So far, so good!

It's been over a week since I created this blog, and this is only my second post :/   I am glad to say that I have been better about my running routine than I have about my blogging one.

So the Couch to 5k regimen continues.  Except, I tweak it.  I have a tendency to have to "improve" on things (by "improve" I mean "do it MY way").  The workouts start out fairly easy, with a 5 minute walk. But on the first workout I forgot that the first 5 minutes was supposed to be a walk, so I jogged.  I then did the intervals pretty much as directed, but ended up running more at the end than the program calls for.

Well, once you have started a program, you don't want to go backwards, right?  So of course I had to keep doing my workouts this way.  Essentially I am using the workouts as a baseline, and I am listening to my body to figure out if I should go harder that day or not.  So far, so good!

A Strange Motivation

Two days ago we made the difficult decision to euthanize our Chocolate Lab, Copper.  It was a difficult decision, but it had to be done.

Copper had gotten very sick with old age.   Between the treatments necessary for his arthritis and diabetes, not to mention our upcoming move from Alaska to Pennsylvania, he was suffering.  So we did the merciful thing.

Now why on earth would this be the opening subject for a blog about training for running races?

Simply stated, putting the dog to sleep woke up my desire to improve my own health.  Copper was an active, playful puppy.  He was a sweet dog.  But as our family grew from three to six children, he became, well, last priority.  I know that sounds horrible, but that's just the way it was.  We did not walk him as much as we used to and he did not get the fancy expensive dog food. (We didn't give him junk, but still his diet was probably less than ideal).  In essence, I think Copper's health problems were expedited by his sedentary lifestyle...and I do not want that to happen in my own life.

I do not want to develop arthritis, diabetes and other diseases that may be avoidable with proper self-care.

So, I have decided to start taking my health and fitness seriously.  I have done this in the past and have had great results.  But I have not set many specific goals to work towards to keep me going through the "down" times.  So I am going to start training for races.

On Monday, 16 April, 2012 (the same day we put Copper to sleep) I began the Couch to 5k program from the company Cool Running.  It is a program designed to help sedentary people like myself to get up and train for a 5k.

I dusted off the double jogging stroller that had been hidden in my garage over the winter, bundled up the little ones, and took off...sort of.

I completed the workout without any problem (although I did not stretch as much as I should have).  But the next day I thought to myself "I don't really feel much...I could probably run again today."

So yesterday I did the same workout, pushing myself a little farther since I didn't have the children with me.  And you can bet I felt it last night!  Whoa!  Where did that soreness in my shins come from?

Having run in the past, I was feeling fairly frustrated with myself.  This workout was a combination of walking and jogging...it should not have been that tough.  But, I have to remember that it is okay to start slow.

That is why I have started this second blog.  I want to have a record of my efforts and my progress.

If you have ever done this program or have any other racing experience that you would care to share, I would love to hear it.  Please leave a comment below, because I am always looking to learn something new.

Now, I am going to go ice my shins and figure out what my workout for today will be.