Saturday, January 08, 2011
Ok, so I've NEVER run before. In sixth grade, when everyone else ran the mile and the test was to get a what-ever minute mile... I rebelled. Totally flunked it. I walked it every time. I wasn't in bad shape, swam miles everyday, played in competitive soccer (where I did small sprints). But, you could not make me run. Sad but true.
I have a really large family on my dad's side (dad has five sisters and a brother), and most of my cousins run. My daughter loves to run. Can you see where I'm going here? Ok, so my gorgeous female cousins (some with four kids) run marathons. Seems like every other day - another pic on FB of one of my cousins completing some half marathon, posting pictures at the finish line, listing their times. With their teenage daughters no less. My daughter is jealous, she wants to run too. Running always seemed so painful for me. Didn't feel natural. But, my daughter wants it, so it will happen.
So, I came to trusty SP to find what I new I would find. A training manual for the 5k. I have a treadmill (hey, its 18-25 degrees out here) and have only used it to walk. I do use it though. Ok, so not so much during the holidays, but I do use it.
I'm terrified of running. See, if I over-exert myself in this state of 'shape' I get punished for it later. Usually the next day I am in traction, painful to move my legs let alone walk for any distance. This is what really scares me. I'm only 35! Why, oh why, would my body react like this? I don't know. But it HAS to change. I thought at first maybe its just all in my head, but I found that its really all in my back and legs. I have been walking again since the First, really trying to push myself without hurting myself. I think its working.
I go online to Biggest Loser. All of those people are bigger than me. Some older, some with blood pressure problems, some with diabetes. And yet, they move, run, then move somemore. All to wake up the next morning and do it again. (I often wonder if they have saunas and muscle massages after that which we are not privy to). If they can do it so can I right? So, each day - I find that little motivation. Really it can be any show which has the people exercising. The Today show has had Kathy Lee and Hoda exercising through the show. I've got to say, that old bird Kathy has some bod. She doesn't even look like its work. That's exactly what I need. I hop on the treadmill and I'm off.
Its so good.
So, yesterday I print the manual. Place it on the TM and went for it. I could only finish two of the first reps. When I woke this am I tentatively stretched my legs. Then I got up and walked for the restroom. A little excited feeling came over me. I felt the need to blog and tell the Sparky world! I, self proclaimed non-runner ("because," I had insisted all these years, "its so bad for your knee's"), ran and lived to tell about it. I know I seems a little over-dramatic about it, but you would be too. I conquered my fear and won. Triumphant! Today, I will complete three, that is my goal.
More to come tomorrow, wish me luck! 
Member Comments About This Blog Post:
. This is one of the most ambitious exercising projects I have taken on to date and I feel so victorious!
