Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Run, Stephie, Run!

In January, I started a new commitment to fitness.  I realized that all my diets (a decade worth of them) had always focused on the diet.  Diet's the wrong word, to be honest.  I changed my eating, practically starving myself, desperate for the first cookie I saw.  My diets were always a sham.  And I never lost that much, since I just took in fewer calories and continued to live my mostly sedentary lifestyle of writing and watching TV.  No bueno.

Two years ago, Mike got up and started moving.  He watched what he ate, adding fiber here and there, cutting down portion sizes, making healthier choices.  But the biggest change he made was a frequent gym habit.  Mike made friends with the elliptical machine, started running on the treadmill, took the bike out for 20+ mile rides when the weather was nice.  He got his butt in gear and he dropped 60 pounds that he's maintaining with minimal effort today.  He's probably cut his risk for heart disease and diabetes in half and added 20 years to his life.  Also, he looks pretty damn good in a pair of jeans.

I'm pretty jealous.

But I'm also realizing that if he's gonna be around for 20 extra years, I want to be there with him.  I want to run after Ellie without getting winded, not be a huge whale next time I get pregnant, and lead by example to teach my kids a healthy lifestyle.  So I put on my sneakers one random January day and I went to the gym. For real this time.


I started at a slow crawl.  Level 3.0, a 20-minute mile.  I made myself go a minimum of 2.5 miles every day. Again and again and again. Then one day, I decided to jog for a bit.  I've been running/jogging/walking intervals ever since, probably 4 or 5 days a week at the gym.  After a few weeks of this, I realized that I don't hate running as much as I previously thought.  It's true, I used to be one of those people who wouldn't run unless I was being chased. 

But now I'm racing my own records on that treadmill, trying to shave off a few seconds here and there. I'm getting addicted, competing with myself, running for the peace of mind it gives me and the adrenaline rush that happens.  It feels good to get off that damn couch.  And that's why I'm now training to run a 5K (3.1 miles).

Two months ago, it took me 60 minutes to get 3 miles, on a good day.

Today, I ran 3 miles in 41:47.

I'd say I'm making good progress.  And although my first outdoor run with Mike was a pitiful excuse for a "jog," I have hope that I'm going to get better. So stay tuned, because this Mom's taking the show on the road sometime in June.

4 comments:

Nicole Labrecque said...

Thanks for posting this, Steph. I've had my gym membership now since January and yesterday was the first time I went to the gym. I need to find my motivation to get out there and do it, and you doing the same thing is definitely encouraging!

Stephanie said...

WOOOOOo! Let's get hot, sexy running bodies together :) I'll be your motivator if you can be mine too!

Christopher M said...

Love to see this, Steph! I'm psyched for you - keep it up!

Let me know if you ever want to do a race with Ashley and I!

Nicole Labrecque said...

ALRIGHT!!! Sounds like a plan!!

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