Last year, I decided that I wanted to try to run a 5k. Now, I have never been a runner. I hated doing laps in gym class...well, for the most part I hated even having gym class. Any time I would try the running thing, my lungs would hurt and I would quickly give up on the idea.
For Christmas last year, I got a used treadmill off Craigslist. I told myself I was finally going to figure out why so many people enjoy running.
To keep myself on track, I signed up for a 5k happening about 3 months later. I also managed to convince 3 of my brothers and sisters to join the race with me.
I started slowly. I would run for 30 seconds and then walk for 3 minutes, run for 30 sec., walk for 3 min., for a total of 30 min.. After a week or two of that, I would run for 45 seconds and then walk for 3 minutes. When the 5k rolled around, I was able to run for 60 seconds and walk for 60 seconds.
I was able to complete the 5k in about 43 minutes! I was SO proud of myself! I know that 43 minutes isn't a great time, but my goal was just to finish in under an hour.
During my training, I started to understand why people enjoy running. There were even a few times when I WANTED to go for a run. But then we moved, and we were getting settled, and I was unpacking, and I got out of the habit of running regularly.
I am going to get back into that habit!
This year I am going to run a 5k by:
- Walking and running 3 times each week
- Starting off slow and building up my endurance
- Weight training 2 times each week
- Signing up for a 5k race (that's an important one!)
- Training enough so I can finish the race in under 40 minutes
Have you ever run a 5k?
