I’m learning to love running again! {after 20yrs!}

Back when I was a young pup, many moons ago, I loved to run. I was a good, strong runner. Admittedly, I wasn’t made or built for cross-country running, as I was more of a sprinter and I was fast. The strength I felt when I ran was something else. The air whooshing by my ears, my hair flying behind me like a cape and the distance I could cover made my heart happy. Nowadays? Twenty plus years and five kids later…running no longer comes easy to me. In fact, it became my nemesis in many ways and haunted me on a daily basis. Mocking me that it was still there and I was unable to take it on. My mental motivation just brushed it away but every so often, over the years I would try to conquer it. Failing every time.

Couch to 5K – Take#2

I started my first Couch to 5K back in 2018 and managed to get to Week three before my knee gave out. Being a size 18 at the time, I wasn’t surprised by the injury.  But I was disappointed in myself {a part of me was also relieved! Running is hard when you’re a plus-sized woman!}. It took a good few months for my knee to heal and by that point, my mental motivation to pick it up again had dissolved. Fast-forward to today? I am entering into Week 2 of my Couch to 5K. However, due to my level of unfitness, size, age and lack of everything remotely resembling endurance, stamina and respiratory capability – I am redoing Week one. It just makes sense and I have to be honest? I am noticing little changes in my running ability already!

When I started my second attempt at the Couch to 5K journey, there were a few things I noticed; my legs felt like they were filled with cement, my lungs burned in my chest and a tena lady was a required running accessory. A little T.M.I there, but 100% truth and if your a Mother, then you will totally get where I am coming from.

Learning to love running at 40!

Currently, I am in Week two {really Week one, take two!} and I am already noticing little changes. I am taking my time, not pushing myself too much because I know myself. I know if I push myself, I may re-injure my knee like last time or lose the mental energy altogether. Neither of those I want, at all. I want this to finally be my time to get a little piece of me…back. I am able to run for those 60sec without wanting to die and I have mixed feelings when the phone says to me “Now walk for 90 seconds” – I could continue running for a little bit, but I’m just not there yet. I’m also noticing that my breathing is getting better, which is amazing considering it’s only our second week doing this Couch to 5K plan. So, for a girl who turns forty next week, I’m not doing too shabby!

I’m a realist. Running isn’t solely done to lose weight, although that would be nice, too! I want to be fitter, stronger, healthier and collecting all of that together? I want to be able to run around with my children and not only not die from the exertion! But keep up with them, too! I want to unleash that speed, or even a fraction of the speed I once had {all those years ago} and feel that strength and freedom again. A big part of me knows that I’ll never get it all back, but even getting a little bit of it? Having a taster of it again will be enough for me.

I’m only on Week 2 and I feel amazing. Tired, granted and very sore {I am running 5 days a week after all!}. But I am already feeling the benefits and the insane pain aside? It still makes me want to do it more! I want to feel better and that rush of “Hey, I’m actually doing this!”.

The inspiration for the week!

For a bit of inspiration, I had a lovely message from a follower on Instagram and she told me that she used to be a size 20 before she started running. She too did the Couch to 5k, is now a size 14 and runs 10k four times a week!! She is a machine and a true piece of inspiration for me. If she can do it, why can’t I, right? Also, my Dad, who is 62 years of age, runs a few miles a day after a full day of work! I’d also love to surprise him by running next to him sometime! I can just see his face! But, again being the realist, I have a good bit to go yet!

The trick is to keep going and I’m repeating to myself over and over that it’s only 20 minutes a day. If we cannot fit 20 mins of exercise into our day, then there is something seriously wrong. That’s my current mentality and long may it stay!

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy my post about a no gym 4-week fitness plan. Also, you can check out the Couch to 5K plan over on the NHS website.

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