I have been running for one month now. If you asked me a month ago if i thought i would still be doing this now I would have laughed. hard. I am (was) so not a runner. I had always wished that i was but i had a million and one excuses as to why i was not & would never be a runner.
i have no time
i have a bad knee
my breasts are too big
i have no time
it’s too cold out / it’s too hot out
i can not run
i have no time
As you can see my biggest excuse was that I had no time. As a mom the 3 young children and a husband who can work long hours it was easier for me just to push myself to the side. Throwing away any ideas to try to make some time for me. For some reason i had this idea in my head that to ‘be a runner’ i needed to dedicate an hour a day to run. To make any exercise ‘worth it‘ i needed to be able to dedicate an hour a day. Crazy. WHO has that time – i dont. So i just gave myself the excuse “I will have more time when my kids are older”.
What I realized is time is not an excuse for why I could not run. Time became a reason to run.
My Time. To put me first. To clear my head. To do something for me. I honestly don’t have time to dedicate an hour a day. I do have 20-25 minutes each day so that is what I do. It is the perfect amount of time for me because i ALWAYS have at least 20 minutes a day. There is no time excuse anymore.
Another thing i have learned this month is that if you are a non-runner you need to take it slowly & that is ok! Before I was directed to the Couch to 5k program I thought that I was supposed to get out there and run for the whole time straight. I found that after like 4 minutes i was ready to give up & that certainly is not encouraging.
I did a lot of reading and talked to a lot of helpful runners and tried out the C25K program. I really like it – how it is set up and in intervals. I have since found that it is not really the perfect plan for me – so I have modified it for the past 2 weeks. I found the timed intervals to be really distracting to me and i had a hard time focusing on the run and too much time was spent counting down time.
I am still doing a walk/run interval but I have increased to going 5-6x a week. Mostly because I have found myself craving the time and also I find this an easier way for me to work it into routine & keep me motivated. No more ‘i dont run today but i run tomorrow’ – now it’s pretty much every day I run. I am really enjoying going at night.
So — progress report {comparing week 1 to week 4}:
Week 1:
3x a week
20 minutes/day = 1 hour
Ran: 3km total for week
Walked: 10km total for week
Week 4:
5x a week
20 minutes/day = 1 hour 40 minutes
Ran: 10km total for week
Walked: 3km total for week
So there is progress there! Slowly but surely I am getting there. I don’t have any timeline for myself I just want to keep it up and grow each week. I am not training for a race – just for fitness. I am not running for weight loss – just fitness.
Does anyone feel like joining me on this fitness quest? Would love to link up and support each other!
follow on twitter for my #MileMonday updates & feel free to link up
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I am glad you found what works for you. My past experience has taught me to always do what’s best for your body. I have run hundreds of miles over the years and I follow my own program. I would love to track miles/distance/time with you. I’m currently getting back into it and I love that I’m finding that 20, or 30 minutes every other day to just lose myself in a run. If you’d like more assistance with progress, or increasing time or distance I’d be happy to help. I used to be a marathoner
)
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
January 3, 2011 at 10:30 am
I would LOOOOOVE that! I am excited for the spring when the sidewalks are not as covered in snow/ice — it can be challenging to run in that.
you will kick my ass but i would love the motivation!
Great job Devan!! Very proud of you
I found running to be very addictive! I craved it as well and very quickly made my way up to running 10km straight! I can’t wait to get back out there! But for now – off to do Jillian Micheals Shred video! I can’t lose any more weight so now I want to tone up! Have a great day!!!
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
January 3, 2011 at 11:13 am
If i had more time I would be out there for a while! I love that moment where i hit my ‘stride’ and feel like i could go on forever!
Let me know how you like the Shred video!
Twitter: BeingMomNow
January 3, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Impressive!!! I wish I could still run, but my heart rate just gets too high right now being pregnant and all. I do run some and I have been going to Baby Boot Camp (not the last two weeks though) and it is nice to make that time for yourself (although I do all my exercise with S in the stroller). Anyway….congratulations on sticking with it!!
