Today, on a day when thousands are running a marathon through the streets of London, I became a runner, or at least I am attempting to make myself one. Inspired in part by a friend who is running said marathon today after only commencing running a little over a year ago I have decided to start the C25K programme which aims to get you from couch to running 5K in 9 weeks.
Now exercise does not come easy to me, at all. I can't pretend to enjoy it and motivation to actually do some is hard to find but I can't deny I have a need. I'm not grossly overweight but I am carrying a little more timber than a lady of my height should and I'm not happy with my figure. More than that, I have a real need to increase my fitness and health as I am only seven years away from the age when my mother had her first heart attack. I find dieting hard but very effective over the years when I have wanted to lose weight but have never really backed it up with exercise and gradually over time the weight creeps back on. Dieting, when you love to cook and bake is also a bit grim and depressing. This time I want to attack it differently with common sense - eat less, exercise more.
I've toyed with the idea of running several times over the years but never actually gone out and done it. This morning I did for the first time much to my family's amusement. I prepared myself last night by downloading the NHS Choices C25K podcasts from iTunes and this morning I pulled on my trainers and just went for it. I live in the countryside and the sun was shining so in-between the times I thought I was having a heart-attack it was quite a pleasant experience and I walked/jogged down roads that I've only ever driven on so it gave me a new perspective.
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| Image Credit: NHS Choices |
I'm not going to lie, I found it tough going towards the end which makes me feel hideously unfit but I also feel proud of myself for taking that first step. The podcasts definitely help as they tell you exactly when to walk and when to run and the lovely lady at the end told me in total I had run for 8 minutes which on reflection seems a bit pathetic! For week 1 you do the same session three times - alternating 60 seconds of running with 90 seconds of brisk walking. I have two more sessions to do this week and the real test will be seeing if I can motivate myself to go out on Tuesday night after getting back from work. I'm usually completely lethargic after a day of sitting in a hot office and fit for nothing.
I really want to be successful at this and follow something through for the first time but I know it's not going to be easy. My ultimate goal is to be able to run 5K and then I hope to take part in Park Run which I recently discovered.
If you done the C25K programme or are an avid runner yourself, I'd love to hear your stories/advice/words of wisdom! I'll report back when I've made some progress.
You will remember this post forever - the first step towards the new you! I have been running for 2 years and it has totally transformed my life.
ReplyDeleteI started Couch to 5k a few weeks and can't believe how much I've progressed! At the start I could NOT imagine running for more than a couple of minutes at a time but it's happening almost like magic! I'm now on week 6 and 5k doesn't seem like the impossible challenge it once did! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWell done. I'd love to learn to run but I just don't believe I have it in me. I get exhausted just running up the stairs!
ReplyDeleteWishing you lots of luck though and maybe you'll inspire me.
Go for it, c25k got me back on track after both pregnancies. You can do it, and you never know you might enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteI have followed a similar programme and it worked!! And the sense of achievement you get when you complete your first 5km is amazing. I've even done a 10km run since then. And I was a complete couch potato. Keep it up, you'll be glad you did.
ReplyDeleteGood work. It's the starting that is the hardest. I'm on my second week with a goal to running 5k in July. It does get easier and it's such a buzz when you have a good run. Keep up the good work
ReplyDeleteoohh your inspiring me !
ReplyDeletei watched the marathon today i wished i wasnt such a fattie as i would love to experience such sense of achievment ..
www.justjoannablog.blogspot.co.uk
oh my goodness this is exactly what i needed to read today. i am desperate to start running because i know it will help be more energetic and happy, .. plus less moody and lethargic. but i have a mental block and am so unfit at the moment that i cant get started.. too lethargic! you have inspired me. i'm going to try to start tomorrow morning! i like the sound of the podcasts. might look those up.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on taking the first big step! I have just started training for 10K myself, hoping to do it by the end of summer and I'm so excited! It is quite easy to notice the progress in running - all of a sudden you can just run for minutes without needing to stop! Best of luck, go Mrs M! x
ReplyDeleteWell done for getting up and actually doing it, the C25K podcast has been sat lifeless and unused in my itunes for months! MONTHS!
ReplyDeleteLets hope this post has inspired me.
I did it, I just followed a programme off the internet and timed myself. I'm running the race for life (5K) in June and despite a couple of weeks where I didn't do all of the runs, I just repeated a couple of weeks and got there. The biggest psychological hurdle I found was getting to running non stop for the whole session but once I did it, I was surprised I could and it was almost easier than stopping and starting all the time.
ReplyDeleteIt's good because if it's similar to the one I did, the first session is 1 min run, 2 min walk and although that 1 min feels really tough to start with, you are saying to yourself "I can't give up, it's only 1 minute!"
I've just come back from a 30 min 3 mile run this afternoon. I can't say I enjoy the running yet but I do enjoy the better sleep and after having loads of illnesses a few months back, I now seem to get ill less and feel generally healthier.
Oh and I'm a size 16! If I can do it anyone can!
ReplyDeleteWe're on the same page Mrs M, good luck, I'll be following your progress!
ReplyDeleteMrs M, you're an inspiration! I'm due to have baby three in July, and ideally in Sept time I'd like to gently start exercising and I think running would tick all the boxes - no costly membership, no driving and parking, and best of all, some precious alone time, even if it's just for a few mins initially.
ReplyDeleteKeep us posted on your progress, I'll be keenly watching!
Steph x