Do not attempt to do what I did last Saturday. I ran in a 5K without training for it. And boy my legs were sore for a couple of days. I knew it was going to happen. I just wanted to see where my fitness level was.
I recommend starting out slowly and easily. Start out by walking. Walk only as far as you can comfortably walk. Do this 3 or 4 times a week. Gradually lengthen the distance or time you walk. Once you have a comfortable routine, either speed up your pace or take running breaks in your walk.
Gradually and with little effort, you can get fit and feel better.
If you would like to start a walking or running program, please contact me and I will guide you through it.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Saturday, August 01, 2009
5K Completed
It was foggy, relatively cool in Harrisville, West Virginia this morning. I got up, got dressed, walked to the registration table and put my 12 dollars down along with my registration form.
My shoulder still hurts. There are a lot of younger, fitter runners here. Heck, there are a lot of older fitter runners here. My shoulder hurts more. What am I doing here?
The race event staff is good, and friendly. Every question I have is answered. I warm up a little. I go to the bathroom. No port-a-potties here, we get to use real bathrooms in the basement of the Ritchie County Courthouse.
At 7:50, there is a brief welcoming announcement. Most of the people in Harrisville are still asleep. Then it is a half a block walk to the starting line.
The horn goes off, and I am dodging walkers and slower (yes there were some of those) runners up to the first turn.
I settle in to a nice, slow pace. At about 3/4 of a mile, I look over at a yard on my right and there is a turtle on it's back. I figure since I am not blazing the course, I need to help the turtle. I stop, walk two steps into the yard, gently flip the turtle right side up and continue.
At each of the three waterstops, I walk, drink, and thank the volunteers.
By the third mile we are back to Main Street. My legs are more rubbery than I remember them getting. My breathing is loud - at least to me. But there is a smile on my face. I have nothing left for a kick, and I don't care that I get passed in the last hundred yards. I did it!
Yes, my calves are stiff. Yes, my right hip aches a little. But it was worth it. Hey, I even won a door prize. So with the T-shirt, and the door prize, I actually came out ahead. And I feel better.
If I find the race results, I will either post them or put up a link.
My shoulder still hurts. There are a lot of younger, fitter runners here. Heck, there are a lot of older fitter runners here. My shoulder hurts more. What am I doing here?
The race event staff is good, and friendly. Every question I have is answered. I warm up a little. I go to the bathroom. No port-a-potties here, we get to use real bathrooms in the basement of the Ritchie County Courthouse.
At 7:50, there is a brief welcoming announcement. Most of the people in Harrisville are still asleep. Then it is a half a block walk to the starting line.
The horn goes off, and I am dodging walkers and slower (yes there were some of those) runners up to the first turn.
I settle in to a nice, slow pace. At about 3/4 of a mile, I look over at a yard on my right and there is a turtle on it's back. I figure since I am not blazing the course, I need to help the turtle. I stop, walk two steps into the yard, gently flip the turtle right side up and continue.
At each of the three waterstops, I walk, drink, and thank the volunteers.
By the third mile we are back to Main Street. My legs are more rubbery than I remember them getting. My breathing is loud - at least to me. But there is a smile on my face. I have nothing left for a kick, and I don't care that I get passed in the last hundred yards. I did it!
Yes, my calves are stiff. Yes, my right hip aches a little. But it was worth it. Hey, I even won a door prize. So with the T-shirt, and the door prize, I actually came out ahead. And I feel better.
If I find the race results, I will either post them or put up a link.
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