Running all the way…

Well, it’s been awhile.

The big news is that I’ve taken up running. I KNOW! It surprised me, too. 🙂

On March 21, when I was horribly sick with a sinus infection and double ear infection (but didn’t know it yet), I was apparently also delirious and decided to sign up for the Peachtree Road Race on July 4. The Peachtree is a 10K (6.2 miles).

I DON’T RUN!

In addition, I live in Georgia. It is HOT on July 4 in Atlanta. And humid.

I don’t move much in the summer when it’s hot and humid, MUCH LESS RUN!

But, I was signed up with 55,000 of my closest friends, and there are always thousands who want to run, but who can’t get registered before it fills up.

So, I needed to train. I asked around and got a couple of recommendations for Couch to 5K. Looked doable. So I made my plan: I’d run half of the Peachtree (3.1 miles, or 5K) and walk the rest. I didn’t want to stress myself out with something that was supposed to be fun.

I bought running shoes from Big Peach Running Company on March 26 (the day my Curves closed, sadly). On March 31, I began. That first day, the program called for alternating 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes, not counting 5 minutes to warm up and another 5 to cool down. I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I did. Today, on Week 5, Day 1 of the program, I did three 5-minute jogging sessions with a 3-minute walk after the first and second run, and a 5-minute warm up and cool down. I had FUN!

Before last week, when 5-minute runs were first introduced, I don’t know that I’d ever run five minutes in a row in my life. Today I had fun while doing it. Unbelievable.

On Saturday, I’ll be at the point in the program where I’ll run for 20 minutes straight. (I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.) By the end of the nine-week program, I’ll be able to run 30 minutes. (I may be just under 5K… no worries, however.)

When I finish with this program, I’ll run a 5K (though a “practice” 5K is where I’ll do my 20 minutes Saturday and then walk the rest). I’ll do another training program to get me ready for a 10K. I don’t think I’ll be quite ready to run the Peachtree, but I’ll be able to run well over the half that was originally my goal.

And if I like the Peachtree? I’ll do a 10K and run the whole thing and then sign up for the Atlanta Half Marathon (13.1 miles) on Thanksgiving Day 2010.

Me: a runner. Go figure.

Edited to add: About two weeks after I started, Ed decided the Couch to 5K program sounded good to him. He’s “not a runner” either, but saw that it was doable and decided to try. He’s just starting Week 3 of the program and is doing GREAT! In fact, I think it’s highly likely that he’ll leave me in his dust before it’s all over.