Here I go!

Throughout most of my life, I have chased my weight with exercise and diets...but one type of exercise always eluded me...running. After going to my first NY marathon, I was completely inspired! How exciting to see so many people from all walks of life doing such an extraordinary feat. So, soon after, two friends and I joined the Road Runners in our quest to learn to run. With big hopes, I tried to become a runner. Fast forward a few weeks...failure. I couldn't even make it through the first lap of the track without getting out of breath and feeling like I was going to pass out. Quickly, I went back to other forms of exercise but secretly envied runners that I saw, wondering why  I couldn't do that.

A few years later, I  decided to try again. Something kept on drawing me back... A friend who ran a half marathon, another friend who looks so great after picking up running; so many people seem to be able to do this!  Last year, a few friends decided to run a 5K for charity. It was exciting at the starting line, everyone getting ready to run on this fall day. I thought if I run slowly, I could do this! But sadly, my friends were off and running and I pushed myself to run/walk. I made it to the end and felt so proud and inspired. Unfortunately, a few days later, my back and body gave in and didn't want to do this. So, again..another excuse to give up. Was this out of reach?

 So, I am going to turn 40 in a few weeks and would like to prove to myself that I am not too old to accomplish something new ( and loose some weight in the process). So I am hoping that keeping this blog will motivate me to keep trying to reach my goal...to run a 5K without having to walk. Maybe in the process, I will also learn to take things slowly and give myself time. I have always been one who expects results quickly and has high expectations so this will force me to be patient, take small steps and reach goals that may be less that what I thought I could do and in time, I will reach that goal of running across that finish line with pride and determination that I can do it despite my age and past failures.

So here I start....
day 1: Running at the gym since winter is still here, small goal of the day: run/walk for 30 minutes: 1 minute run, 2 minutes walk. Surprisingly, I could run one minute fairly well at a speed of 3.3mph....success for me since winter has put on another 10 thanks to the snow days that piled up on my hips.

Next step: Try to run again this weekevery other day for 1 min/ 2 min walk at 3.5 miles per hour. for 30 minutes.
Do I run each day or every other to start?