My Running Path

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My 11-year-old has been going to taekwondo twice a week since the year he started kindergarten. Classes are held in a fitness center; every time I drop him off, I long to be one of those exercisey people I see at the gym. In six years I have not made it happen. I started yoga at home last year after “discovering” Yoga with Adriene but couldn’t make it a habit, even though Adriene is adorable and I love her.

Because of my lifelong struggle to make an exercise regimen stick, every few years I get amnesia and think “I should try running again! I probably didn’t give it a fair shake last time.” The last time, I tried Couch to 5K and failed. I concluded that some bodies are just not meant to run. For me the problem is the lungs. I truly feel they’re going to explode.

In late August, as the boys’ summer break came to a close, I reluctantly googled “Couch to 5K” (thinking I should try again) and got an unexpected hit: None To Run, a program gentler and more gradual than C25K. It is for C25K failures like me, for people who used to run but struggled with injury or illness and need to work their way back, and for people who have never really exercised at all. In a word, it’s for everyone.

On September 3, I went on my first “run,” intervals of walking two minutes and then running for 30 SECONDS, for 20 minutes total. It was so simple it almost felt silly.

In the ensuing weeks, running time increased incrementally.

Today I ran for 20 minutes without stopping. My lungs did not explode. In fact, it wasn’t even that hard, thanks to the program’s gradual weekly progression. At the end of 12 weeks (give or take), participants are supposed to be able to run for 25 minutes straight. I’m almost there.

I can’t recommend this program strongly enough. If I can run, anyone can! Bonus: one of the benefits is the associated Facebook group, one of the most supportive FB groups I’ve ever encountered. If you decide to give None To Run a try, please join the group for support. 


Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 10, 2019 at 8:38 AM

    "exercisey people" FTW! I have a small gym, free and available to me anytime, one floor above my office. I've been to it, oh, a few times since starting work in this building 3.5 years ago. Do I keep gym clothes in my office? I sure do. For "someday." Maybe, MAYBE, I could try this program.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elizabeth DDecember 10, 2019 at 9:21 AM

    You could absolutely do it! High-impact/strength stuff is important for people OUR AGE. *eyeroll*

    ReplyDelete

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