My Couch-to-5K Experience
Around January 2021 I realized I wanted to make some changes in my life. My blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar numbers were higher than I wanted them to be. My mood was lower than I wanted it to be. I was staying with my friend Katie in Florida at the time, and she encouraged me to start moving my body. I’ve never been an athlete, so we went slow - a morning walk became laps in the pool became an hour of tennis. By the time I left a few weeks later, I wouldn’t say I was hooked on fitness, but I was definitely fitness curious.
Later, my friend Ben suggested I try the Couch to 5K Runner app (if you’re noticing a theme, yes - it took a village of friends to help get me started on this new endeavor). I downloaded the app ($10 for permanent, unlimited use), strapped on a pair of Hokas (TRY THEM, you know you want to!!), and hit the road:
My first run: June 22, 2021 (6 minutes of running)
I obviously hated every step. But afterwards? Man, I felt good. I took a day off and then was back at it again, this time for an 8 minute run.
Each session has you alternating walking and running, and you can pause the workout if it’s too much and it will recalculate the intervals of your next run to make it easier. Every once in a while the app will chime in with some silly encouragement, which I pretend to hate but actually love.
Other things I learned:
Go at your own pace. It’s self-improvement, not a race. I have been lapped by:
The tiniest of tiny children
Someone who jogs carrying a pomeranian
Too many octogenarians to count
And, improbably, someone on a unicycle
Some days you’ll strap up your shoes, head outside, start running, take three steps and just know it’s not gonna happen for you that day. That’s ok. Try again the next day.
I much prefer the traditional, cheap Apple EarPods when running vs AirPods.
If your EarPod falls out you’ll hear yourself breathing. If you’re anything like me, you sound like an asthmatic rhino. That’s ok.
Two months in, I had a follow up appointment with my doctor. All of the numbers I was concerned about had improved significantly. He told me, and I quote, “whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.” So I kept doing it. And kept doing it. And kept doing it. And guess what? After 16 weeks of my 8 week program - I DID do it: I ran a 5k.
I set out to challenge myself and accomplish a goal and, well, I did! I’m so proud of myself. If you’re interested in getting out there and moving your body more, just…start. You might surprise yourself!
