Cool Runnings

Last fall, LegoMan's swim team practice increased from three to five nights a week! Instead of my usual sitting around and watching practice, I decided to take advantage of this hour and half to get back into a regular exercise program.

For the last SEVERAL years, I had become quite complacent with my couch potato lifestyle. I get up before crack of dawn for work and after work involves supervising homework, keeping up with the never ending laundry and housework. I was certainly not going to get up at 4AM to exercise and at the end of the day I was just TOO tired.


I began walking a couple miles while LegoMan swam and at some point in the process I lost my mind. I downloaded the Couch to 5K app on my phone. This is a 3 day a week, 9-week program that takes you from being fat and happy on the couch to running a 5K.

Seriously.

Little known fact, if you actually finish the program you receive a lifetime membership to the Funny Farm!

Along with a friend, we started the program.....we finished the program. I went from barely being able to run 60 seconds in week one, to running 28 minutes NON-STOP in week 9. I won't lie, it was hard. There were times when I wanted to stop and walk, I didn't. I let my determination win. I am proud.

In November, we entered our first race. It was just 2 miles, but we ran the WHOLE way.

BEFORE:

(don't kill me Carol)


AFTER:

NOTICE: I am still upright and no oxygen was necessary

Our next goal is to run our first 5K in February and then a insane long-term goal is to do the Princess Half Marathon in February 2012 complete with a tu-tu and tiara. For real. (Teresa, stop laughing. I.Am.Serious.)


*Insert recent MRI results and talk with neurosurgeon*


My running days just got started last fall and now they are over. I'm not exactly sad about it. I never really loved it, I did it because I was insane trying something new. Besides, I think I'm the only person in American who can start a running program, continue it and gain 3 pounds in the process. I know, I know....."it's probably just muscle". Whatever.


I was really bummed that I would not get to do the Princess Half Marathon. You see, I had competely embraced the idea that my insanity would carry me 13.1 miles through Disney World, all while sporting a tu-tu and tiara (again, Teresa, stop it). This weekend I found out it IS actually possible to walk the course and I even found a training program for walking a half marathon. So, the Disney dream is still alive and I've got a year to get ready.


The last couple weeks I have had to rest and regroup. This week I plan to restart slowly with LOW-IMPACT exercises ONLY. Oh, I can't leave out the Pilates to strengthen my core muscles. That should be highly entertaining for all involved.

Stay tuned.....