I’ve never been a runner.  Case in point: I was a goalie when I played lacrosse in high school, just so I wasn’t expected to run fast.  Last year though, I wanted to get into better shape and be able to run.  So I decided to do the Couch-to-5K running plan.  Basically, this is a free running plan that you follow online, and you are supposed to commit 3 days a week to it.  At first, you start by running a minute at a time, followed by 90 seconds of walking.  Easy right?

As each week goes by, you slowly begin to build up your time.  You continue to run/walk/run/walk, each time increasing your running distance. By the end of 8 weeks, you’ll be able to run a 5K.  Truth be told, I never completed the 5K – I went on vacation midway through, and started doing other machines at the gym, rather than a treadmill.  However, the few weeks that I was on it, I will be the first to admit that I did notice a difference.  I, the girl who could not run, was able to run more and more each week.  As a result, one day in Central Park last year I was able to run two miles without stopping. Folks, this has never happened to me before in my life.  Sometimes when I was annoyed by a day at work, the only thing that would make me feel better is a run to clear my head.  Let me stress – I’m the type of person to drink my feelings, NOT exercise them. I was a brand new woman.

I wish I was able to have made it to running the full three miles – or the 5K – but I never got that far and became out of shape by the time I wanted to start back up a few months later. While at this time I’m not following the Couch-to-5K precisely, I am following the model, adding 30 seconds more to each set I run each day.  So one day I will run 3 minute sets, the next day 3.5 minute sets, and so on.

If you are not a runner, consider trying the Couch-to-5K.  Each time you run there is a gradual increase in your running distance, so you don’t notice it too much and forget that you are putting in just a little more effort.  If you have a smart phone, consider downloading the Get Running app ($2.99), which is basically the Couch-to-5K program simplified. You start it up when you start your run and the cut into your music to let you know when it’s time to run or walk, and they automatically keep track of which day of the program you’re on.

If I were to start the program all over again, I’d consider scheduling a race at the end. I think it’ll give you that much more motivation.