So, hey friends. Great to see you again!
Pretty self explanatory - I've started running.
Yep.
I've been very seriously debating beginning a thread about this part of my life for a long time - I didn't want to seem as if I was copying others and their personal journeys, but I also wasn't sure how much dedication I had to running and keeping myself strong, fit and healthy. It's very difficult for me to accept the fact that I am not immediately perfect at everything, and thus I become disheartened quite quickly. Running can take quite a bit of effort, upkeep and pain before it's properly enjoyable, and so I need to keep myself accountable through it.
Dating an avid (and very, very good, although he won't say it) runner for almost a year means that a large chunk of our life together has revolved around training and competing. Almost every weekend means a race or hard run, which I've always been privy to but never done for myself. I'm surrounded by runners and people passionate about running, and I've been a spectator at training and comps for months.
it started out with a kiss how did it end up like this it was only a kiss it was only a kiSS
I've always wanted to be a field hockey player, but due to a few factors, (including my chronic tendinitis), most years of my life have not seen any exercise outside of school sports. I've also been quite sick for more than a year now, clinically depressed and anxious for five years, and I'm tired of it all. I need an outlet. I need to feel included. I need strength. And most importantly, I need consistency.
So what do you know - I started running a couple of weeks ago! It didn't go too well. I got about 200 metres before I lost my breath.
Then I ran again; just a little bit. Just where people can't see me. And I finished at about 400 metres. This time my legs hurt a little bit.
And then Erutepa invited me to run with him on his cool down, and so I did. Adrenaline kicked in and I managed to snail my way through a full kilometre feeling very proud of myself.
And the origin story begins.
AND SOOOOOO so far over the past 2 weeks or so, I've run 3 times per week doing either 1km run/rest or 400m run/200m walk sessions. I also did the Altona Beach Parkrun, which was 5kms, last Saturday and managed to run/walk it in 38 minutes and 48 seconds, which is a fantastic time to improve upon because I cannot possibly do worse next time. My last run was yesterday and I managed 1km run and then fast walk for 500m before another 1km. I did get a cramp which was annoying, but I've definitely improved quite drastically from the first effort 3 weeks ago.
My aim is to eventually be able to run the entire 5kms of a Parkrun; and when I can do that, I'll start on another goal. I want to be able to keep a good pace. I want to be able to feel like what I'm doing is valid. So if I don't update this, please encourage me to. I need it.