I remember when I was only able to run two miles at a time before I injured my quad. At first, I didn’t even realize what had happened, and my attempt to do some planks afterward only made things worse. I ended up sidelined for weeks, consumed with worry. What if my leg never healed? What if I could never run again? The thought of losing all the progress I had made, especially the weight I had shed, was terrifying.
If you’d told me just three months prior that I would feel this way about running, I would have laughed. I used to think running was for the overly obsessed, people who enjoyed gasping for air (which I definitely did not). It made you all sticky and sweaty, and it seemed like only high school athletes, college students, or those with perfect physiques took part. But I was not one of them.
That all changed when I gained a significant amount of weight due to a medication. After we determined the culprit was not my thyroid or another drug, I stopped taking it, but I was left with quite a bit of weight to shed. I needed a solution beyond just dieting, and that’s when I stumbled upon the Couch to 5K program.
Couch to 5K is designed for those who are starting from scratch—likely not even walking much. The routine is largely interval training. For the first week, you alternate between walking for a minute and a half and jogging for one minute. It sounded manageable, so I decided to give it a try. I downloaded a user-friendly app that would guide my sessions, reassuring me that I’d be jogging, not running, which meant I wouldn’t be gasping for breath.
I was surprised by how slow I was. I didn’t realize it until I began running without walking breaks. I had to haul my three kids under seven to the local park in a clunky double stroller while my oldest rode his bike alongside us. Everyone zoomed past me—sprinting college kids and even sprightly grandmothers. My younger ones constantly begged to escape the stroller, and my oldest was tired by the time we finished less than a mile.
But I persisted. I invested in some proper running attire and shoes, which alleviated my calf pain. Before long, I was jogging for five minutes straight. My German Shepherd became my running buddy, practically bouncing off the walls every time I donned my running gear. My kids couldn’t keep up anymore, and I had to wait for my husband to return home from work to run in the evenings, never without my protective mace bracelet and my imposing dog by my side.
When I reached the milestone of running for 25 minutes straight, I was shocked. I never believed I had it in me, but I did. Eventually, I ditched the program—just one week from completion—because I wanted to focus on speed. Instead of running for 30 minutes, I started measuring my distance, aiming for two miles. The first time I broke a 14-minute mile felt like crossing a finish line. Eventually, I hit 13:23 minutes per mile, which is still slow by many standards, but a far cry from the 15 or 16-minute miles I used to endure.
I had become hooked. I found myself browsing for running gear during any spare moment, dreaming about new jackets and already eyeing my next pair of shoes. When I injured my leg, it was the first time I hadn’t run for more than two days in three months. I felt an emptiness. My dog was restless, and I missed the release that running provided—a break from the daily grind of being a mom, writer, and teacher. Yes, it’s challenging. Yes, I sometimes breathe heavily. But I’ve come to genuinely enjoy it.
Two miles might not seem like a lot, but it helped me shed about 15 to 20 pounds alongside a healthier diet. When I start running again, I’ll have to take it slow, likely back to 25-minute sessions. Initially, I doubted my ability to even sprint short distances without feeling like I was dying, or to jog for more than a few minutes. But through persistence, I trained my body. I still envy those effortlessly running college students; at 35, carrying extra weight, I know this journey won’t be easy right away. But it works. I did it, and I plan to keep going.
And if I can achieve this, so can you. I promise.
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Summary
Running transformed from a dreaded chore to a cherished habit for me, helping me lose weight and gain confidence. Despite initial struggles, I embraced the challenge and found joy in running, and I encourage anyone feeling hesitant to take the plunge. If I can do it, you can too!