Just under a year ago I got the idea in my head that I wanted to try to be a runner. I’d like to say it came from a loftier place but really the idea was born after finding out Walt Disney World holds marathons. Really cool, themed out, everyone dresses up marathons.
I started training last fall. I pushed myself and was doing pretty well. I even did two 5k races. Right after the second race I learned a really important lesson, when something hurts, STOP. I had, of course, decided to push through the pain thinking I was tough enough to deal with it. This was a bad plan. That plan resulted in a broken ankle. Broken ankles are not fun.
So now that I’m long healed from that situation I’ve decided to try again. This time I’m using the Jeff Galloway walk/run method. For just over two weeks now my oldest son and I have been getting out and walking or running 6 days a week.
Of course I’m terrified of another injury so I’m taking it really slow. I’ve developed shin splints but Jeff Galloway’s book suggested they could be caused by too long a stride so I’m working on that. He also said not to train downhill while they’re healing. This is a bit of a challenge since, as you can see from these pictures, my neighborhood is far from level.
But I’m going really easy on the hills and utilizing my jogging stroller’s brake. (It took me over a week of training to realize what that thing was for!)
Although we’re still only at a 1:40/:10 walk/run ratio on the run days I’m really excited at the progress we’ve made so far. My son isn’t home every morning to walk with me, so I don’t always know his mileage, but I’ve gone 5.6 miles so far this week! And that’s just my first three days!
I really hope we can stick with it. This program seems like a good one. We managed to get our run in yesterday despite the 90 degree (and climbing) temperature so I think that’s a good sign for the future.
I’m not sure at what point I get to call myself a runner (certainly not yet) but I am really looking forward to that day.