So I Run...

I am still working through my depression but I think I am beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel.  I have been running for this last week, doing a program called Couch to 5K or c25k, I feel so good!  It is a 9 week program to help train your body to be able to run 30 minutes or a 5k.  You run/walk every other day for 3 days (the day in between is vital).  You start out walking and then run for a little and then walk and so on.  During the next weeks the running time increases slowly to the full 30 minutes of running.
That first day I thought I was going to die.  My first bout of running went great but it slowly went downhill from there.  I was begging to be finished about 5 seconds into my last run.  The very last step of my run on that first day I almost didn't make it because my legs were like jelly.  Thankfully I was down at the elementary school and so I had to stick it out because I couldn't just go in the house and give up.  :-)  I tell you I was so happy to get home that first day and the rest of the day I was sore, sore, sore!!

Getting out the door on the second day was pretty hard, mainly because I was convincing myself that I needed to keep going.  While I am running I am listening to Christian music with voice cues to help me know when to switch between walking and running.  The uplifting messages of the music have helped me to keep going and on the 2nd day of running I felt so great with what I had accomplished.  I even wanted to run a little bit more when the cycle was completed.  I was tired but not weak and that felt great.

Having that high of the 2nd day I started my 3rd cycle thinking...ah, this is going to be no problem.  Ha! I had a really rough start, which reminded me of my 1st day.  My legs got weak really quickly and I kept feeling like I wanted to give up.  However, one of the songs came on that basically talks about how we run to make it home to our Savior and with the mountains in view and that song going through my head I found the motivation to keep going.  The last run I was able to pick up the pace and by the end I felt great! 

Next week the cycle goes from 60/90 to 90/120 (for 30 minutes).  That is the number of seconds running/walking.  I know for some that may seem like a very short amount of time for either activity but trust me, you feel it.  Plus, the whole point of the program is to help those who really have not had any real running experience slowly grow to being able to do a 5k. 

I don't know if I will ever run a race, I am mainly doing this to prove to myself that I can.  Plus, I love to run...it makes me feel so free and it is actually very peaceful.  I know there are some who don't understand this but it is how I feel about it.  I will continue to pray that my Heavenly Father will give me the strength to continue moving forward.  I have a long way to go but I am excited for the journey!!