Run run run run run away

I am pleased to say that I am now four weeeks into consistently going out for runs. Back in high school I used to do long distance running – it came pretty easily to me and I had a couple of chances to do some cross country running through school. If I had trained I would have done a lot better. I think you would have to be some kind of freak to be able to run about six kilometres without any training at all.

Fast forward ten or so years and I played netball. While it wasn’t long distance running it involved a lot of running around a netball court. However, my knees didn’t like netball and I was always conscious of the knee injury I had in  my last year of high school.

More recently I’ve maintained that I wouldn’t be able to run because of my knees hurting. After all it hurt to walk up and down stairs so there’s no way I could run. However, I”ve been taking a combination of fish oil and glucosamine and that seems to have really helped my sore knees.

And even more recently a friend I’ve made via Twitter and have met in person inspired me to start running. After all, she said, If I can do it anyone can. I also decided that I needed to get fitter and I could do with losing a bit of weight so I started running too.

I downloaded the Get Running app on my iPhone which coaches you to get up off the couch and eventually you’ll run for 5km.

The coach, Clare, has a lovely encouraging voice and you really do ease your way into it. For the first week you run for one minute then walk for one minute and do this eight times. Throughout this there are prompts that you’ve only got 30 seconds to go, you’ve only got four more runs etc etc.

The first week or so I was really puffed after the running and needed every second of that minute to recover for the next one, but I did it. Now, in week 4, I run for 3 minutes, walk, then run for 5 minutes and repeat this once. I ran this morning and I realised that the running is definitely getting a lot easier. And the recovery time between runs is also happening a lot faster.

I’ve mainly been running around the local oval on the grass which is kinder on my joints. It also means I can take my dog and my son and they do their own thing while I’m doing laps around the oval. As there’s sport there on a Saturday morning my son goes on his bike along the local bike track while I run. Unfortunately we have to leave Monty home on this one because I know that her running and walking for nearly 4kms would be too hard.

I also use the Runkeeper app in conjunction with the Get Running app. Runkeeper tracks the distance, the pace, and the location of your runs and an app I’ll keep using once I complete the nine week Get Running program.

I’ve invested in a good pair of running shoes and bought a Spibelt to keep my phone and keys in while I run.

I’m already thinking ahead to joining a local running group so I’m trying to get my son to run with me so he can join too otherwise I don’t know what I’ll do with him.

You know how when you start an activitiy, or you’re looking for a new particular type of car you start noticing lots about that particular activity, or type of car?

For me since I’ve started running, it’s been the New York marathon. I read about Heather Armstrong completing it, and a  Twitter acquaintance did it this year too. I know this year’s marathon only happened recently but it’s really entered into my consicousness lately. The other night on television there was a program called Running to America about a group of four indigenous Australians training to and running the New York marathon. It was really inspiring and I thought – one day maybe I could do that!

Do you want to know the other great thing about running? All other thoughts of what’s happening in your life are cast aside and that can be a really good thing.