Couch to 5K...Again

When Ray was home from leave, I expressed an interest in starting a jogging or running routine. It is something he has to do for the National Guard, and I thought it could be something fun and healthy for us to do together as a family. So, while he is back in Iraq and finishing his deployment, I have begun a couch to 5K program.

Many thoughts came to my mind today as Derrek and I started out. The first, even though we have a Baby Jogger brand stroller, it is NOT a jogging stroller. Gonna have to keep my eye out for a real one. Second, I'm REALLY much more out of shape than I thought. The particular program I'm using starts off with intervals of 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking. On a treadmill, it would have been fine. Considering that every time I started the running interval, I was going up hill, well.... Let's just say I may be doing this first week of the program for two or three weeks before I move on to week two. Hills will help make me fitter, faster. Right?

I was pretty discouraged about how much I have let myself go in terms of fitness over the winter. But, there are good things too. I feel GREAT now after the exercise. We got outside for a while and Derrek is taking a nice long nap. So, while I feel like I'm starting from way behind in this, I know my body will adjust quickly and it will be better and better as I move forward.

Assuming nothing crazy happens, Ray and I have agreed to run the 5K race during Germanfest in our town on July 11. With the ipod charged, program downloaded, good weather on the doorstep and a race as my goal, I am on my way!