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
January 3, 2011 at 1:59 pm
I would be the same way if i was pregnant – my heart rate goes insane!
I walk with the kids every day as well & have been for a long time- that is also a work out but i have really been enjoying the alone time exercise
Thanks so much for the encouragement!
Well done! Has it been that long already?! You are awesome
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Twitter: AccustomedChaos
January 3, 2011 at 5:35 pm
It went very quick! & thank you. <3
I have tried to start running so many times. I too feel like I have to spend so much time when even just a few minutes is worth something. You are awesome!
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
January 3, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Yes even just 15 minutes a day is worth it!!
Twitter: GlutenFreeBlog
January 3, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Wow honey! Good for you for running and good for you for encouraging others.
You never cease to amaze me with all that you do!
xo AJ
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
January 3, 2011 at 7:45 pm
♥ Thank you so much Aunt Jayne!!
Way to go Devan!!! I have been starting to walk each day (but really probably only do 4-5 days a week right now!) You are inspiring!! <3
Cindy @ This Adventure, Our Life recently posted..Christmas Preview…
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
January 3, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Oh Cindy good for you!! I started off walking – a lot – before i went onto running & 4-5x a week is great!
Thank you so much for helping me keep motivated!! ♥
It’s so refreshing to hear that you’ve adapted the c25k program. I’ve just started it — well, 3 weeks ago and I’m still on week 1
, and part of my problem is adapting it. Hearing how you made it work FOR YOU makes such sense! I’ll be checking back to see how we match up . . . ha! (found you through Hormonal Imbalances)
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Twitter: AccustomedChaos
January 3, 2011 at 8:49 pm
Kim thanks so much for dropping in!! Congrats on starting the C25K program! I am big for listening to your body and as long as you keep doing it – it is worth it!
Would love for you to keep checking in & let me know how you’re doing as well!
Twitter: lifeasaSAHM
January 3, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Lady, I am SO PROUD of you! I did C25K for a whole week and then gave up. I HATED running, and now I think I should have stuck with it. You are inspiration. I love that you modified it to fit you. I think sometimes we forget we can do that and it’s not the end of the world.
Diana @Hormonal Imbalances recently posted..I’m not a better mother than you
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
January 3, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Oh Diana – thank you so much for the sweet words & motivation! If you would like to try running again I would love to support you. & you are so right – often times I feel that if i dont ‘stick to the program’ its not going to work – this time i was not going to let that stop me
If you want to link up – i would love to support you! Tweet #MileMonday or link up here with me !
Good for you! I have always wanted to do this and here I sit! So proud of you. I need to get working out pronto!
Twitter: AccustomedChaos
January 4, 2011 at 9:31 am
Thank you so much Tina! If only we lived closer we could go together!! Im here cheering for you!
I have found that making Mommy Time is essential to my sanity and patience. Getting exercise is how I release stress and without it, I could explode at any point. A side perk is the more I exercised, the more energy I had.
I’d love to do the C25K with you, but I hate running with the fire of a thousand suns.
Now dancing, I could do that forever.
So I’ll cheer you from the sidelines and if you ever need a dance partner, you know who to call.
Keep up the good work!
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Twitter: AccustomedChaos
January 4, 2011 at 9:32 am
I thought i was going to HATE running too – but i am so glad i dont! & i am SO loving the ME time – i am afraid of what will happen if i dont make it work now
Me – not so much a dancer but i will call you when i become one
Thanks for your support Kelly!!
Hi Devan! I found you through Diana (@lifeasasahm) on twitter! I want to start couchto5k and she told me you were doing it!
I love your post! It’s pretty much how I feel too, but I am determined to do it. I’m now following you so I can keep up with your running posts (and blog)! I will start posting sometime soon when I start. =)
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