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I have sworn most of my adult life (and probably even younger, if the truth was told), that I don’t run. If I was running – you better run too because something was chasing me! So what made me change my mind? My husband is full time military so he runs daily - almost all of my best friends are runners – from 5K to Boston Marathons, and they all brag about the “runners high” and what a great stress reliever running is to them. I finally gave in and agreed to give it a try.
I decided I better find out what I was getting myself into though…..Did you know that the oldest marathon winners on record are a 70 year old man and a 72 year old woman? The average age of a marathon runner is 37. Some of the benefits of running include: Improved health – lower cholesterol, boosted immune system, reduced stroke risk, reduce heart attack risk, boosted confidence, reduced stress, helps eliminate depression, running is the second most effective exercise in terms of calories burned per minute (cross country skiing is #1) and is beneficial to mind, body and soul.
I found the Couch to 5K app a couple of years ago and decided I would give it a try, but I “didn’t have the time” so I quit. Last summer I started it again, but I never left my house. I walked and ran inside my house to keep from embarrassing myself in front of my neighbors. I knew I was meeting my friends in NYC for a girl’s weekend, so I set a goal that I would run a mile in Central Park while we were there. Well, history repeated itself and I quit running long before my trip. I always had a good excuse why I couldn’t run, so I was ok with it! When it was time for the girl’s trip tho, I hoped no one had remembered my “goal”. As luck would have it, my friends held me to my word. So, off to Central Park we go. I must admit I was a little excited when we got lost on the way there…hoped that meant we would just turn around and go back to the apartment. Nope….we ended up right where we were supposed to be. I did run in Central Park but I didn’t run a mile, and I sure didn’t run all at once! I would run – then walk (and whine); run – then walk and whine some more. I was so thankful when it was over that I hung up my running shoes. I was done.
About 8 months later I saw a post on Facebook about Genesis 5K 10 week Training program that was held here in Charleston. This program promised to teach you how to run and complete a 5K race – in 10 weeks?! Was this guy crazy?? How can someone “learn” to run and actually run in a race in just 10 weeks? I checked out the web page for the class, read some reviews, tossed around the idea, mentioned it to my husband and my runner friends, and finally decided to give it a try. If I changed my mind – I could always quit! I could find a good reason that everyone would believe!
So, April 30, I show up at Magic Island in my running shoes, my running attire and the attitude that I can just quit if I think this guy is nuts. Matt, our coach, talked about the basics of running and went over the 10 week program – with me and the 90 other people who showed up to give this a try. Matt told us that if you start easy, you will end strong. So, that is what I did. I walked for 5 minutes, ran for 60 seconds, walked for 90 seconds, and repeated this for a total of 20 minutes. I thought to myself….this is much easier than I thought it would be. I will see how I do on my next two workouts that I will do on my own, and then I will decide if I am coming back next week. Each week it got easier to get started, but the running was still not easy! I struggled with my breathing; I struggled with aches; I struggled with my mind telling me that I was going to quit anyway so why keep going. The mental struggle has been the worst obstacle I have faced in this challenge. I have to talk myself off the ledge at least once a week. I am doing better but it is still an opportunity!!!
Well, guess what….last night was our last meeting – Week 10 – I did it!!! I made it thru 10 weeks of training; I am running and I don’t HATE it or fear it anymore. I won’t lie and say that I “love” it yet, and I have NOT experienced the “runners high” but I will tell you that I feel better after I run and the added benefits are a drop in weight and pants size!! Can’t beat that! I actually ran a “practice” race last Saturday and guess what….I finished! I crossed the finish line in 45.3 minutes and I was upright, still breathing and was filled with pride. I hope to do even better this Friday night as my class and I participate in the Celebrate Independence run – the conclusion of my training program.
I am telling you this story not to persuade you into running marathons. I am telling you in hopes that you will see that you can do anything that you set your mind to! It is never too late to face your fears or live your dreams. Be honest with yourself. Take a good look in the mirror and ask, “What will happen if I try it and fail?” “What will happen if I try it and succeed?” As I have been told over and over when it comes to running – run YOUR race, not someone else’s.
