In which I quit C25K (again)

Not running, exactly. Nor my hopes of completing a 5k. I’ve just decided that I’ve had enough of the Couch to 5k program. It makes me feel like such a BAD runner! And I think part of it is that I am honestly not built to be a good runner. To quote one of my favorite lines from The Fellowship of the Ring series, “I’m wasted on cross-country. We dwarves are natural sprinters – very dangerous over short distances!” Even my DNA thinks I’m better suited for sprinting. (Did you know that 23andMe will tell you that? No, this post isn’t sponsored in any way – I’m just flabbergasted as to how they can tell something like that about me based on my DNA.)

I’m part of an online training cohort (more on that later), and one of the women in the group recommended None to Run. After reviewing the plan and checking the progressions, I’ve decided to give this a try. I am fairly certain I can start at the end of Week 3, or even the beginning of Week 4, so I’m on track to have completed the program by the time the second 5k I’ve signed up for rolls around. (Oh, yeah – I signed up for TWO 5k races this year. I’m a glutton for punishment, it would seem.) And I like how the progression seems a little slower and more steady than C25K, which makes sense – the C25K is an eight-week training program, while None to Run gives me 12 weeks to work up to running for 25 minutes straight.

I’m not giving up on you, running! (Not yet, anyway.)

 

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In which I lift heavyish objects

I love lifting weights. No, actually, let me rephrase – I LOVE lifting weights. Strength training is so damn satisfying to me, for a number of different reasons. The process itself of picking up and/or manipulating something heavy requires me to focus on every move that I make. I don’t have the mental space for criticizing how my body looks when I am lifting something heavy above my head – my inner critic is completely silenced by how hard I am working. And oh my god, the silence is so fucking beautiful. I wish I’d known years ago that focusing on lifting heavy weights would drown that critic out.

I also love that the results of strength training are visible – I can actually see my body changing as I put on muscle. And this is incredibly gratifying especially because I don’t see changes quite as quickly when I run. I can lift heavier and heavier each week – I can’t run further or for longer quite as easily. So for me, having success in weight training is critical, because I don’t feel as successful in my other fitness activities.

Have you experienced fitness silencing your inner critic?

 

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In which I am very, very slow

I am the slowest runner I know. It’s quite embarrassing, honestly, because I am working out with three coworkers who are all training for the same 5k, and most of them are running at least 6mph on the treadmill. I am having a good day when I run around 5.4mph. My jog is the equivalent of my husband’s fast walk.

My sister kindly pointed out that running at a speed of 5mph would net me a 12-minute mile, which she said was nothing to sniff at. But a 12-minute mile is an approximate 37-minute 5k at best. Granted, that would be faster than any other 5k I’ve done in my entire shoddy history of running. But now that I’ve chosen to take training seriously, I want to improve my speed.

How do I get faster? Dangle an Oreo in front of me as a run? Listen to faster-paced music? Change my running form?

Thoughts from other runners out there would be greatly appreciated!

xoxo
Hanna

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In which I resume running

Running and I – we don’t have a great relationship. I’ve half-attempted to run a 5k every year since the Hot Chocolate Run came to San Diego – and I got a 5-year legacy package last year, so it’s been at least that long. (Oh, and I didn’t even participate in last year’s race, but that’s another story.) By “half-attempted” I mean that I’ve downloaded the Couch to 5k app, started the program, failed to complete the program, and failed to run the race.

This year, however, I vowed to stop quitting on running, and – more importantly – to stop quitting on my goals. I began 2019 at my heaviest recorded weight, ever, and that really shocked me into prioritizing my health and fitness. Hence, the return to running. Thus, this blog.

This blog will cover my running adventures, as well as my experiences with weight training (which I also have a shaky history with). I may also discuss food, since nutrition should and will play an important role in this journey toward improved health. It’s bound to get a little whiny, for which I apologize in advance. But I hope it ultimately documents a change in my approach toward my health and my lifestyle.

For those of you reading along and on a similar journey, you are not alone, and you’ve totally got this!

To your health,
Hanna

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