had to search out these last 2 1/2 months for tips/help! Okay, now it's on the world wide web so I've got to keep doing it. Someone random will ask me how it's going and I'd rather crawl in a hole than say I quit! :)