So I'm grousing about my weight, and I have come to the conclusion that I am going to have to start running. For real.
I hate running. I hated it when I was a kid... I hated it in college... I hated it during Augusta's Biggest Loser. Now I'm not talking about interval training on the treadmill... I don't mind that so much. But running out on the road (or in a parking lot) -- I'd just as soon not. But if I don't get some serious calorie burning going on, I'm going to be in trouble.
I've seen some of these "Couch to 5K" programs before, but I never really paid them any attention. After all, I wasn't "on the couch". But has time has moved on, and without the support of a team, I've been moving closer to "couch" than to "5K". I've never run more than a mile, and I could barely do that. I did better sprinting during our workouts than distance/time running. But there is that motivation to get moving.
One of the things I said during my interview with CSRA Active magazine was that before Augusta's Biggest Loser, my life was about "I can't". I can't fit into a seat; I can't climb much; I can't find clothes to fit; I can't, I can't. After our finale, I said that now, my life was about "I can". I guess it sounded like a good quote, because they printed it as a pull quote. A year and a half later, I find myself questioning my ability in many different areas.
So I set to work finding out all I could about the Couch to 5K (C25K) program that, if all goes according to plan, will have me running a 5K by Thanksgiving. Isn't there a Turkey Trot or something? Anyway, I found an iphone app that does it all for you. (Except for the running.) Not having an iphone, I went to the android market and found an equivalent app. I set it up, got dressed to run, and headed outside. I turned it on, hit "Go" on day one, and the guy said, "Warm-up." Five minutes later... Ding... "RUN". So I ran. When it said "WALK", I walked. And around and around the parking lot we went, "Michael" and I. (I discovered later the female voice -- "Allison" -- was British. No thanks; it kinda felt like that gal that used to host "The Weakest Link". Wasn't interested in that.) I lost count a few rounds in, but it wasn't that long before he said, "you are halfway done".
The second half went pretty much like the first half, including sore knees, a gimpy ankle, and knives piercing my lungs. (Did I mention I hate running?) And then, the words I was longing to hear: "Cool down."
Day one, done. Three days a week for the next nine weeks means I have 26 more days of this routine. Wednesday and Friday are a repeat of today, and then next Monday, we bump up the running and reduce the walking. This is exactly the kind of program that I have traditionally quit after about a week and a half. But I'm going to give it my best, and we will see what happens.
All this, coupled with proper nutrition... I hope to be back down in my goal weight range by Halloween.
