Running: it's actually doable

I wish.

In most gyms I've been to, the first thing you see when you get in is the cardio machines. And in my case, on the cold January morning where I began my "journey", I saw treadmills. And on those treadmills were pretty girls wearing cute and colorful workout clothes, effortlessly running (you totally know what I'm talking about because they're at your gym too, aren't they?).

But I was chunkier, in my all-black workout clothes (trying not to draw attention to myself and my body), and I didn't think I could run. I got intimidated, and I headed for the elliptical machine. For almost two months, my cardio was the elliptical (and swimming once a week). Now, don't get me wrong, the elliptical is actually fantastic for weight loss. It's a low-impact machine that just melts the calories right off of you. But I got kinda bored. And I wanted to be one of the running girls.

Little tip I discovered while losing weight: information is everything. You can't just get up one morning, say "I'm gonna lose weight!" and think that it'll happen magically. You have to do lots of research to figure out a good eating plan, what exercise is best, how much weight you should be losing per week, what's a good goal weight for your height/size, etc. Well same goes with running! You don't just get on the treadmill and start running.

During my information quest, I came across what is called a "Couch to 5K" (or C25K), which literally takes a person off the couch and trains them to be able to run 5km without stopping. It's excellent for super beginners (which I was) and it can be completed in 8 short weeks. There are many different C25K plans available on the internet or as apps; I used this application.

I did make a mistake though: I was cocky, and I started at week 3 or 4 of the 8-week plan. And I got stuck on week 4 for 2 weeks, and then on week 5 for 2 weeks. Looking back, I see the importance of not skipping ahead and trusting the program, even if it looks too easy at first.

Having a program gave me the confidence to get on a treadmill and try running, even with others around. Yes, at first I was running 3 minutes and walking 3 minutes, but the fact that I was "on a plan" made me feel less self-conscious.

And sure enough, running slowly got easier. At the end of April, I finished the program, but I kept doing my 5K runs 3x a week. I was filled with this amazing sense of accomplishment, like I did something really good for myself. Probably high on this feeling, I decided to give the ultimate push and I signed up for a half-marathon in October. In the meantime, I had to reach the next goal: running 10km. I felt pretty good, so I decided to run with the "real joggers" and hit Mount Royal on a Sunday morning. And I ended up running a 9K that day, for the stupidest reason ever: I wanted to get far enough on the path to reach Beaver Lake, to instagram my running glory. It only hit me once I got to the lake, 4.5km into it, that I also had to run BACK after. Oops. I could barely walk the day after. The following Sunday, I ran a 9.5km, again up Mount Royal. Unfortunately, because I nearly doubled the distance I was used to running in such a short time, I injured myself and had to stop all running for a few weeks. Not so smart.

I did manage to recover in time for my 10K, which I completed successfully without walking! Kinda crazy to think that in February, I couldn't run for more than 5 minutes and now I have a 10km race under my belt!

Near the finish line, kinda lonely.

Now, I'm all about my half-marathon training. It took me a while to start, between moving to Toronto and two heat waves, but I'm finally into it! Once again, for those interested, I am using an application for my training plan. This app is great because it is meant for people currently comfortable running a 5K, it has pre- and post-run stretching exercises, and it doesn't involve running 6 days a week (trying to avoid more injuries here!).

I think my biggest hurdle with running hasn't been pushing through the pain, it's been pushing through the mental stuff. For instance, often after 3 or 4 km, I want to stop yet my legs don't hurt. It's a mental game. But what they say about runner's high is true. It's a great feeling, and you constantly want more.

And now I feel like one of the pretty, running girls.