Yes, a RUNNER. One who runs.
I finally am one of the chosen few. One of the elite. One of the special and unique.
Only joking. Almost anyone can run! If one can walk, and one has the desire to do that same basic movement only faster, than one can probably run.
I've tried in the past to be a runner. It was always very hard to do, and the rewards were so few that I quit every darn time.
I found it more rewarding to get on my stationary bike, or do the elliptical, or just walk uphill on a treadmill than running.
So because I was missing out on the rewards of running, I quit.
What reward was I looking for back then?
CALORIES burnt.
The fact remained that I could burn way more calories on my bike or on an elliptical than I did when I went running, particularly because I couldn't run for very long or very fast. It seemed pointless to do running intervals when I would burn so few calories doing it.
Why am I runner now? Why do I now feel confident that I won't quit, and that I will be a half-marathon runner by the end of 2013 (October 6th to be exact)?
Because I've changed my mindset. My new reward is the half marathon. So I am now training to run 13.1 miles.
Every new distance reached is a reward. Every time that I run another mile, I'm happy. When I'm on the treadmill, now I'm looking at the distance first, the time second, and the calories third (if at all).
So far, this is how my training has gone:
Every week, I must have three running days. They don't have to be in a row, and there is no time rule except a minimum of 30 minutes. I try to cross train at least two other days a week, but I'm not strict about that either.
Week 1: Half mile interval. I ran half a mile then walked half a mile
Week 2: 3/4 mile intervals. I ran 3/4 a mile, then walk 1/4 mile, and continued the patter
Week 3: (began today!) I ran 1 mile, then walked 1/4 mile, and so forth.
I've improved my 5K time dramatically in just two weeks. I'm so excited!!! It felt SO GOOD to run an entire mile today. And then I did it again, after walking 1/4 mile. I'm stoked.
I am LOVING my running workouts. I look forward to them. They relieve stress, energize me, and make me feel strong, fit, and beautiful.
I have heard these kind of things be said about running in the past, and I never understood why I couldn't get there.
Now I know. I had to change my focus from CALORIES burned to DISTANCE training. Now I get it. Now... I'm a runner. And it feels great.
2 comments:
Word! I was training for a half when I blew out my knee and my hip now I still run 3 days a week but gave up on the distance. I love hearing someone else has come into the fold :) After a good run I feel invincible!
Hooray! I love hearing someone else has gotten the awesome rush that is running. I was training for a half last year when I blew out my knee and hip and after several weeks of physical therapy I still run 3 days a week, couldn't quit it if I wanted to I just can't do long distances. After a good run though I feel like nothing can stop me, It's AMAZING.
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