Sunday, June 30, 2013

Will vs Want

I am not a runner.  I've never been a runner.  I remember in 7th grade PE class they had a long run which was 20 miles (just kidding...I'm sure it was closer to 1.5 to 2.0 miles) and a short run (probably 1 mile total)  I HATED days we had to run...it didn't matter if it was long or short.  Of course I preferred the short run over the long run, but both of them made me miserable.

And I wasn't really even in that bad of shape back then. 

I think the weirdest thing is that as much as I dislike running I still always have wanted to be a runner...or at least very athletic.  I played softball and volleyball and loved both of those sports.  But, I just never excelled at either of them enough to keep me competitive in the sport through my high school years. 

ha ha...I guess you could say my fatness was exacerbated because I was only mediocre at sports. 

So, this week I start week 2 of the Couch to 5K program.  I did two weeks of week one.  I would walk/run 30 minutes total and averaged about 2 miles...so I'm pacing a 15 minute mile.  Not THAT bad, I guess.

But here comes week two where I run more and walk less...I'm wondering if it will really kill me or if it won't be that bad.

And I wonder if there will ever be a day when I'm excited to get out of bed and exercise via running...?

I love going to my zumba classes.  Couldn't keep me away from those.  They have that pumping music and I dance around and sweat like crazy and feel AWESOME when I'm done.  I feel the same after I run, but I have to literally force myself into my socks and shoes and onto the treadmill even though I KNOW it will be good for me, feel great and give me a much needed boost.  I just don't have the same excitement when it comes to the running...but, I am going to see this through to the end. 

That's my will speaking.  I will run a 5K.  Maybe even more than one.  I'm not promising myself that I will love running...I WANT to love running...and who knows....maybe someday I'll do that short run again and smile through the whole thing. 

2 comments:

  1. Running a 5k is one of my goals too even though it sounds like pure and utter torture to get to that point! Keep going girl... You can do it!!

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  2. Okay, please do tell me more about Zumba. I got all fired up about it once, bought the $65 DVDs, then tried five or six times to workout to them, but the dance steps were SO hard (even with DVD play-by-play slow-mo breakdowns!) that I gave up entirely. Are the live classes using easier moves, then, or are you a dancer extraordinaire?

    But running, ah I can tell you how to love running! It is all about the foot placement. There is a tribe of superathletes out in the Mexican desert who can run for 100 miles without stopping or without ever getting tired because they LAUGH and smile the entire time they are running. Their sheer joy and elation for the sport have puzzled sports scientists for years. One author who discovered that their foot placement is the secret to tapping into their source of joy is now a mega-millionaire because his book sells like hotcakes: http://amzn.com/0307279189

    I actually ran an entire marathon (after birthing four children!) because I finally learned proper foot placement; turns out running isn't something you just go out and "do." Like dance lessons (or Zumba, lol!) you have to study and master correct foot placement and form before you will feel like smiling while you run! :)

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