Moving on to Plan B

After everyone was healthy (or close enough) I jumped back on the wagon.  I had lost nearly two weeks off my master plan.  The irony of a roadblock so early in my training program was not lost on me.  I took it very seriously that I was going to have to commit to my plan, overcome the obstacles, and fight for this goal.  So, I started Week One over.  I shifted all of the rows on my spreadsheet down, shaved off a few of my repeat training weeks, and thanked God that I had enough time to do this training slowly and safely.  My spreadsheet had 8 weeks of "training to run 30 minutes", 8 weeks of "training for a 5K", an extra 4-5 weeks of that regimen, 8 weeks of "training for a 10K" with a few weeks of that repeated at the end.  So, I lopped off a couple of weeks from the extra 5K training.

Week One felt good.  After day 2 I was thinking that I could jump ahead to Week Two.  Wise husband again suggested sticking with the original plan.  By the end of Week One I decided that a slow start is what I should do to avoid injury or frustration.

Week Two came along and I decided that adding a minute to each of my run/walk intervals was actually a lot.  My joints complained a bit, I watched the time a lot, and I started thinking that next week's addition of two minutes per interval was too much.  So, I modified the schedule again.  I upped my run time for each interval by one minute, instead of two, and readjusted the spare weeks in between.  It felt like the right thing to do for me.

But by day three of that week I was able to stop looking at my watch and more instinctively knew when my interval was over.  I was eager to do more.

The best laid plans part two...

The night of my first training day our youngest got sick with a fever.  So, Tuesday would have been day 2 of 4 for the week, but with her home sick (and no one to watch her) and a super busy after school schedule with our other two kids I figured it can be a rest day.  Which my joints probably needed it more than I wanted to admit.

Wednesdays I play tennis for an hour, so that was counting towards training.  Thursday, Saturday, Sunday would be my other training days.  Still a plan.  Need to run 3-4 times per week to stay on target.

By Tuesday night I knew she wasn't going back to school as she still had a high fever.  So, now tennis was out for training on Wednesday.  Shift the plan.  I figured I could get a run in as soon as my oldest got home from school.  I would swap one of the weekend days for a run Wednesday.  Back on track (no pun intended).

It never happened.  I got a fever Wednesday afternoon which turned out to be strep.  I was out the whole next week recovering and my elaborate spreadsheet with run days & dates scheduled through November was all off kilter.  Much like me.

The best laid plans...

The next day the kids were off of school and I went on my first walk/run training session.  Walk 5 minutes, run 2 minutes, repeat twice, walk 5 minutes.  I popped in one ear bud (left the other one out so I could hear cars or the axe murderer who might be chasing me down the street) and headed out in our neighborhood.  I was a little scared, a little excited, and a little self-conscious.

Will my knees and ankles handle this new endeavor?  I play tennis once a week but that is not quite the same.

Will I look like I'm actually running or will it look like I'm barely moving?  *There is a woman I see at our public pool every summer who does laps during adult swim.  Her arms and legs move, but she doesn't really seem to make any progress across the pool--it is almost like she is swimming in place or going backwards.  So, it is a fear based in reality, I promise.

The first two minute runs feel long, my shins protest a little, but I do it.  During the walk interval everything loosens back up.  I'm re-energized.  The next two intervals go by so fast and I'm at the last walking interval.  I come home, stretch, drink some water... and realize I'm on my way to being a runner.

I start thinking that maybe I could do more than just two minutes for the run intervals.  Husband cautions me to just stick with the schedule for a while.  Smart man.

The Planning

The day after we got home from vacation I researched training schedules for beginners.  Walk/Run intervals to run for 30 minutes.  Training for a 5K and then training to run a 10k, which would be about the length of my relay leg.  I spent a long time creating a spreadsheet with a plan for achieving this goal--and in all fairness, I'm a little OCD and love a list/spreadsheet/elaborate calendar schedule.  I'm a planner.  Starting February 20 and ending November 10th I had plenty of time to train.  It was a realistic, not too rigorous for my 41 year old self, and completely doable training program.  I was nearly giddy with the realization that I could really, really become a runner!!

I stretched out the intervals to get to "running for 30 minutes" just to be a little gentle.  Then I added extra repeat weeks to both the 5K and 10K 8 week training schedules.  I'm guessing at some point there will be an injury/setback/hang nail and I will need some extra time to make it all work.

So, with a little more than 8 months to train--I declared to myself that I was ready.  Husband and I went out to buy real running shoes ("you're not buying those cheap shoes you find at TJMaxx for this; you need real shoes even if they are more than $100" my husband declared--and they were).  And I was set!

Gaining momentum!

I was surprised to see that I hadn't posted since the beginning of February.  I had so many posting ideas and thoughts that I honestly thought I'd already shared them.  The month was a blur filled with all sorts of bumps in the road.

My husband gave me an early Valentine's Day present of a GPS watch for my training.  It was such a sweet gesture in so many ways.  It was a lovely affirmation of his support for my adventure of becoming a runner, but also showed me that he thinks that I can really do this.  I don't feel like I need someone else to tell me if I can do something, but it feels really good when someone you love, who is your best friend, who has known me for 20+ years believes I can do it too.

We spent Valentine's week in Disney World as a family.  It is like a family reunion and a trip back to the home you grew up in all at the same time.  We see familiar  scenes, visit beloved characters, reminisce about that last time we were there and just huddle in as a family.  How could I not run at the happiest place on earth??  We started counting down the days until registration opened for the Wine & Dine Run.

the long and winding road...

It feels funny to talk about this now.  It makes me think that if my parents read this they will think they should’ve done something differently.  They were in tennis leagues and active.  They certainly supported and encouraged us in any pursuits we wanted.  I grew up playing sports.  I started tennis when I was 5, swimming around the same time.  There was t-ball & softball, synchronized swimming (water ballet back then), volleyball, a little bit of ballet here and there, ice skating & lots of bike riding all before high school.  So it isn’t like I never did sporty, athlete things, but I never was a runner.  

In college I had a few half-hearted attempts at a run through campus, but there were far too many distractions to really focus.  Just a brief flash between classes, parties, falling in love and finding my way. It has always been pretty easy to not be a runner.    And once I graduated, got married and starting working it never really entered my mind.

The happiest place on earth...

I’ve had romantic daydreams of being a runner.  I’d just slip on some great shoes, whip my hair into a bouncy ponytail and chirp “I’m heading out for a run!” while jogging off into the sunshine and gentle breezes.  It’s all very Dove soap commercial-like.  With a splash of Nike “Just Do It” from the 90‘s.  But today it is serious.  Very Serious.  My husband who has been a runner on and off has been back on running for the past few years.    And, after toying with the idea of a Disney half-marathon for the past two years he has thrown down the gauntlet and is going to do it.  This November.  At the Food & Wine Festival.  

As soon as he said it, I asked if he was going solo or if we were going as a family.  And he said “either” and I decided I’m going with him... and we’ll leave the kids at home.  They won’t appreciate the food & wine anyway.  And what if I were a runner too?  This is my chance.  If they came I’d have to stay with them while he raced--this is his dream after all.  But, what if I were a runner too.  And I got a medal and crossed the finish line and accomplished something BIG.  And scary.

I have until March to decide if I can do it with a relay partner.  Half of a half.  I think I might be crazy... or maybe I'm a runner.