Three Years

Three years ago today, I went for my first run.

I’d lost about 100 pounds at the time (all without exercising…counting calories worked very well for me) and, according to my doctor, needed to get active if I wanted to keep it off…this time. “Find something you will enjoy,” she said.

Being basically lazy (ok, i am generally lazy) and not having a desire to do the gym thing, I didn’t know what to select that would last.

On my commute one day, I saw a 2011 Silicon Valley Turkey Trot billboard and thought, “Hmmmm, maybe I’ll run.”  [wow, that sounds almost Forest Gump-ish…]

So, I downloaded the Couch -to-5K app, bought some running shoes, and started.

Day One Workout:

• 1.53 miles, “jogging/walking” at a 14:52 min/mile pace – for a total of 25 minutes.

I don’t recall how I specifically felt after that workout; but, as a life-long (at least that far) couch potato, I bet I was winded, tired, and probably wondering simultaneously: “what am I getting myself into?”, “how long will this last?”, and “Hey, I might be able to do this!”

So, I kept going.

I finished or “graduated” from the C25K program and I ran my first 5K…

…and have NOT looked back, checking the 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon, and 50K boxes off progressively over the past three years – with a total of 5,347 miles logged along the way.

Fast forward to today’s training run:

• 10 miler at an 8:35 min/mile pace, for a total time of 1:27:35.

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Three years ago today, I went for my first run.

Dr. Chang, I think I found something I like…