Keep on Runnin’

So I am 5 weeks into a 10 week “Learn to Run” program at the Running Room. I have actually considered doing this or years but lack of time, money and motivation have got in my way. Once I started losing weight because of my change in diet I decided I needed to add some exercise  into the mix. Not only did I want to aid the weight loss but I also knew I needed to make myself get out of the house more and I was also hoping maybe I would meet some new people since I seem to be lacking in friends these days.

So far, for the most part, I have really enjoyed it. I think it is probably the most accessible fitness program I have ever been a part of and they really work with you no matter your fitness level. They work off of a walk/run routine. We started with walking 2 minutes running one and have added another minute of running every week while continuing to walk one minute in-between sets. We keep this up until we are running 10 minutes and walking 1 – two time. People are free to run at their own pace and the instructor calls out to us when it is time for us to run or walk.

The worst week was when we went from walking 1 and running one to walking one and running two. You would think that it would be worse the more minutes you run, but the walk one run two is far worse because it is the only week where you double the amount of minutes that you are running. They call it Hell Week.
It is a strange mix of people who attend. There is the European lady with B.O., two couples – both of which the man is more fit and seems to be there to be with his wife and support her, one of the guys is the fastest runner in the group but during the walk break he comes back and connects with his wife again, the cute girl with the prefect body and blonde hair that looks great in her skin tight running clothes and you wonder why she is even in the group. There is also a 30 year old female doctor, a nurse at the Stollery, a lady who makes the adds that you see on the side bar on Facebook, a lady who runs like she doesn’t have knees, a mother and daughter who bring their dogs, and a handful of older ladies. It really does seem to be a random mix but everyone is nice.

As far as the pace goes I am in the middle back. I usually run by myself because I don’t seem to be at the same pace as anyone else. I want to go faster and want to push myself but I also want to be able to run the allotted time and not have to walk during it, which means I need to go slower. You should run at a conversational pace – meaning if I was running next to someone I would be able to chat with them without strain.

I sometimes feel like if I am exercising I should be working harder and longer than I am. However, this is the longest and most consistent I have stayed with something for awhile. In many ways, for most of my life, I have hated exercising with other people but it seems like I need the pressure and accountability of being in a group. As much as no one would actually check up on me if I didn’t show up, I know I paid for this, I am part of this group and I am supposed to be doing this 3 times a week. I do a lot of things because I feel I am supposed to.

Once the program is over I don’t know what I will do. Perhaps I will go onto the 5km group, but I have been thinking that I should do some other form of exercise 1 or two days a week. Maybe weights or maybe I will do drop in yoga again (because like I just said, it seems to work better for me if I am in a group setting). I guess I will make that choice in another 5 weeks.

Speaking of at the end of the program… There is always a goal race in these groups and while it is not mandatory that you do the goal race I have decided I want to. This rotation of classes goal is Run for the Cure (in support of breast cancer research) which is happening on Oct. 2nd. Now this run comes before I am actually done my class, but I still want to have something to work towards. So, whomever you are out there reading this, if you’d like to support me and support a good cause, you can go to my fundraising page and donate! As much as it is coincidental that this is the goal run, it actually means something to me as I had a grandmother who had breast cancer (she has a mastectomy)and cancer in its various forms has really effected me and my family.

Anyway, I am proud of myself that I am actually getting out and doing this running. I hope I keep at it and I hope between my change in eating and this exercise, I might be at the turning point in my life that I always fantasize about. I guess only time will tell, but I am trying to remain optimistic.

Here is a picture of me in my Running Room shirt before I am about to go out- the colors were limited and I was too impatient to wait until they got different colors in my size.

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