First of all, I ran 1.9 miles in 27 minutes at the gym yesterday. Ok. That technically qualifies as more of a "jog" than a "run", but the point is I did it for 27 minutes straight! And I only slowed to a walk because of muscle soreness that from cardiovascular fatigue (Is that even a phrase? It sounds appropriate.). I had set the treadmill for a 45 minute run, but after 27 minutes keeping between a 4 and a 5 mph pace, I ended up walked the remaining time, because I had SO not paced myself. Which is ok because my purpose yesterday was to see how long/far I could actually run without stopping. If you recall, the last time I tried this I only made it 8 minutes because I had to pee.
Anyway, I am happy to know where I stand as a beginning runner now. I will be busy at work looking for articles and workouts about pacing. I am sure there is an app for that. If I can run 1.9 miles in 27 minutes as a newbie, I know that with training (and with my 8 ft. stride--I know that because of my track days in grade school), I will be more than ready for a Thanksgiving Day 5k. At some point, I should probably run outside...since the 5k will likely be held outside. I found a track that will likely be leash-free dog-free and will give it a go as the weather starts to feel more like fall.
In the meantime, I will stick with running at my gym. All the way on the back row, on the elevated treadmills with the ten inch flatscreen tuned in to Food Network TV.
So I finally broke in my running shoes...the ones I bought months ago before I was rear-ended and benched from my workouts for one month. After that month, my workouts resumed, but I never worked up the nerve to actually go for a run...for a couple of reasons:
I have been working out at my gym for about 3 years now. No way was I going to get on the treadmill for a run for the first time in forever, and look like I am struggling. I am confident with all other forms of cardio I do. I get down in Zumba. I drop it low it Body Jam. I go miles upon miles on the elliptical. But I was intimidated by the treadmill. So I avoided it.
I downsized from my former dream sports bra and haven't been able to buy another one. Those things are not cheap. And as long as I could double up and wear two sports bras at once, I couldn't justify spending $65 on a great one. Still don't have the bra, but now that my boobage is less obscene, doubling up on bras does the job for now.
My friend and I decided that we would run a 5k this year. Our plan is to run in one of the Turkey Trots in either of our towns, since we are just a few hours away from each other. We talk almost every day and I had grown weary of saying, "Naw? I haven't run yet, but Imma run today." Knowing good and well... So this weekend when I swiped my membership card at the front desk of my gym, instead of taking my usual route straight back to my elliptical machine and tuning into Food Network on the tiny flat-screen, I took a right turn past all the weight machines (which I have yet to use) and into the cinema cardio room for the first time.
When I walked in, The Social Network was playing on the movie screen. I was glad I chose to take my first run in there, because the room was dark and everyone in there was too busy watching the movie to care about how awkward my run was or how many times I had to stop running to catch my breath. So after I climbed onto my machine and my eyes adjusted to the dark, I started my warm-up. I kept increasing the speed until I was at a pace of about a 13 minute mile. And I ran. Two minutes passed, then 4 minutes, then 8 minutes. I could not believe I was still running, and could totally keep running...if I did not have to pee so bad. So I slowed my pace and speed-walked the rest of the mile on the treadmill before speed-walking to the bathroom.
Leaving the bathroom, I glanced over and saw that my favorite elliptical machine was free and could not resist hopping on. And boy and I glad I did. I got to see Chef Shehu Fitzgerald win on an old episode of Chopped and OMG, why is a tatted up manly man, with NY accent and using profanity and working his magic around a stove so sexy to me? Watch this Youtube video I found of him and ask yourself the same question...
And do not judge me for coming home, googling him and then following him on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. Disclaimer and for the record, I am married to a Carribean man with a beautiful accent and who is an amazing cook. He has no tattoos, but I am equally affected when he is weilding a skillet. So do not judge me, obviously accents and culinary skills are my thing. lol I digress.
I was so surprised that I could run for 8 minutes straight. I had considered that doing Zumba and dance-cardio 5 days a week would condition me for running somehow but for someone who could barely run 3 minutes a few months ago, 8 minutes is huge. If I had peed before going in there, I am sure I could have run a whole mile. I am confident now, that I can run. I can run! :)
I will not be doing Couch to 5K to train for November. I started it a few times in the past, but I think the pace was too slow for me. I will, however, be on the lookout for some sprinting and conditioning drills to see if I can complete the 5 k (run 3 miles) in a decent amount of time.
Now that I am feeling more confident, I might actually brave the risk of being chased by a dog and take my run outside.
