In the interest of skinny jeans...

I am not sure how it happened, or from where the idea originated. Certainly, it could not have been my own doing. A month or so ago, I was trolling the LBT board in the exercise section and came across this catchy title: Couch to 5K.

Couch to 5K? How could a girl not look into the possibility of sitting on the couch and making 5 thousand dollars? I just couldn't understand why such a surefire scheme to fatten my pockets would be found under the exercise section?

Then I read on.

5K was not five thousand dollars but short for 5 Kilometers, 3 miles for us non metric user friendly individuals. I said what I always said when confronted with the notion of running/jogging. Why in the world would I run unless I was being chased by something evil and ugly? Even then, the thought of running perplexed me. I was convinced that, unless the person chasing me had a weapon, we could talk it out and come to some conclusion that would not lead to bodily injury, and more importantly, would allow my feet to stay firmly on the ground or at least move at a leisurely pace.

So imagine my surprise when I got this crazy notion to read more about this Couch to 5K endeavor. I scanned the nine week program. It is designed to be done three times a week using a combination of walking and running in 60 second intervals, then increasing to 90 second intervals, etc.

I found every excuse to put off starting this program. I had to charge up my Ipod and make sure I had music. I had to have the "right" kind of music, therefore, I dug into my old cd collection and loaded them onto my new fangled device. Then, I had to buy a sports bra (this truly is a necessity) however, I could never remember to get one when I did venture to the Evil Empire or the Mart of K. What about my shoes? They were from Target and not that comfortable, would I be able to run in them?

The truth is, I needed motivation and it couldn't come from anyone else except me. One of the lessons I am learning in this journey of healthiness and weight loss is I am truly the master of my own fate. I am the one who controls the numbers on the scale and how they fall. There is no magic person inside the digital read out that decides to make me happy or sad as I place my size 8 1/2 feet on the shiny silver surface. I decided to stop making excuses.

I loaded up my Ipod, found an old sports bra that I had abandoned long ago because it not longer fit. The funny thing is, when you lose 32lbs, the clothing that was too tight starts to fit, or was too big. It happens with sports bras, too. I strapped up my $20.00 sneakers and went on my way.

Tim and the babies accompanied me on my first trip. I requested they come for two reasons.

One: to hold me accountable and make sure I went through with it.
Two: To dial "the 911" if I fell out!

The good news is, I made it. I walked/ran for a total of 20 minutes. I didn't cheat. I did what I was supposed to do. And I have done it since. My distance and endurance is getting better each time I go to the wild life preserve. The other day I went farther than I ever had before, and with each bead of sweat that pops onto my forehead and runs down my back, something miraculous happens.

I am happy. Happy that I have two legs to run, that I have eyes to see the Egrets and bunnies that hop along the path. During my walk/run time its just me, the beautiful scenery, my ipod and the gravel beneath my feet.

I always thought of running as a chore. I am pleasantly surprised that it not only makes me happy, but capable, competent and strong.

No cookie, brownie, or bowl full of buttery mashed potatoes has ever made me feel like that.

I am on my second/third week of the program and am aiming towards a 5K race in September or October. I am not looking to win the race, just to finish. Even if I am last, that is ok with me. I am not competing against anyone other than the person wearing my ipod and my sneakers.

Maybe in a year or so I will be able to consider myself a "runner". And to think, I won't be running from anyone, and the only thing I will be negotiating is how much farther until I reach the finish line that has been designated by me.

Until the next time,
Your Recovering Fat Girl
Mikki