Running

My first week has officially been completed.

I had initially planned on finishing my last day of running yesterday. However, I took a particularly rough workout class on Thursday morning and my thighs and abs have still not recovered. I thought the extra day before my last run would help me recover a bit.

I was wrong.

I think I am more sore today than I was yesterday.

But I was determined to finish my first week so out we went early this morning, kids bundled into the stroller with blankets, coats, hats, and gloves.

It's a good thing I have my husband with me. He pushes me to finish simply by being there. And so I finished the full 20 minutes. (I'm pretty sure that without him, I could easily talk myself into stopping after 2 or 3 intervals.)

Hurray!

Don't get me wrong. I still hate running.

But I completed one week.

And for that, I am enormously pleased with myself.


P.S. I can always tell when I've been reading books by British authors because I start using phrases like "enormously pleased." It makes me feel sophisticated.

Running Day 2

This morning we (the Hubster and I) went for our second run.

It went better. No nausea afterwards. Just a couple of weak, wobbly legs.

I also fixed a few mechanical issues.

You see, one of the things I always hate about running is that I am...well...a bit busty. (Now, don't snicker. I'm sharing because I know I'm not the only person with the jiggle-all-over when you run problem.) The other day when I ran I found out that a sports bra just simply wasn't enough. So today I tried doubling up to see if that would help.

It did.

(At least, with the busty jiggle problem. The rest of the jiggle is a whole 'nother issue entirely.)

Of course...that's going to mean twice the laundry.

Rats.

But if that's the worst thing to come out of this I guess I can deal.

I Think I've Lost My Mind

I have this friend, Natalie, that I follow online.

And really, I should say "friend" because as I sit alone at home and read her blog I think of her as my friend. Although the sad truth is that we have never met and she has no idea who I am.

No, I'm not a creepy stalker.

I don't think.

But I have found myself saying things to my husband like, "My one online friend says..." because it's much easier than explaining the truth to him.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago she posted How to run and not hate it (even when you still do): in 6 (somewhat easy, or excrutiatingly painful) steps.

And I'll admit, this post inspired me.

I don't run. I've never wanted to run. I could never understand why people wanted to run. But after reading her post I had this strange desire to try it. I mean, she hated it too, right? And now she loves it. And it's simple to do. (Notice that I said simple, not easy.)

I thought to myself, "Self, what if there's a runner in you and you've just never given her a chance. What if she's waited her whole life for you to step up your game and let her out? She's probably named Joan...because that's a good name for a runner. And if I let her out, I can transform into Sara-Joan, the super runner. Perhaps my legs would even grow long and skinny. And I'd move with grace. Yes, Sara-Joan is definitely more graceful than just plain Sara, short and stout. "

Um...okay, enough of my inner thoughts, they get weird.

Anyway, I sat on this idea for a couple of weeks. My husband is always going on about how he wants to start running again. What if we did it together and encouraged each other?

So this weekend we made the commitment. We didn't follow the same plan as Natalie. Instead, we chose to do the Couch-to-5K plan. This way, we could trade off running times. One would walk with the kids while the other ran up and back, then switch.

This morning was our first run.

That's right, I went running this morning.

Seriously. Can you believe it?? I can't.

How did it go?

Well...I'm not sure how to answer that. I thought I was going to kill over after my first 60 seconds of running. But the 90 second break was enough rest to give it a try again.

As I went, both my running and walking became slower and slower.

But we finished our 20 minutes.

I was exhilarated.

I did it!! I ran!!

And then the light headedness set in, followed by the nausea.

Bleh.

It took about an hour of sitting and drinking lots of water to feel like a normal human being again.

Really, I still kind of hated it. But I'm determined to give it a chance. I mean, when I first started working out it took a few weeks before I began enjoying it. So I think that running deserves the same chance.

How else will I ever become the graceful Sara-Joan?



P.S. This was totally me this morning:


(Not sure where this image originates from, sorry)