Because I have time right now AND because I just finished getting caught up on reading it, I am posting a link to my buddy Darren's blog. He's a more serious runner than I am (at least at this point!) and a more serious (read: professional) writer. Nevertheless, enjoy!
http://www.darrencormier.com/scribblings-and-bibblings-blog.html
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
A PSA about shoes
Tuesday, June 29. I have finished Week 4 & started Week 5. By the end of this week, I "should" be able to jog for 20 minutes straight. No walking!! Wowza! Tomorrow, I do two 8 minute intervals. And this is where I give thanks to my most awesome & super comfy running shoes.
Yes, a word about running shoes. I would feel horrid if I didn't mention them - the one piece of equipment necessary to running. OK, not necessary if you buy into the whole "running barefoot" business. If you do, then skip this part - you're braver than I am! I'll preface this by saying that I have flat feet (born that way) & a bad back (courtesy of a horse I got launched off of in 1993. My doctors gave their blessing to this endeavor as long as I got a "proper pair of shoes." What do I know about running shoes? Squat. What do I know about shopping? Plenty. Enter "Fleet Feet Sports" in West Hartford, CT. They were recommended by my marathon-running gym buddy. So, prepared to spend a million dollars, I went. The staff is SUPER nice. The girl who worked with me watched me walk around the store in my "normal" shoes (Converse All Stars, baby!) and then in a series of running shoes with all sorts of bizarro, Japanese sports car sounding names. She was prepared to make the run on their treadmill. Luckily, I avoided that! She never mentioned prices. Just watched me walk, gave me other pairs, asked me which ones felt best to me. We both agreed on the pair I bought. Asics. Cost? Just one Benjamin Franklin. Much less than I expected to pay. My feet don't hurt when I jog...neither does my back. Even if you're 100% healthy, find yourself a "Fleet Feet" type place & get the right shoes for YOU. It's important. Get over it.
Conclude PSA. This week, I chose an "anthem" for this C25k experience. Many will laugh. I don't care. It is Ricky Martin's "Cup of Life." I like the full Spanish "La Copa de la Vida" version, but the spanglish one is in my iPod. It's got a great Latin beat & inspiring lyrics, especially good for a slug like me. In an oddly timely coincidence, it was the official song of the 1998 World Cup. So there, scoffers. I will leave you with my favorite lyrics from my new "anthem" & promise a discussion of my C25k playlist next week.
Do you really want it?
The cup of life, this is the one. Now is the time, don't ever stop.
Push it along, gotta be strong. Push it along, right to the top
No one can hold you down if you really want it.
Just steal your destiny right from the hands of fate.
Reach for the cup of life 'cause your name is on it!
Yes, a word about running shoes. I would feel horrid if I didn't mention them - the one piece of equipment necessary to running. OK, not necessary if you buy into the whole "running barefoot" business. If you do, then skip this part - you're braver than I am! I'll preface this by saying that I have flat feet (born that way) & a bad back (courtesy of a horse I got launched off of in 1993. My doctors gave their blessing to this endeavor as long as I got a "proper pair of shoes." What do I know about running shoes? Squat. What do I know about shopping? Plenty. Enter "Fleet Feet Sports" in West Hartford, CT. They were recommended by my marathon-running gym buddy. So, prepared to spend a million dollars, I went. The staff is SUPER nice. The girl who worked with me watched me walk around the store in my "normal" shoes (Converse All Stars, baby!) and then in a series of running shoes with all sorts of bizarro, Japanese sports car sounding names. She was prepared to make the run on their treadmill. Luckily, I avoided that! She never mentioned prices. Just watched me walk, gave me other pairs, asked me which ones felt best to me. We both agreed on the pair I bought. Asics. Cost? Just one Benjamin Franklin. Much less than I expected to pay. My feet don't hurt when I jog...neither does my back. Even if you're 100% healthy, find yourself a "Fleet Feet" type place & get the right shoes for YOU. It's important. Get over it.
