Hey Luv-lies,

Today is the second conditioning day in preparation for my Labor Day-ish 5K race.

Day one was this past Saturday, where I met with the team of eight women (who are also training for the same goal… who will , from this point on, be loving referred to as ‘The Sisters’ in crime :-). Our morning began at 7:30am at the fitness center ( I; however, did not get the text and went trapsing over to the track at 7:30.

Missed completing the necessary “I won’t hold the fitness center liable if I’m a complete klutz and hurt something while training…. and any pictures taken of me and used for marketing and advertising purposes will not result in a summons for financial compensation” paperwork that the others filled out back at the fitness center. I didn’t get out of it completely…had to fill it out once they arrived at the track ;-).

We started with some basic techniques in how to use the foot while running; in order to avoid injury. Geesh, I thought that running was just walking, just at a faster pace. You mean there’s a ‘way to put your foot down’? I immediately began to think ‘…I’m in for a long eight weeks….’

The ‘foot thing’ was then followed by the 30 minutes of lunges, abdomin work (several sets of planks, bicycles, and hovers) and multiple variation of squats….
It was at this point that the silence and reserve that was first shown by ‘The Sisters’ transformed into all out moans of agony and resistence. And this is just Week One, Day One!!!!!

I’m certain that they had swimming around in their heads was the same question that I had… “when does the running begin?” and “is it going to be this bad, too”?

Question answered soon enough….

Next up… my First Timed Mile… running! In an attempt to not let the fact that I had not run in over three years get into my head, I convinced myself that it couldn’t be ‘all that bad…. right’? With the conviction and determination of a child taking their first steps, I gulped a mouthful of ice water, activated my RunKeeper App, slapped in my earbuds (maybe the sound of music will ease the pain….gulp) and at the command of the Trainer, took off on my run.

Ten minutes and forty-five seconds later, I was cruising… YES! Cruising past the one mile marker with greater ease (and confidence) than I initially gave myself. After another lap around the track – the ‘cool-down’ lap, I waited at the side lines for the rest of ‘The Sisters’ to cruise through to the finish.

After another round of leg and abdominal work, lasting this time for only fifteen minutes, I was proudly on my way to the nearest coffee shop….

I had done it! I completed Day One of Week One of this C5K training!! Not bad for a fabulously fifty-ish woman living a fit, healthy lifestyle while giving this aging thing a run for its money!!!!!