Jan. 3, 2023
When I first began my running journey, I could barely manage two miles before pulling a muscle in my leg. Unaware of the injury, I exacerbated it by attempting a series of planks, which left my upper left leg in pain for weeks. During that time, I was consumed with anxiety, fearing I wouldn’t recover and would lose the ability to run altogether. The thought of not being able to run was unbearable; I felt as though I was losing all the progress I had made, including weight loss.
Looking back, if someone had told me just three months earlier that I would feel this way, I would have found it hard to believe. My relationship with running was anything but positive. It had always seemed like an obsession for others—something that made you breathe heavily (something I despise), leaving you sticky and sweaty. High school athletes, college students, and those with ideal physiques ran. But I was not one of them.
Everything changed when I noticed significant weight gain due to a medication I was taking. After identifying the culprit (not my thyroid or any other drug) and discontinuing it, I found myself with extra weight and no effective means of shedding it other than through diet. I craved an alternative, something active. That’s when I stumbled upon the Couch to 5K program.
Couch to 5K is designed for individuals who are starting from ground zero, often lacking any running or even walking experience. The structure is mostly interval training: during the first week, you alternate between walking for a minute and a half and jogging for a minute. I reviewed the plan, found it feasible, and decided to commit. I also downloaded a user-friendly app that guided me through my sessions, reassuring me that I would be “jogging” and not running, which meant I wouldn’t have to breathe too hard—something I particularly dislike.
At first, my pace was glacial. I didn’t realize just how slow I was until I transitioned to running the entire time during my workouts. I had my three young children in tow, pushing a cumbersome double stroller and encouraging my eldest to ride his bike alongside us. As I jogged, I was overtaken by all sorts of runners—elderly ladies, athletic college students—while my children clamored to get out of the stroller, and my eldest complained about fatigue. By the end, we had barely covered a mile.
Gradually, I progressed. I invested in proper running gear and high-quality shoes, which alleviated my calf pain. Soon, I was able to jog for five minutes straight. I started taking my enthusiastic German Shepherd along on my runs; he would go wild at the sight of my running attire. Eventually, my kids couldn’t keep up, and I found myself waiting for my husband to return from work so I could run in the evening. To feel safe, I carried a self-defense mace bracelet and brought my large, intimidating dog with me. I was apprehensive about running for longer stretches, but I pushed through and eventually reached 28 minutes continuously.
With just a week left in the program, I decided to abandon the structure in favor of focusing on distance rather than time. I set my sights on two-mile runs instead of 30-minute sessions. The first time I clocked in under 14 minutes per mile, I felt like I had crossed a finish line. My most recent run had me at 13:23 minutes per mile—a far cry from the 15- or 16-minute miles I used to struggle through just weeks prior. While my pace may still be slow, it was progress, and far better than not running at all.
I found myself becoming quite passionate about running. I dreamt of new workout gear and had my next pair of shoes in mind. When I injured my leg, it marked the first time in three months that I had gone more than two days without running. I felt an emptiness. My dog became restless, and I missed the freedom that running provided me from my daily responsibilities as a mother, writer, and teacher. Yes, it can be challenging, and yes, there are times I breathe heavily, but I have genuinely come to love it.
Two miles may not seem like a lot, but it was enough to help me shed around 15 to 20 pounds, alongside a cleaner diet. When I’m ready to run again, I’ll have to start from the beginning: back to 25-minute sessions at a slow pace. I didn’t think I could do it. I doubted my ability to sprint short distances without gasping for breath or to jog for more than a few minutes. At first, I couldn’t, but persistence paid off. I trained my body to adapt. I still envy those effortlessly running college students; I’m 35 and carrying extra weight, and this journey may never be easy for me. But I did it, and I will continue to do it.
And if I can achieve this, so can you. I guarantee it.
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Summary:
This piece narrates Dr. Sarah Thompson’s unexpected journey into running, illustrating how an initial injury due to her lack of experience transformed into a newfound love for the sport. Overcoming challenges, she shares her gradual progress from struggling to jog to achieving impressive distances, all while juggling family responsibilities. Her story serves as motivation for others who might doubt their ability to start running, emphasizing that persistence can lead to success.