Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Defying Gravity



This song is my new mantra.

A Funny thing happened on the way to my friend Karin's house last week. She had written on my FB page that if I wanted some company on a walk, she'd love to go a couple times a week. She was going to have a couple gals over to her place last Thursday to do it. I thought, sure, ok. I've stalled out on our MOPS group's Biggest Loser contest, after 14 pounds, I just couldn't lick that stupid 15th pound, and I was the bloat princess for drowning my sorrows in carby goodness. Walking regularly might be just the jump start I needed.

I went to Karin's and there were a couple gals there I didn't know, all dressed to Run. Yes. Run. Ipods, stretchy shorts and little tops. Oh yeah. Not frump goddesses like me, these gals were ready to run.

Only I don't run. I have said for decades my body is not built to run. My boobs are too big, we joke if I run, I'll end up with two black eyes. Plus, the actual jiggling....hurts. Gravity literally drags me down. So ever since puberty, running has not been the sport for me.

Then again, I don't really have a sport.

I asked Karin for the scoop, and apparently we were starting the C25K (From Couch to 5K plan) from nonrunner to runner in 8 weeks. And here's the kicker, when I tried to balk, she asked if I'd ever run. No. Well then you can't say you can't do it if you've never tried. Stick with it for the 8 weeks, and she swears we'll see a change.

OK. I'm no quitter. So I tried. I can do anything once.

Only it seems I didn't suck at it.

I didn't pass out. I didn't die. Felt like I might there for a while, but I didn't.

I was Woman. Hear me roar!



Karin has this bloggy mantra of her one, Sweat once a day. Check us out 3.12 miles with a warmup walk of 5 minutes, then alternating running 60 seconds and walking 90 seconds. Oh yeah, we sweat. Sweated? Whatever, we were dripping.



I must confess I was really surprised I didn't die. The next day I was not flat on my back all day. I was having a little trouble walking. I'd been cooking all day Thursday and Friday, I think the hardwoods disagree with my heels. So my feet hurt more than anything. But I hopped on the scale Friday morning (weigh in day for Biggest Loser) and I was down 2 pounds. In one day. Really? Maybe there's something to this running insanity.



I returned for more torture on Sunday night, did the same pattern, in 55 minutes, plus to cool down a bit more I walked a little further. 3.25 miles. Not too shabby. I will confess I got a little dizzy at one point, and was worried I might pass out, but everybody slowed WAY DOWN to stay with me, and when I caught my breathe, I found I was able to run again. It's weird.

Really, It is the weirdest thing. I hurt like hell, but it's a non-specified pain, achy, not the specific muscle spasm I'm used to. This I can recover from. And I can still go.

Last night I went back for more. We kicked it up a notch, we did the 5 minute warmup, then ran 90 seconds, and walked 2 minutes. It felt hard, I hurt more when I started than at the end. Weird.



So, I think I'm going to stick with it. "I'm going to Try Defying Gravity."

3 comments:

Tamsin said...

I am so proud of you that I have tears in my eyes! First of all, 14 pounds lost is AWESOME, and then to be running now? You rock! Keep it up, don't quit. I am SO rooting for you!!! You can do this!!!

indyhumes said...

You are so awesome girl! I love you!!

www.allpointswhole.com

Cathy Willman said...

Thanks ladies!