Learning to Run: Day 1

When I told my roommates this past weekend that I wanted to learn how to run, they replied, "You want to learn to run? Do you want us to chase you?" Thanks very much, but no.

I've always wanted to be a runner, but my feeble attempts in the past to get into it have left me thinking I wasn't built for it, my legs and joints weren't strong enough, and that I just wasn't born to be a runner. But despite years of resigning myself to a slow paced future, I couldn't shed that desire to run. Runners get into such good shape, they get to spend time exercising outdoors, and a lot of them just seem to love it. I've wanted all of that.

So after consulting for a number of friends who like to run, and who have made me rethink my "I wasn't born to run" mentality, I'm going to give it another shot (a more organized shot at that). I am going to try and learn to run.

I'm armed with a number of things that hopefully will allow me to be successful in this endeavor. And they include:

1. An experienced running partner (who is even willing to get up and go with me at 6 am).

2. An eight week plan. This plan from "Runner's World" promises to help beginners like me become runners.

3. The love of a challenge. When I tried snowboarding a few weeks back, it was beyond challenging. It was so difficult for me that I found it paralyzing. Running on the other hand is going to be hard, but possible. I've already gotten myself into relatively good shape by going to the gym, and I think I can do this.

4. Swim suit season. It's just around the corner, and I want to wear a bikini this year.

5. Fun with outfits. Even though this is totally silly, one of the things I'm looking forward to is dressing up in fun running outfits and snazzy running shoes. Who doesn't like dressing up? Hey man, I'm going to embrace any motivation I can find.

So today was the first day of my adventure into running, and it started at 6 am. Yes, it was a little difficult to get up, but by the time I had my workout wear on and my shoes laced, I was ready to go. Today on the plan we alternated running for a minute, then walking for 2 minutes, and repeated this 10 times. When we first started out I thought, "Whoah, this is way too easy." But by the end of the run I could feel it, and I was glad we hadn't pushed it. I think that's been my problem in the past. I've always run too hard and too fast to be able to maintain it.

Tomorrow and Thursday I'm just supposed to walk for 30 minutes (but I'll probably go do the stair stepper or something instead). Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday I repeat the run 1 minute, walk 2 minutes routine.

I'm really excited, and I hope I can stick with this. I'm feeling really good today, and I had such a sense of accomplishment when I could mark a red x on my calendar before I'd even gotten to work. Who knows, maybe I was born to run after all. We shall see...