Running for 5k

I never thought I would be a runner.  When you think "runner" you probably think of some tall, elegantly slim person out running at the crack of dawn, decked out in technical gear and water bottles.

Yeah, that ain't me.

My desire to run came after 40, when I was trying to keep up with my twins.  Kids are fast! And twins - one would run one way and the other always ran the opposite direction!  One day at the playground, I just started jogging,  It didn't kill me. So, I decided to try.

I used a Couch to 5k program through Britain's National Health Service; it was a free podcast, and I didn't want to spend any money until I figured I could really do it.  I took it at my own speed.  When I missed time due to illness or busy-ness, I went back to the previous step rather than try to push forward.  If a week's new step felt hard, I would repeat the step from the week before.  I did not stress when it took longer than 10 weeks, because it was the goal of running that was important, not running by X date.

My biggest disappointment came when I finished the program and was running 30 minutes, but was no where near 3 miles.  I think I was at 2 miles.  I'm rather short, so have short strides, but am also slow.  (Other runners would blast past me, and I would get demoralized - why can't I run faster?)

For a while, it was okay. I did my 30 minute, 2 mile ru and that was fine.  I enjoyed it!  Running was a way to enjoy being outside and have some time to myself without distraction.  The kids were sent off to preschool and I would head out to a park for a run, 2 or 3 times a week.

But not hitting 5k bothered me.

After a long while, a year of running, I finally plotted out a 5k course at the park.  The kids started kindergarten, so I had the time,  I found Pandora's "Running" station on my phone.  And I did it.  I was still very slow but had reached my distance goal!

Then, my sister - a total Disney-phile - came up with the crazy idea to do a RunDisney 5k.  So, we are doing it in April, which gives me time to work on speed.  Most Disney runs have a 15 min/mile minimum, and I can reach that.  RunDisney races are a lot of fun - Elsa makes it snow on you, Storm Troopers chase you, you take your picture with Mickey halfway - so much of an experience!

I've done quite a bit of reading to see if I can improve my speed, and came across the running term "Fartlek".  It is supposed to be a more playful way to increase your running. Am I doing it exactly right? Probably not, but in my own way. For me, fartleks are sprints.  I have a section of the park where I run that is flat and about 300 feet.  I sprint as fast as I can for those 300 feet, walk back to the start and do it again.  I am up to 6 sprints.

My current running routine is on Monday, I do a distance run, 3+ miles. Wednesday, I run 1 mile, do my "fartleks"and then run 1 more mile. On Friday, I go back to my NHS Couch to 5k, and instead of walk/run, I do "run my normal pace" and "run faster".

I must be doing something right. Not only has my time gone down a little, I'm getting "the nod" from other runners.  I will never be one of those crack of dawn, elegant creatures, but this lumbering elephant slog is enough for me!