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Couch potato mom gets going

Posted Nov 18, 2009 by Beth Gaddis

Updated Nov 18, 2009 at 09:59 AM

It’s been 22 years since I last jogged.  I’m not kidding.  I ran cross country my freshman year of high school, and since then, nada.

I finally decided I had to do something more for my health than just walk around the block at a toddler’s pace.  I got home from work on Monday, changed clothes, borrowed my neighbor’s double-jogging stroller and inspired my husband to join me.  Our goal was small: jog a half-mile around the block.

A third of a mile later, we were gasping for breath. 

But it was a start, and we ended up going around twice, alternating between jogging and walking for about a mile.  Then I let the kids out of the stroller and went around twice more with two other moms and their young kids.  Altogether, it was about two miles.

We jogged/walked another mile Tuesday, and I’m so out of shape, I’m definitely feeling it in my legs today.  But I also feel good. 

My neighbor, who is a triathlete, told me about this Web site called The Couch-to-5K Running Plan.  I checked it out, and discovered I’m probably doing too much.  That was a relief, and gave me some guidance about how I could set a manageable pace – and manageable expectations – for my fitness plan.

I don’t want to run races.  I just want to be healthy.  My husband had a heart attack when he was 39; I know you can’t take your health for granted.  Hopefully, this is just the first step in leading a better lifestyle.