I did it! After about five months of working toward my goal of running three miles I finally made it the whole distance on Thursday night!
The C25K program is awesome – it does just what it says – enables a couch potato to work up to running a distance of 5K or 3 miles over the course of 9 weeks (obviously it took me longer – I blame the heat). To fully understand how it works check it out HERE.
I started out barely being able to run for 60 seconds. (Yeah, I was that much of a wus.) Halfway through the training when I had worked up to 5 or 10 minutes of running I thought I might die. Then there was the day I had to run 20 minutes non-stop! Yikes! The whole time I kept thinking that there was no way I would ever make it to the full three miles. Then we started running for distance instead of time. Two and a half miles was pure torture. Seriously, I ran 2.5 miles 3 times a week for at least a month and a half before I was able to move on. Slowly but surely I would get a little further each time until one night I could feel that I would make the whole distance and I did! (I am pretty sure that it had a lot to do with the 15 degree drop in temperature that night – I realized that the sometimes over 100 degree temperatures have an extremely negative effect on my energy when running).
I know my runner family and friends may be laughing at me right now but this is a MAJOR accomplishment for me! I am so stinking proud of myself that I reached this goal.
I can not take all the credit…there are several parties I wish to thank. As I mention everyone and everything please enjoy envisioning the spectacle we make as we trot around the neighborhood with this entourage.
Stephen and Boston who, night after night, sat “patiently” in the double jogger. Stephen sweetly says, “Great job running Mommy!” after each run.
Kloie, who usually didn’t stop to bark at other dogs.

My double jogging stroller, pushed by Scott – not me. (It has to weigh at least 100 pounds with both boys in there).

ipod, speakers, Top Gun soundtrack (yeah, we like thumpin’ to the 80s tunes the whole time)

My squirt bottle. I tear up a little when I think of this one - running in upper 90s or sometimes over 100 degree weather is AWFUL – yeah, it is still that hot at 8pm, but little squirt kept me sane.
Most of all Scott! I could have never reached this goal without his support! He went with me faithfully 3 times a week, plodding along at my snails pace and never getting frustrated when I stopped or gave up even though it ruined his work out. I know that he could have run this whole distance no problem the first day we started the program but he stuck with me anyway! I know, I am a lucky woman to have such a great friend and support in my sweet husband. (This is a random picture of him – nothing to do with running).
Where to go from here? Keep on trucking! I want to shave at least two and a half minutes off of my time so that I am running 10 minute miles (I know, not a speed demon) and then in October or November when the weather finally cools off I will run a few 5K races. Just for fun. Ha ha! I love the thought of saying that all casual like, “yeah, I am going to run a 5K this weekend.” It makes me a little giddy. I have become addicted to running in a strange way – I totally hate doing it in the moment – but when I am done the feeling of accomplishment and the general “high” I get is so great! To be honest, the 15 pounds I lost in the process has a lot to do with my love affair with running. This was another goal I was working on so I was doing Weight Watchers too – just counting points, not going to the meetings.
I am still in shock and awe that I was able to complete this program. Seriously, if you are reading this thinking that you could never do it you are so wrong. I was NOT a runner, have never ever been good at it in my life. If I can do it YOU totally can!
P.S. In case you couldn’t tell, these pictures are the genuine article – why did I think taking pictures after the run was a good idea??? Though I must say that even though my shirt is soaked, a good portion of that comes from my spray bottle – not all of it is sweat.