Couch to 5k

If you have been in the past year and ask me  what I like to on my personal time. You will hear about my couch to 5k journey. Distance running is something I always wanted to do and just never got my butt in gear because running doesn’t come naturally to me. But I have wanted to get in better shape and running is a low cost simple way to get fit.

I started off using the app Running for Weight Loss. These apps are great! It’s like having a personal trainer in your ear. And it helped to keep me on track with my training goals. The app helped me realize that couch to 5k was possible as long as I just suck to a plan. This particular one does interval training, a combo of run/walking/sprinting. This helps to train your muscles, heart and lungs to get use to the idea of running. And I personally like having a run broken up so I don’t get board. The plus side to the interval running is it greatly reduces injury and you don’t plateau as quickly.

I had a goal of running 3 5k’s (done 5) and not worry about my time. I cared more about finishing. It really is quite a thrill running in a pact of people! And it’s such  a wonderful community of people. Strangers cheering you on to the finish line, such an amazing high. There are no words that can describe the feeling you get when you finish. There is so much discomfort getting to that point and to reach such a challenging goal is so thrilling.

This whole process has really taught me a lot about my mental toughness. Not only does the running train the body, but your mind as well. The conscious mind will always try to get you to stop for all types of reasons. And you learn how train your brain to keep your legs moving. I really had to have a mental battles with myself to keep going even when my legs got sore or the weather was bad. Never once did I regret going out for a run when I didn’t feel like it. That’s what kept me going in the beginning. Actually I felt so good that I won another mental battle.

Now that I have achieved my couch to 5k goal, I am training for a 10k. Never in a million years would I have thought I could even think it would be possible to run that distance. This whole journey was taught me that big changes are possible with a plan. I learned to stay focused on my goal.

The saying “Never Say Never” now has a whole new meaning.