A Step in the Right Direction

A minor victory that hopefully will blossom into a tremendous accomplishment...

Today I started running.

This is a big deal for me because I always used to HATE running.  In grade school I always dreaded the day when we had to take the physical fitness test and "run the mile" (do 4 laps around the school track).  I never ran the whole thing.  Sometimes I walked the whole thing and didn't even try to run. 

But that was the old Casey.  The new me wants to push herself, challenge herself to try new things and to improve in any way she can.  And the way I saw fit to improve on one of my exercise routines (a 5K walk) was to start running that route. 

So a few days ago I finally got a chance to get to the store and buy some running shoes.  It really helped that I was able to get a really hot pair of sneakers.  Some athletic shoes are just plain ugly but I LOVE the ones I got.  They are grey and light blue and so cool looking.  And of course they fit wonderfully, which is more important. 

Then yesterday I decided to wear the running shoes to the gym.  I still did the elliptical but with the running shoes on.  Just to get a feel for them. 

This morning I had to be at work early and I didn't want to make my morning rushed by driving to the gym and having to shower there so I decided to do my 5K route instead.  That would save me some time and I would be able to get dressed at home instead of at the gym.  Once that decision was made it was almost automatic that I would try running some of my route.  I read some articles on how to start running and a lot of people suggested doing a combination run/walk, especially at first.  I knew I could handle that.  I walked for a few minutes, then set a goal (the next stop light, the next block) and I would alternate walking and running.  Overall my running time was maybe 5-10 minutes, but, hey it is a start! 

Running was actually harder than I thought it would be.  I figured that the motion I am doing on the elliptical is similar to a running motion and I am doing about 6 MPH on the elliptical and going for an hour, so running should feel about the same.  Well, maybe it was the humid weather or just nerves, but I couldn't go very long running.  I am still proud of myself and I am not going to throw in the towel.  I am going to gradually work my way up to running that whole 5K.  After that, who knows...only better things can come...