Conclude PSA. This week, I chose an "anthem" for this C25k experience. Many will laugh. I don't care. It is Ricky Martin's "Cup of Life." I like the full Spanish "La Copa de la Vida" version, but the spanglish one is in my iPod. It's got a great Latin beat & inspiring lyrics, especially good for a slug like me. In an oddly timely coincidence, it was the official song of the 1998 World Cup. So there, scoffers. I will leave you with my favorite lyrics from my new "anthem" & promise a discussion of my C25k playlist next week.
Do you really want it?
The cup of life, this is the one. Now is the time, don't ever stop.
Push it along, gotta be strong. Push it along, right to the top
No one can hold you down if you really want it.
Just steal your destiny right from the hands of fate.
Reach for the cup of life 'cause your name is on it!
Friday, June 18, 2010
I don't want to run a 5K!
Let’s just say I didn’t decide to call this page “Slug to 5K” for nothing…if I was one of the Seven Deadly Sins, I’d be sloth. If “you are what you eat” is actually true, then I’m either a cheesy plate of nachos or a dark chocolate peanut M&M. My image of nirvana involves a beach, a hammock, a book & a margarita. I’m a lazy SOB. Three years ago, I had a son…
The infant lifestyle suited me for the most part – moving slowly, snoozing, and not noticing that I was scarfing Doritos while he was dining on pureed peas – but times change. Something had to give. So, about a year & a half ago, I joined the gym, scored a “gym buddy” & discovered a “love” of the elliptical machine. I have made strides to improve my diet – cut my Mt. Dew habit down to one or two cans a week, limiting my desserts to one a day (tough for a candy freak!), exploring the Lean Cuisine aisle, falling in love with Carnation Instant Breakfast & Fiber One bars…I have caffeinated water shipped in from Illinois for a no calorie hit of my drug of choice. I lost 15 pounds & a pant size.
Come February 2010, I needed a new challenge. I mentioned running to my gym buddy, a marathon runner. She suggested the “Couch to 5K” program. I said “I don’t want to run a 5K!” then looked into it…and bought some running shoes. Follow this link to check out the program: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
This morning, I completed Day 3 of Week 3. I can jog for 3 minutes at a time without wanting to kill myself. As the mother of a wild & crazy preschooler, I crave quiet time. My “running” time provides 30 minutes of peace. I just jog along, listening to my tunes & the “coach” on the “Couch to 5K” app on my iPhone. I didn’t expect it, but I can “get out of my head.” And, even if I get up early to get my “jog” in before work, I am more Zen during the day. Holy crap.
So, welcome to “Slug to 5K” – a record of my journey…if all goes well, I’m actually going to RUN a 5K in September. But I’m still saying no to a marathon…
The infant lifestyle suited me for the most part – moving slowly, snoozing, and not noticing that I was scarfing Doritos while he was dining on pureed peas – but times change. Something had to give. So, about a year & a half ago, I joined the gym, scored a “gym buddy” & discovered a “love” of the elliptical machine. I have made strides to improve my diet – cut my Mt. Dew habit down to one or two cans a week, limiting my desserts to one a day (tough for a candy freak!), exploring the Lean Cuisine aisle, falling in love with Carnation Instant Breakfast & Fiber One bars…I have caffeinated water shipped in from Illinois for a no calorie hit of my drug of choice. I lost 15 pounds & a pant size.
Come February 2010, I needed a new challenge. I mentioned running to my gym buddy, a marathon runner. She suggested the “Couch to 5K” program. I said “I don’t want to run a 5K!” then looked into it…and bought some running shoes. Follow this link to check out the program: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
This morning, I completed Day 3 of Week 3. I can jog for 3 minutes at a time without wanting to kill myself. As the mother of a wild & crazy preschooler, I crave quiet time. My “running” time provides 30 minutes of peace. I just jog along, listening to my tunes & the “coach” on the “Couch to 5K” app on my iPhone. I didn’t expect it, but I can “get out of my head.” And, even if I get up early to get my “jog” in before work, I am more Zen during the day. Holy crap.
So, welcome to “Slug to 5K” – a record of my journey…if all goes well, I’m actually going to RUN a 5K in September. But I’m still saying no to a marathon…
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