starting out slow

before having my baby, i was in shape and could run just fine, but i still never ran more than 3 miles at a time. during my pregnancy, i would get really bad leg cramps any time i tried to run. i was very determined that after i had my little boy, i would get back in shape and be able to run a half marathon. easier said than done! i remember the first time i tried running after giving birth, it was about 7 weeks later. i thought i would have no problem running! i was so wrong. you can ask my husband, i would try to run around the neighborhood, i don’t think i would last more than 10 min {if that}. i would get cramps and be so out of breath so quickly! i didnt think i would ever be in shape again!
i decided to just take it slow by running as much as i could handle about 3 times a week. i finally started to reach a mile. YAY!!! then two. the first time i ran three miles was after i decided to start training for a half marathon. i thought three miles seemed so far and it was!
i realized that having something to train for was the best thing for me. it kept me accountable. i almost felt like i had to go run otherwise i would be in trouble when the half marathon came around! i started out at a slow pace, which felt comfortable to me. i began to set goals for what i wanted to run my 3/4/5 miles in. my sister in law and i trained together, this really helped me to not skip my runs in the morning :). i recommend finding a running partner. if you can’t then make sure you run where there are lots of cars and when it is light outside. right now it is perfect weather to run in the afternoon when my husband gets home from work.
my challenge to you is to get out and try running for as long as you can handle. even if you are going so slow that you are almost walking! that is totally fine. that is a great start. don’t push yourself too hard at first! be easy on your body and have fun!

run for fun!

running can be fun. i promise! start out slow. have something to work towards. that is one of the best motivations for me! if you are a beginner and don’t remember the last time you ran, go out and see how long you can run for. don’t worry about running fast. run at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
on the side of the blog there are some links to several training schedules, whether you are training for a 10k {6.2 miles}, a 1/2 marathon {13.1 miles}, or a full marathon {26.2 miles}. if you do not prefer to run on a certain day, then you can just shift the days one way or the other to fit your schedule.
ready, set, go! :)
what motivates you to run?