I’m doing it. I am running my first 5K! I’ve always loved the thought of races, admired those that enjoy running, and I’ve always wanted to love to run myself. Unfortunately, every time I try to get into it, it just never works (no matter how much I pretend.) I guess the boredom and exercise-induced asthma don’t help, either. But when my friend Stacey invited Jimmy and I to join her team in an upcoming 5K, Color Me Rad, I decided to give it a shot. At least it’d give me a reason to start running. And since it’s a “fun run” and we will come out colored from head-to-toe (yes, literally), I figured I wouldn’t be too pressured to actually be a super-awesome runner.

I’ve been registered for this run for almost four months, but guess what? I haven’t done any training whatsoever up to this point. So when I realized I have one month until race day, I decided to start today! 4.5 weeks to train for a 5K … there are definitely more impossible things. No, 3.1 miles isn’t far, but you have to remember that I am not in the best shape of my life and I am NOT a runner. Plus, if I could complete a 5+ mile mud run with zero training, I think I can handle three miles with a month’s training.

So when I got home from work, I put on my gym clothes, laced up my tennis shoes and headed to the gym. My goal for day one was to run/walk for 30 minutes. I stepped on the treadmill, popped in my headphones, turned on the Mockingjay audiobook, and got to work. (I learned that it’s SO much easier to exercise while listening to an audiobook. It completely takes your mind off the time and being miserable!) I alternated walking and jogging for five minutes, and before I knew it, thirty minutes was up! After my workout, I cooked up a healthy dinner of marinated chicken breasts, radishes and vegetable medley to top off my successful day.

Every day this week I am going to do at least 30 minutes on the treadmill, running as much of it as possible, trying to progress each day. I will also be tracking my meals, weight and progress on My Fitness Pal. If you’re on it, follow me so we can motivate one another! While prepping for my 5K, I will also be keeping a log of my weekly progress on my blog. I’m hoping it will help keep me accountable and motivated!

If you have any tips or suggestions for me, please share .

Week One:
Wednesday, 8/28: Felt great! I rotated walking at 3.5mph and jogging at 5.5 mph every five minutes, with a 3-minute cool down at the end. I went a total of 1.762 miles and burned 185 calories.  My shins hurt a little bit, but my asthma never kicked in (woohoo!), and I already can’t wait to wake up and do it again tomorrow morning.