Stephanie's Training - Week 1

Stephanie's 5K Journey:

My first thought on the way out the door to my first training was “What. Am. I. thinking? My body doesn’t run…..never has….doesn’t like it! I’m 35 for Pete’s sake…..it’s going to HURT!” Five seconds later, I’m thinking, “Suck it up! Let’s do this!” Yes, running is a mind game…..for me anyways.

This all began for me a year ago this summer. I was working as a personal aide for a student in 3rd grade. During my time there I really got to know the teacher, Megan Witte. To make a long story short, she set forth a goal to run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in St. Louis in honor of her mother. Well, the incentive and push to reach that goal for Megan was set by my daughters fundraising for Megan’s cause. So June of ’09, my husband, my two daughters, myself and my sister, Heather, headed out to cheer Megan on and support, not only her, but the thousands of others there in support of breast cancer awareness. I have to say, it was one of the most inspiring, heartfelt, impacting times of my life.

So here we are a year later, and Megan approaches me that, “…hey, there is another 5K run this summer for Susan G. Komen…….it’s the first Mid-Missouri race held in Columbia………I think I’m going to do it, want to run it with me?” What!? Did I hear her right!? I joked around about it for a couple of weeks, but after talking to her some more, I knew! This was a way for me to make a difference…..to be there for her….to set an example for my girls…..to honor my aunt (a survivor!)…..to set (and accomplish!) a goal……to “step out of my boat”! So, I said, “Yes!” In the meantime I mentioned it to my sister, who accompanied us last year, and she said, “Yes!” Now after a week of training, I think we’re both questioning if we will survive the next few monthsJ

Training Day #1:

I have the incentive and luxury of training with Megan. If she were not running/walking beside me……well, my butt would be doing a whole lot of walking and laughing at the idea of running. It also makes it hard not having my sister to train with also; but, we’re hoping this blog will help keep us both motivated!!

We begin our training with weights. Since Megan has trained for a 5K before, I’m leaving it up to her to tell me what to do. We spend a half hour bouncing back and forth between weight machines, mostly focusing on our legs. I never keep track of reps……I’m too busy talking…….helps the time go by faster. With this being the first day, I had the worst built up in my head. “I’m going to collapse on the treadmill, I just know it!”

After our half hour of weights, it’s off to the treadmill. (Now, I don’t have such a dislike for these machines as my sister does.) Megan advises a ‘warm up walk’ for 5 minutes and then we’re off to walking for 90 seconds then running for 60 for a total time of 30 minutes. “I can handle that!”

At the end of the 30 minutes, almost 200 calories burned, and just a little over 2 miles walked/ran, I was breathing pretty hard, but, to my surprise, I didn’t fall off and collapse!! Woo Hoo! Yes, I know, it’s the first day! I have to say, I feel really good and thought, “This isn’t that bad.”

Training Day #2:

YES, IT IS THAT BAD! That freakin’ treadmill KICKED MY BUTT! I think it had it in for me………really!

My muscles decided to retaliate against me for being so lazy the past few months. I really thought “knee-replacement” was in my future. I struggled through Day 2, but in the end……..well, I was done. Now home to sit and sit some more. Sitting. That’s right: on my butt, sitting.

Training Day #3:

Off to the gym again. Not so motivated today. Still REALLY sore from two days of this. (Looking forward to ice cream later. At least I’m eating it LATER. Wink! Wink! To Heather and Megan……Butterfinger…)

I really didn’t like running today. I had some allergies going on today and my left ear seemed “full”. Well, let’s just say that totally jacked up my breathing. I really felt like I couldn’t breathe deeply, so I kept breathing quickly in and out of my mouth. That was bad. I focused more on that stupid ear, which made me focus on how I needed an inhaler to survive the next 30 minutes………