About two weeks ago, I started doing the Couch to 5K (C25K) program. It seemed like a nice way to ease back into running after more than a month off. Plus I have been walking as a form of exercise, and C25K seems like a perfect transition from walking into running.
I was perfectly content to do my C25K program as spring gives way to summer here…until my friend JD suggested we do a 10K when I’m in Michigan next month. JD is my favorite running buddy and a great friend. When he found the Heart & Sole Run/Walk in Chelsea, Michigan, I couldn’t say no—he’d found a 10K for us on the one weekend that I was available for a running event. Perfect. So even though I am most definitely NOT in 10K shape right now, I will be in 3.5 weeks!
How does one safely go from 0 to 6.2 miles in such a short span of time? Well, I’m hoping that my overall good shape (lots of walking and biking these days) will be enough to support my running burst. I’m planning to do two “long runs” each week, adding a mile to each long run and then doing whatever work-outs I feel like on my other days. I think I can get away with this without injury because I’ve been running for years, and my body adapts well to running stress. Plus it’s only a 10K—it’s not like I’m trying to run a marathon on a whim. Right? Right.
Tonight I went out for my first “long run”: one mile of running, plus walking warm-up and cool-down. Not surprisingly, it was fine. (I’m not that out of shape!) Still, it was nice to return to running, and with a goal in mind, I think the motivation will get me out the door pretty easily.
Have you ever run a race just to run with a friend? Tell me about it!
Happy running!
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