Run Forrest, run!

A while back I wrote a post about how my mom had inspired me to start running. I tried to be like my mom and run for 20 minutes every day, but once my knees started hurting on the second day, I pretty much quit. So much for that inspiration; it lasted all of three days, and I decided maybe I'm not cut out to be a runner.

Despite the fact that I have bad knees and quit easily, I have always wanted to be a runner. And for a while now, I've wanted to to complete a 5K. I thought about signing up for a couple of them, and even started training using the Couch Potato to 5K training program. For lots of reasons (most of them quite lame), I never completed the training program, and never actually ran a 5K. In fact, the closest I've ever come was a couple of years ago, when Andy filmed a 5K and I rode next to him in the truck so he could film the runners. Now I'm not 100% clear on 5K rules, but I think that's considered cheating. I probably shouldn't have eaten the bagel and banana they provided to all the runners. And I probably didn't deserve the T-shirt. So I pushed the goal of actually running (or let's be honest - I'd settle for walking) a 5K way, way, far back into the nether regions of my mind, where it has sat dormant for several years now.

Then, a few weeks ago, Anna mentioned that she was training to run a 5K at the end of October. Hmmm...should I actually go for it this time? So I loaded up on some Glucosamine HCl (for optimum joint health and mobility), and pulled out the Couch Potato to 5K program. Last week, I officially started the program again. In fact, I specifically drove into work to use the "free" treadmill at the gym there. I say "free" because that's only if you don't count the gas I'm wasting driving 20 miles to use a treadmill.

This morning, Andy had the car, and I couldn't drive into work. So I figured, it was a beautiful fall day, I might as well run outside. Let's just say that was a little rough - running outside is nothing like running inside on a treadmill!

For starters, my watch was broken, so I carried my cell phone to keep time, so I would know that I was running for for 1.5 minutes/walking for 2 minutes. Running for 1.5 minutes/walking for 2 minutes. I guess the tight feeling in my chest and thoughts of dying a slow death being better than running for 1.5 minutes weren't enough of a clue to tell me I was running for 1.5 minutes/walking for 2 minutes. Not to mention the strange looks I got from all the skinny moms pushing their three children in one stroller, wondering why I was holding my phone open while running and panting like some crazed madwoman.

That phone really put a damper on my run; I couldn't carry my water bottle and my phone. I think people thought I was weird, leaning over a big puddle, gulping water for fear of dehydration. It was a little awkward. Those darn judgemental skinny moms.

Without a treadmill, I'm not very good at keeping the same pace, even if it's only for 1.5 minutes. Now that I think about it, maybe the low-hanging tree branch that whipped me in the face while I was looking down to check the time on my cell phone was what slowed me down. Or maybe it was the group of guys playing baseball, watching me run into a tree was what made me slow down. I can't really say for sure.

At any rate, I completed Week 2, Day 1 of training and I am writing this post to put it out there: I will be running/walking into tree branches, I mean in a 5K in October. I wish you could be there to yell "Run, Alicia, run!" on the sidelines.

PS: No, I did not really drink water from a puddle. I was so thirsty, I thought about it though.
PSS: I really have nothing against skinny moms; only when I'm running past them and they look so chipper and carefree, while I am dying a slow death running for 1.5 minutes.