Running Sucks.

Ok, first, go to my Facebook to see pics of New York. I give up trying to post them here as it's already been how many weeks and I haven't yet.

Second, I REALLY hate running! I started an 8 week program that is supposed to take me from nothing at all to being able to run for 30 minutes straight. For week 1, the running days of that week were all the same. Run 1 minute, walk 2 minutes, repeat 10 times. The first day I was dying and wanted to quit by minute 9 or 10. But I pushed through. Until week 7, there are only 4 running days. On day 2, it was a little better and by day 4 I thought it was so easy I couldn't wait to move up!

Then week 2 comes along. And oh how it is kicking my ass! All of a sudden, we go from running only 1 mere minute with a 2 minute walking break...to running 2 whole minutes with only a 1 minute walking break. WTF? I didn't think it was going to be hard on Monday...but then I had to stop after 23 minutes. Which isn't too bad, I guess. I still made it 23 minutes and then took Babs for a walk after to cool down. Jonathan thought I was running too fast (really?) so on Wednesday I slowed it down to basically being a power walk pace. But I was "running" it.

I don't know what it was...the slow pace or the increase to 3 minutes running with 1 minute walk breaks...but I died at minute 20. Literally. I am a ghost writing this right now. My breathing wasn't what was bothering me. I was supposed to repeat that pattern 7 times. On the 5th repitition my body just stopped. My hips hurt. My stupid right foot that likes to supinate hurt along the outside. My calves were burning like no other. More than anything, I think it was the pace. It was just too slow to run at.

Today, I am supposed to go up to running 4 minutes and walking 1 minute. How will I ever accomplish this? I went back to the article where I found this plan and started reading the comments. A lot of people had to change it to fit their needs and some even took longer than the 8 weeks. Which is what I think I will need to do. It's really a test of my patience...something I have a very little of. When I have a goal in mind, I like to accomplish it as quickly as possible. This is something that just has to be done slowly if I want to be able to do it at all!

But here's the thing...in virtually every article that is on Runner's World, not one person is able to run without struggle. Even the really good, God-like runners that seem to be able to go on for hours without any struggle. They hurt, too! They run out of breath, too! They feel like stopping, too! But they don't. They push through and that's what keeps them in shape and being able to do more. It may take a while for me to be able to call myself a true runner (i.e., someone who actually likes to do it), but I will get there someday.

Oh, and big duh moment on my part...my dad used to be a cross-country coach! Why don't I ask him for advice? Hello!