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Starting to Love Running!

Thursday Aug 21, 2008

Maybe this is an odd time of the year to start doing something about my general physical condition, after all, just after New Year is the usual time to start doing something. But I guessed it was never a bad time to start improving your health.

So about 3 weeks ago I decided to start running. And rather than just going at it wildly, I decided to follow a program that was hugely popular a few years ago on national television: Start to Run. So I got myself an iPod Shuffle, downloaded all the podcasts and went for it. Aim after 10 weeks: run 5 kms or 3 miles.

Lesson number 1 looked easy enough on paper: 2x 1 minute running, 1 minute walking, 2x 2 minutes running, 2 minutes walking, and then 1x 3 minutes running and 3 minutes walking for a total of 18 minutes. I have to say I did not manage the last 3 minutes of running, had to quit earlier.

At that point, I was not optimistic to say the least about being able to run 5 kms.

However I have to admit that sticking to the schedule of 3 sessions per week, each building up, has done marvels to my physical condition. I was able to complete lesson number 7 without problems yesterday which was 1 minute running, 1 minute walking, 2 minutes running, 2 minutes walking and them 3 times 3 minutes running and 3 minutes walking.

At this point, I am feeling really good, and am looking forward to another lesson. I feel I can do more than the lesson, but I will stick to the schedule. I can recommend this program to anyone who wants to improve their physique.

Let me know if you want to find out more!

Will keep my audience update about the program!

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Posted at 03:30PM Aug 21, 2008 by Marc Dierens in Personal
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I had the same, very optimistic, plan just a few weeks ago. Smoking more than a pack of cigarettes a day, I wasn't expecting wonders but I was hoping to be able to at least finish the first lesson without any problems. I was wrong. I finished it alright, but only barely. I took my dog with me and at some point he was still walking when I was 'running'. (It's a Jack Russell Terrier, which means he's pretty short-legged too) Anyway, I still managed to motivate myself for lesson 2, which I finished as well, but again in the same manner. However, just an hour after I got hit with a migraine from hell and had to spend the rest of the day in the dark. Let's just say the Start to Run podcast didn't survive much longer on my iPod :o)