So this week I received an email from a colleague inviting me to attend a Couch to 5K introductory group. As I definitely need to lose major weight and certainly need to get in shape, I decided to read up on this program. It states that this is for people that have become frustrated with running in the past due to overexerting themselves at the beginning. After my investigation, I felt that this seemed like the perfect plan. You start out Week 1 with a 5 minute warm-up walk, then run for 60 seconds and walk for the next 90 seconds for a total of 20 minutes. Sounds easy enough, right? What in this world was I thinking?
Even worse, I immediately emailed about 10 of my buddies insisting they join me in my quest for fitness. Who knew they would all show up? So as not to be too terribly embarrassed, I told Andy that I should probably practice on Sunday to hopefully avoid making a fool of myself in front of people on Monday. We started the 5 minute warm-up on the path around our pond, and my current level of fitness drug me down like a load of weights! I could barely get through the warm-up! Andy, my darling cheerleader, convinced me that I could do this...don't let it beat you. He checked his watch, gave the signal, and off I ran...looked back over my shoulder, yelled for him to check the time, and realized I still have 30 seconds to go! Finally the 90 seconds of walking I had been waiting for arrived - and passed in a blur. He gave the signal to run, and off I loped, then bent forward gasping for air. I've never been so proud to have asthma in my life! We had to turn for home to get the inhaler, and I decided that was enough of a trial.
Monday, 5:30 pm - the day of reconing had slipped up on me. I toyed with the idea of skipping out, but I do have the dearest friends that call to check up on me...and oh how encouraging they are! (You must read that sentence with a sarcastic tone of voice.) I arrived at the track and immediately notice the darling hot pink shirts worn by some of the group, and then begin to wonder how I was left out on the t-shirt order. I mean if you're gonna do this, do it up right...right? One of the ladies turned to the back, and that's when I knew I must have one. There, plastered across the back of her shirt, was a yellow caution sign that read, "CAUTION - Fat Chick Running." My shirt should be here next week
The cutesie little leader (she really is adorable) assured me that this program is indeed for those literally on the couch...she lied. We started the 5 minute warm-up walk, and I really did much better than my practice the day before. I was pumped! I did notice, however, that although I had started in the middle of the pack, I was fading a bit to the back after this initial 5 minutes. The whistle blew, and off we went. I made it...60 whole seconds! Then the 90 second walk was over all together too fast and that cussed whistle blew once again. Off we went jogging yet again, albeit at a much slower pace. Never in my life has 60 seconds seemed quite so long and 90 seconds rush past at the speed of light! I know they teach us that 90 is greater than 60 in grade school math, but I'm here to inform you it simply is not true! At one point, I glanced back at my one sweet friend that had not blown past leaving me in the dust. She was furiously pumping her arms and pretending to jog. I LOVE this girl! Being the quick learner that I am (yeah right!) I picked up on her strategy for the remainder of our 20 minutes. Several of my "friends" lapped me 2 or 3 times around the track...due to the delirium I lost count. At one point I asked one of them exactly how many times we were supposed to do this stupid run/walk sequence in a 20 minute time period (I never was the best at math.) They must have thought I was saying it for the comedic relief because they simply laughed and prissed on by. Finally, someone says this is the last run for the day then a 5 minute cool-down walk to finish it up. I immediately looked to see how far I was to the end of the track, because God forbid I end up 1/4 of the way back around the track at the end of that cool-down and have to finish the lap to get to my car!
Today, I'm fine...really I am! I have shin splints running up and down the front of my legs, I feel like I've been riding a horse 2 days straight, and to top it all off I can barely move my head and neck. I didn't even use those parts for running, but apparently it was too great an effort to even hold them up during this fiasco! Oh well, back at again Wednesday...Lord I do love Tuesdays!
Even worse, I immediately emailed about 10 of my buddies insisting they join me in my quest for fitness. Who knew they would all show up? So as not to be too terribly embarrassed, I told Andy that I should probably practice on Sunday to hopefully avoid making a fool of myself in front of people on Monday. We started the 5 minute warm-up on the path around our pond, and my current level of fitness drug me down like a load of weights! I could barely get through the warm-up! Andy, my darling cheerleader, convinced me that I could do this...don't let it beat you. He checked his watch, gave the signal, and off I ran...looked back over my shoulder, yelled for him to check the time, and realized I still have 30 seconds to go! Finally the 90 seconds of walking I had been waiting for arrived - and passed in a blur. He gave the signal to run, and off I loped, then bent forward gasping for air. I've never been so proud to have asthma in my life! We had to turn for home to get the inhaler, and I decided that was enough of a trial.
Monday, 5:30 pm - the day of reconing had slipped up on me. I toyed with the idea of skipping out, but I do have the dearest friends that call to check up on me...and oh how encouraging they are! (You must read that sentence with a sarcastic tone of voice.) I arrived at the track and immediately notice the darling hot pink shirts worn by some of the group, and then begin to wonder how I was left out on the t-shirt order. I mean if you're gonna do this, do it up right...right? One of the ladies turned to the back, and that's when I knew I must have one. There, plastered across the back of her shirt, was a yellow caution sign that read, "CAUTION - Fat Chick Running." My shirt should be here next week
The cutesie little leader (she really is adorable) assured me that this program is indeed for those literally on the couch...she lied. We started the 5 minute warm-up walk, and I really did much better than my practice the day before. I was pumped! I did notice, however, that although I had started in the middle of the pack, I was fading a bit to the back after this initial 5 minutes. The whistle blew, and off we went. I made it...60 whole seconds! Then the 90 second walk was over all together too fast and that cussed whistle blew once again. Off we went jogging yet again, albeit at a much slower pace. Never in my life has 60 seconds seemed quite so long and 90 seconds rush past at the speed of light! I know they teach us that 90 is greater than 60 in grade school math, but I'm here to inform you it simply is not true! At one point, I glanced back at my one sweet friend that had not blown past leaving me in the dust. She was furiously pumping her arms and pretending to jog. I LOVE this girl! Being the quick learner that I am (yeah right!) I picked up on her strategy for the remainder of our 20 minutes. Several of my "friends" lapped me 2 or 3 times around the track...due to the delirium I lost count. At one point I asked one of them exactly how many times we were supposed to do this stupid run/walk sequence in a 20 minute time period (I never was the best at math.) They must have thought I was saying it for the comedic relief because they simply laughed and prissed on by. Finally, someone says this is the last run for the day then a 5 minute cool-down walk to finish it up. I immediately looked to see how far I was to the end of the track, because God forbid I end up 1/4 of the way back around the track at the end of that cool-down and have to finish the lap to get to my car!
Today, I'm fine...really I am! I have shin splints running up and down the front of my legs, I feel like I've been riding a horse 2 days straight, and to top it all off I can barely move my head and neck. I didn't even use those parts for running, but apparently it was too great an effort to even hold them up during this fiasco! Oh well, back at again Wednesday...Lord I do love Tuesdays!
Now, THAT is hilarious! I wish I could write like that. I can't wait to join you on your run this weekend!
ReplyDeletesherri, i just started C25K as well! i (was) on week 3 when both ankles swelled up and i havent been able to walk very well for a week. oh, well. i plan on starting over once they go down. found out it was probably due to running on the treadmill. enjoy this journey. just think, in a couple months you'll be running 30 minutes!!!
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