My nickname as a child was Myrtle Turtle for a reason. Not because I look like a turtle, or because I liked turtle soup, but because I ran like a turtle. I seriously hated running as a kid, and there's a good chance I'll always hate it.
Why did I choose running then you may be asking? Because I have an obsession with efficiency. Running is the fastest way for me to turn my body into the shape it's supposed to be. It is a means to an end. I have a goal to be in overall better health by the time I turn 30, and I'm looking at less than 6 months to get where to where I need to be. If I can continue to lose 1.5-2 lbs per week, I'll be sitting pretty come February.
Week 1: Running for a whole minute. You've got to be kidding.
At the end of day 1, I was able to determine that as suspected, I still hate running. And that shoes are very important. Days 2 and three were better, but I was fairly certain I was going to die before I reached the end of the program. Still kind of am...
Week 2: Running for 1.5 minutes. I have LOST all my good sense.
When I started this week the thought of running for a minute and a half made me want to puke. I had mastered running for a minute straight, but this running for a minute and a half crap was for the birds. Day 1 was ok, and I was feeling pretty good about day 2. Day 2 was great! I felt awesome by the end and decided that I was destined for marathons and other crazy things. I really thought day 3 would be a breeze. WRONG. I wanted to die by the end of day 3. I bumped up my jogging speed to 5.0 mph. Which for the average bear is turtles tromping in peanut butter slow. But for me, it was FLYING.
I decided at the end of week 2 day 3 that three minutes of solid running was going to be the death of me. I made sure I told my husband what to do with my belongings in the event of my untimely death. I was not feeling it AT ALL.
Week 3: I've got to run for 3 straight minutes? You've really got to be kidding.....
Day 1 of week 3. I was not ready mentally. I knew I was going to fail. But, with the exception of feeling like I couldn't breathe, it wasn't all that bad.
Day 2 of week 3 got me. I had fast food 2 days in a row prior to running this day. NEVER AGAIN. I find that the deeper I get into this adventure, the more my attitude is changing. I am now avoiding foods that are bad for me (most days) in order to have a successful run.
RUNNING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOOD. WHAT THE WHAT?
Don't get me wrong, I still indulge occasionally, but nothing like before.
Day 3 of week 3, I ran outside for the first time. The humidity was high, but the temp was freakishly low for August in Alabama (think high 60s, low 70s), so this made for a decent day to start trying the whole outside thing. Every runner I know LOVES running outside and claims it makes such a difference.
Liars, liars pants on fire!
That may be a little harsh. I'd have to say it was about the same. Except for the fact that I'm an idiot and didn't plan my route correctly and ended up running uphill for the last 3 minutes. But I did it. And I didn't get a cramp, lose a lung, or fall over dead even though at one point I was having visions of lying on the sidewalk in a puddle of my own sweat and tears.
Afterwards, I'd decided that I was going to fail at week 4 so there was no reason I should even be worried. Failure IS an option kiddies! I had defeated myself before I even started....Outlook is bleak...
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