A New Regime

Today I shall discuss what is sometimes the most dreaded word in my vocabulary:  exercise

*shudder*

Now if you knew me at all during high-school, sports were not my thing.  First of all, I was totally uncool.  Second, I have no coordination.  None.  Zip.  Nada.  Where I did okay playing volleyball in middle school, I knew there was no way on earth that I was going to do sports in highschool, with the exception of our forced freshman PE class.  I was glad to see that go!!

Yet if you know me now, you would know that I started running about four years ago.  Well, running may be a stretch - more of a jog/plod but I soon found that I enjoyed it!  I still remember the evening I ran my first mile WITHOUT stopping; I hadn't even been able to do that as a kid.  Now in those fours years, I have stopped and started the Couch to 5K (C25K) about five times, but since the beginning of this year, I've been following Jeff Galloway's Run/Walk/Run training method.  That high ankle sprain I always battled with C25K?  Gone.  Totally absent.  And I'm running more than ever, including a fairly consistent three days a week, and running longer.  Today I knocked out 4 miles.  Four MILES.  There was a day when I could barely manage two, and now 3 is my average mid-week run.   And even with 30 second walking breaks throughout my run today, it is still a better time than I did my first two 5K's using C25K.  Want to check out Jeff Galloway's method?  Go visit his website at www.jeffgalloway.com.  In the meantime, I am entered for my very first 10K (for those not used to the metric system, that is 6.2 miles) on November 21st, only 25 short days away.  I'm not quite ready yet but do or die, I will be there!!

In the midst of increasing my cardio endurance, however, I have learned that I have no muscles.  None.  Especially in my arms.  I think Ethan (my almost five year-old) can do more push-ups than I can, and that is with me doing a modified push-up with my knees on the floor!  So I've pulled out a workout CD that I have had for ages, but never really did consistently.  But with an online Facebook group, I've committed to going through all of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred.  This new daily regime may take me a bit longer than 30 days (I do need a rest day after long runs), but I'm going to get through all 3 levels this time and hopefully, gain some muscle in the meantime!  Today was Day 1 and trust me, I think I would take 30 minute run over her workouts most days.  But I finished it (needed a few breaks, especially on the arm strength movements) but by now I feel good and am looking forward to Day 2 tomorrow.

So there is this word called exercise that I used to shudder at.  But I'm warming up to it.  I still don't like calling it exercise; I've recently started calling it training.  Training to be better.  Training to work harder.  Training my body to be disciplined.

And truthfully?

I'm starting to enjoy it again.

Looking forward to good things,

Debbie