Learning to run

I layered my workout wear, donned gloves and a warm headband, and laced up my running shoes yesterday at lunch to begin the learn to run program through work. A few snowflakes swirled in the air as we headed out for our jaunt around Victoria Park in downtown London.

I'd somehow convinced my friend, Dorothy, to join me in this adventure. She's another non-runner and I think we were both wondering what the heck we were doing as we headed down to the gym.

I was a bit nervous about the whole thing. My stomach was performing funny little flips and anxiety crawled up my throat. But as a friend (who runs) pointed out, it's a learn to run program, not a come run with us if you're fabulous at the activity. I may be fabulous in different ways, but I digress.

It turns out, I had nothing to fear. We start really slow. In fact, I'm harder on myself when I've started running programs by myself in the past. We walked at a brisk pace for about five minutes before we started running our first minute. It flew by. Then we walked - and talked - for two minutes. And then we ran again. And we only did it five times! I've always run at least 10 minutes, despite the length of the intervals in between.

But I've promised myself I'll follow the program and not try to get ahead. After years of experience, I'm sure the trainer knows what she's doing. I run again tomorrow with the group and then once by myself over the following four days.

So I feel good today and am telling myself, "I can do this."

I know it will get harder as the weeks progress, but I'll be building stamina and improving technique (something I've never had anyone correct me on before).

I doubt I'll love to run, even by the end, but at least I'll be able to it.

Tina