Friday, November 21, 2008

From Couch Potato to 5K

A huge shout out to Sue Dickman over at A Life Divided for letting me know about the running program aptly named, "The Couch to 5K Running Plan." Today I did the very first day of the training program and I'm so excited! I wasn't going to do it, but when I talked to my brother to wish him a happy birthday he was so excited that I was going to start running that I felt like I had to. He was all, "Call me when you're done with your run!" I didn't have the heart to tell him that I'd thought of today as more of a "think about what it'll be like when you're running 5K" kind of day. Then, I got antsy, and I didn't have time to get to the pool and I really can't stand that pool anyway, so, lo and behold, there I was on the treadmill, walking for 90 seconds, jogging for 60, and reading the captions on CNN: Bill Richardson, Trade something or another. Someone else, Treasury Secretary, someone Bob Rubin likes! It was very moderate. It was very reasonable. It was very satisfying. Now, I need a cookie.

2 comments:

Sue Dickman said...

I'm so glad you started!! I was a non-runner for my entire adult life until I discovered Cto5K. (Between questionable knees and a once broken ankle, I thought I couldn't. But I was wrong!) You can download podcasts for each week of the program so that you don't have to keep track of the time yourself. I didn't love the music on the ones I used--a bit too techno for me--but it really helped, especially when the intervals are shorter.

And going from being a non-runner to a runner, even a sometimes runner, is very satisfying. I got derailed this fall, but my leg is better now, and once I get rid of the cold that's making me sneeze in frightening ways, I'm back on it. Keep us posted on your progress!

Robin Aronson said...

Podcasts!! That's good to know. I had a little trouble with the intervals and am wondering when I move to a track if I'd need a stopwatch....so far, between getting my first sports bra in 15 years and running tights, running means shopping. Which isn't so bad. In any case, I'll keep you posted! Thanks again!