First Steps
Every day I check Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. and am greeted by images of people in the gym, after a run, showing off the strides that they have made in their physical fitness, it’s inspiring. I’ve always had a semi-active life I played soccer in middle school, softball in high school, tennis, and gymnastics. But once I got to college and the sports stopped so did I. Over the past few years I’ve committed to being a healthier more active me. I’ll admit it I don’t exercise as much as I should, and I probably don’t get enough fruits and vegetables every day, but enough with the negatives. In an effort to adopt a healthier lifestyle I have started the Couch to 5k running plan. Don’t get me wrong there will be nights when I come home and relax with a nice glass of wine, and I don’t think that anything could ever cure my love of ice cream, but every day I follow through with choices that contribute to a healthier me.
I’ve always enjoyed running, but I’ve never really been good at it. That might sound crazy but there is no other way to describe it, my lungs always tire out long before my legs. I’ve researched breathing techniques for runners and even talked to some experienced runners, who gave me some really good tips, but in the end none of it seemed to work for me. My best friend’s mom, who is a very experienced runner, frequently alternating between 5k and 10k races, told me about Couch to 5k. The program is designed for beginners like me who enjoy running but aren’t quite marathon ready. The program is a progression system of walking and running slowly building your ability and confidence with running until, ideally and at your own pace, you are able to complete a 5k.
I have just completed the first week of the program and I couldn’t be happier with my results. I haven’t shed a ton of pounds yet, but that’s not what I want from doing this. What I have done is gain confidence in my abilities as a runner, and increased my awareness of what my body is capable of. I can’t wait to see where this program takes me!