I bought this magnet on Saturday before the race because I liked what it said…..after the race, I understood what it meant!!
“The woman who starts the race is not the same woman who finishes the race.”
I decided I better find out what I was getting myself into though…..Did you know that the oldest marathon winners on record are a 70 year old man and a 72 year old woman? The average age of a marathon runner is 37. Some of the benefits of running include: Improved health – lower cholesterol, boosted immune system, reduced stroke risk, reduce heart attack risk, boosted confidence, reduced stress, helps eliminate depression, running is the second most effective exercise in terms of calories burned per minute (cross country skiing is #1) and is beneficial to mind, body and soul.
I found the Couch to 5K app a couple of years ago and decided I would give it a try, but I “didn’t have the time” so I quit. Last summer I started it again, but I never left my house. I walked and ran inside my house to keep from embarrassing myself in front of my neighbors. I knew I was meeting my friends in NYC for a girl’s weekend, so I set a goal that I would run a mile in Central Park while we were there. Well, history repeated itself and I quit running long before my trip. I always had a good excuse why I couldn’t run, so I was ok with it! When it was time for the girl’s trip tho, I hoped no one had remembered my “goal”. As luck would have it, my friends held me to my word. So, off to Central Park we go. I must admit I was a little excited when we got lost on the way there…hoped that meant we would just turn around and go back to the apartment. Nope….we ended up right where we were supposed to be. I did run in Central Park but I didn’t run a mile, and I sure didn’t run all at once! I would run – then walk (and whine); run – then walk and whine some more. I was so thankful when it was over that I hung up my running shoes. I was done.
About 8 months later I saw a post on Facebook about Genesis 5K 10 week Training program that was held here in Charleston. This program promised to teach you how to run and complete a 5K race – in 10 weeks?! Was this guy crazy?? How can someone “learn” to run and actually run in a race in just 10 weeks? I checked out the web page for the class, read some reviews, tossed around the idea, mentioned it to my husband and my runner friends, and finally decided to give it a try. If I changed my mind – I could always quit! I could find a good reason that everyone would believe!
So, April 30, I show up at Magic Island in my running shoes, my running attire and the attitude that I can just quit if I think this guy is nuts. Matt, our coach, talked about the basics of running and went over the 10 week program – with me and the 90 other people who showed up to give this a try. Matt told us that if you start easy, you will end strong. So, that is what I did. I walked for 5 minutes, ran for 60 seconds, walked for 90 seconds, and repeated this for a total of 20 minutes. I thought to myself….this is much easier than I thought it would be. I will see how I do on my next two workouts that I will do on my own, and then I will decide if I am coming back next week. Each week it got easier to get started, but the running was still not easy! I struggled with my breathing; I struggled with aches; I struggled with my mind telling me that I was going to quit anyway so why keep going. The mental struggle has been the worst obstacle I have faced in this challenge. I have to talk myself off the ledge at least once a week. I am doing better but it is still an opportunity!!!
Well, guess what….last night was our last meeting – Week 10 – I did it!!! I made it thru 10 weeks of training; I am running and I don’t HATE it or fear it anymore. I won’t lie and say that I “love” it yet, and I have NOT experienced the “runners high” but I will tell you that I feel better after I run and the added benefits are a drop in weight and pants size!! Can’t beat that! I actually ran a “practice” race last Saturday and guess what….I finished! I crossed the finish line in 45.3 minutes and I was upright, still breathing and was filled with pride. I hope to do even better this Friday night as my class and I participate in the Celebrate Independence run – the conclusion of my training program.
I am telling you this story not to persuade you into running marathons. I am telling you in hopes that you will see that you can do anything that you set your mind to! It is never too late to face your fears or live your dreams. Be honest with yourself. Take a good look in the mirror and ask, “What will happen if I try it and fail?” “What will happen if I try it and succeed?” As I have been told over and over when it comes to running – run YOUR race, not someone else’s.
I bought this magnet on Saturday before the race because I liked what it said…..after the race, I understood what it meant!!
“The woman who starts the race is not the same woman who finishes the race.”