My First Outdoor Run

I was going to the gym Saturday and decided to do my Couch to 5K outside. It was sunny (a little chilly) but I had all my new duds and my new shoes, so I was ready to go!

All I had a goofy ski mask for a stocking cap but I made it work. I had a vest and gloves so I kept pretty warm. I started out with the normal 5 minute warm up walk. The sun felt so good on my face. It felt like early spring. I was a little stiff when I started my run/walk, run/walk, but it got better with each interval. I took in all my surroundings and listened to some great music, which made the time go fast.

When on the treadmill I am forever looking at the time - so just listening for the prompt to "begin running" or "begin walking" made the time seem to go by much faster. I refused to look at the program on my iPhone. The music and scenery helped. My 30 minutes of run/walking, including the 5 minute warm up and 5 minute cool down was just at 2.3 miles. It was was actually a little faster than I do on the treadmill, but I also increased the running time this week, so that probably had something to do with it.

I was on a roll, so I walked another mile - just because. It was a great experience and I plan to put in some outdoor time this week because the forecast looks great. I liked being at the park. It felt like there was a degree of "control", which I liked. 3 times around the park was a little over 3 miles.

My shin hurt when I first started and actually, by the time I finished the pain was gone. I felt GREAT!!! I just had to take the (very unflattering) photo of myself so you could see how elated I was! Goal accomplished.

That's all for now - nothing too clever, funny or exciting. Just the facts.

xxoo

Mama Got a New Pair of Shoes (and a few incidentals)

I love to go shopping! I even like to shop at the grocery store! I know, I'm weird. So when it was suggested I get a new pair of running shoes for my Couch to 5K thingy, I was all over it! You don't have to tell this girl twice to shop for shoes!

I waited 2 weeks because I wanted to make sure that I was committed and that I bought the right shoe at a running store. I haven't had much time to get out to the west end of town, but yesterday while I was working in Rockford, I noticed that there was a specialty running shoe store about 5 blocks from the location I was working at. How convenient!!!

So after my meeting, I went and began the process of finding just the right shoe. The sales person was very knowledgeable. I told him I was a new runner and that I was doing the couch to 5K thing. I told him about my car accident and the issues I have with my back, knee and shin on the right side. He asked me to walk across the room and he told me that when I walked my feet turned in a bit. Then he brought me 4 pairs of shoes. 1 Nike, 1 New Balance, 1 Sauceny, and 1 Brooks. I tried them on and they all felt pretty much the same. I tried the Brooks on last and they fit like a glove. (I had never heard of Brooks) I tried the New Balance and the Brooks on together (the New Balance was a closeout model and a little cheaper) and felt pretty confident that the Brooks felt best, so I bought the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12.

I was so excited I just had to do some more shopping! I found a Marshall's and bought ear buds, new socks and 4 pieces of running attire. I was elated!!!

I remembered someone saying to buy your shoes 1/2 size bigger than dress shoes. I hadn't checked the shoe size before my purchase and realized before I started my run this morning that I came home with a size 8. I just assumed the knowledgeable fellow at the shoe store had me try on 8 1/2 because I told him I normally wore a size 8. They felt fine when I ran - but I just keep thinking I should have gotten an 8 1/2. I checked the Brooks website and sure enough - they recommend buying 1/2 to 1 size larger. The shoe store in Rockford didn't open until 11:00 and I was due back at the office at 1:00. I'm feeling pretty stupid bout now.

I called the nice young fellow and asked him about the size. He said he remembered me and felt like when he checked my toe that it felt like it was right. He said he was pretty good at sizing, but I could detect a faint "oops" in his voice. I admit - the shoe feels fine - but there is not a whole lot of "wiggle room".

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. This is going to bug the crap out of me!!! Darn! I wish I would have taken the time to check.

PS - Don't tell my husband I bought the new duds. He was fine with the shoes - but I don't want to push it!!!

PSS - What else do I need to buy?????

My Couch to 5K Journey by KCarver

Hi. I'm Kim Carver. I'm not necessarily fat - but I ain't skinny neither. Most of my life I was petite, small framed, and average. I was never athletic; I never played any sports. My brothers were the only ones who played sports. And not "girly" sports" like soccer, as my dad would say. Just good ole fashioned baseball, football and basketball. God forbid, any of us girls would participate in a sport!

First of all, there were no "girl sports" in my day. Second, no one would be there to watch or cheer us on. In my day, girls only took gymnastics or dance, neither of which my family could afford. My parents barely went to my brothers games - it was the era when you rode your bike to the baseball diamond and back home again. Games and practices both. Parents weren't INVOLVED. If you wanted to do something, then you had to initiate it. Out of 4 girls and 2 boys in my family - only the boys played sports. Two of my sisters were cheerleaders. They learned all their cartwheels and such out on the front lawn with neighbors. Not me.

It's not that I didn't WANT to be athletic. I really did. I just wasn't coordinated. At all. I did, however, have an interest in being fit. Vanity, of course. Back in the day, I had the Jane Fonda Workout Book and CD tape, to boot. I joined Silhouette (now Fit Club) and even had a leotard and leg warmers. I breezed in. I breezed out. I did not do any aerobics. I tried; however, I was always going one way while the rest of the class went the other (embarrassing!) I was intimidated. I would do the machines-whatever they were at the time, equivalent to about 15-20 minutes tops! Never broke a sweat. Felt good about "getting in shape". Stayed at about 115lbs.

Had two more children - stayed relatively fit - worked out some - never committed to routine or life style change. NEVER changed my diet. The more I worked out - the more I figured I could eat. So, naturally, I gained weight. But here's the deal. I was like the opposite of an anorexic girl. They look in the mirror and see a distorted image of themselves and say "OMG, I am so FAT!" I looked in the mirror and said "OMG, I look GREAT!" In reality, I was getting bigger and more out of shape than ever!!! Denial, denial, denial.

There is one sport that has always piqued my interest - although my dad would never call it a "sport". Running. I wanted to be a runner. I wanted to wear the shoes and get a "runners high". It is a sport that "they say" anyone can do. This year I decided I was really going to do it. I was challenging myself. Not only to exercise - but to eat right. And run.

I have watched Shane and Tammy over the last few years, along with some other friends, transform themselves through running. They seem happy. They are motivated. They have set goals and you can tell that they feel good when they achieve those goals. They are disciplined - which is a huge factor in any goal setting. I have to say I am impressed. More than that - they make me want to be a runner. They make me believe that I CAN be a runner. They inspire me and give me the incentive to "go for it!"

I have set several goals for myself in the next 90 days, one of which is running a 5K. Or at least being physically able to run a 5K. I downloaded the FREE Couch to 5K app and have been faithful to do it, even the day my shin hurt like crazy. I am doing some strength training and exercises that my physical therapist gave me to strengthen my back. I really WANT this and am willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.

So, I said all that to say this. I am doing the Couch to 5K and will be "blogging". I am not a great writer - but I am committed. I know that once I "put it out there" I am even more apt to accomplish my goals. I now have accountability. Currently, I am on week 2, day 2, so I will post again and give a synopsis of my first 2 weeks. Today, I just wanted to tell you a little about myself and why I want to be a runner. From here on out I will post regularly to let you know how I'm doing. Why don't you join me? It will be FUN!!!!