I’ve tried to start running on and off for the past couple of years. I’m really working on improving my cardio and I feel like that’s a no-brainer way to get your cardio in better shape. I always make excuses –

1) I’m going to wait until I lose some weight so it’s easier on my knees

2) Running makes me hungry all of the time

3) It’s to hot to run

I was watching a YouTube video yesterday on creating habits and one of the habits he was trying to create was running for 10 minutes every day. I thought that sounded reasonable and that I was ready to give running a try again. When I got to the gym last night I was feeling good. I had gotten in almost 7k of my 10k step-goal throughout the day, it was warm and I hadn’t actively worked out for a couple of days – aside from my steps. I wasn’t sure where this activity was going to lead me or even if I was going to be able to run at all.

Stepping up on the treadmill I tied my shoes tighter – to tight! I had to stop after I started and loosen on of them. I started with a 5 minute warm-up at a pace faster than I normally walk but still slower than most people probably would. At 5 minutes I kicked it up to a slow jog. I was able to keep this up for 10 minutes before I felt like I had earned my badge of running for the day. I started to walk for a couple of minutes and then I felt like I could run some more! Yay me! I ran for another 6 minutes, walked 2 minutes and then ran another 4 minutes. I finished off my “cardio session” with a 5 minute walk and then left the gym.

After watching trainers train on different YouTube channels, it seems ok to set cardio-only days. Usually when I go into the gym I feel like I should ONLY BE LIFTING WEIGHTS. Don’t get me wrong – if the DOMS isn’t to bad this evening from running, I’m planning on having leg day. I WANT to continue lifting as much as my hands will allow but it’s nice that when I choose to have a cardio day that it’s fine. Good even.

I think this says a lot for my mental state when it comes to working out and what I have felt is working out and what isn’t. Like, having a good walk with hills has felt like a good workout but there’s a little part of me that has always felt like walking isn’t working out – it’s just burning calories so I can eat what I want to. Really though, it is building some muscle.

I guess that was a tangent – anyway, after running yesterday I realize now how many muscles you use to run. Aside from my shins being sore (which is standard), my inner and outer thighs, my hips and my abs are sore. Strangely, it makes me want to run more because now I know what it’s working!

This makes it sound like I’ve never run before. lol. I’ve been running in some form for all of my life. Mostly I played sports that involved short bursts of speed though. Distance was never really a part of it. Endurance came from playing and recovery was earned through sprints and, again, playing. I DO have to learn about distance running every time I start running.

Anyway, I’m excited to run again – probably on Friday or Saturday though. I’m not pushing it! Me and shin splits are like peas and carrots except if you didn’t like peas or carrots.