Let's Do This

I decided to start a blog to document my running progress, and so that I wouldn't bore the tears out of any of my Facebook friends who don't care about running. Because I know they are out there... I used to be one. ;)

So a while back I decided that I needed to do something about my weight and fitness. I'm 40 years old and overweight. It's not going to get easier to do as I get older, right? Other than my weight and some mildly elevated blood pressure I'm not super unhealthy. My A1c is good, my cholesterol isn't bad, my kidneys appear to be doing their job, my thyroid is borked but medication helps that sad sack function somewhat.

I can't recall exactly how I stumbled on it, but I came across the Not Your Average Runner Facebook group and was intrigued. I'm certainly Not Your Average ANYTHING, so what is it all about? I believe the tagline went something like "If you're middle age, plus size, and want to run but don't know if it's possible, then this is for you!" And it showed a running coach built LIKE ME. Not a slender, fit model in their 20s. Someone who understands the ins-and-outs of running as a plus sized woman who isn't 20 anymore.

I discovered she has books (a basic running guide, training for a 5K and a half marathon! And a podcast! Now, up until this podcast I hadn't really gotten into them. I've listened to a few here and there but nothing stuck. My husband (referred to as DH in here from here onward) listens to them all the time, but they never just got me hooked I guess. Let me tell you. The Not Your Average Runner podcast has 80-something episodes as of this writing and I am allll caught up in about two weeks of listening in the morning, on my way to work, while working out... excellent stuff.

The author, Jill Angie, is my kind of people. She is funny, she's practical, she swears a little. She gives practical advice, she interviews normal people who ride the Struggle Bus just like I do. She's REAL. I love it.

So I started running on the treadmill, mostly because I didn't want to go outside to do it. I didn't want to wear running pants and a tank top outside. I'm fat, no one wants to see that out there. Through her podcast, I found the confidence to say "F*ck that, I'll wear what make running more comfortable." After all, some teenage boy cat-calling you if sooooo original, isn't it?

Spoiler alert: No one has done that to me yet. Nor have they crashed their car because of my pasty white fleshy arms.

She had a Run Your Best 5K challenge starting March 4th, and I joined. It was basically a Couch To 5K plan, but more reasonable. I quit C25K in week 4 because it was too hard. It's not realistic for many people because they increase too quickly. I mean, I can run for a while, especially for a fat girl, but that was so hard and I stopped.

Now, I've developed knee pain which I am in the middle of deciding if it's equipment (treadmill/? Shoes?), just being overweight, or my gait/stride. If I ice my knees after a run I do fairly well. But yesterday evening I got on the treadmill to get some extra steps and I had to stop after reaching my low goal because my knees were on FIRE. Iced, ibuprofen, slept. Felt pretty dang good this morning! No stiffness, nothing! So I learned that I need to work on strength training some to help ease that pain. Because not being able to do things has always annoyed the crap out of me.

Anyway, I'm hoping to use this to chronicle my progress. :) I hope if you stumbled upon this, that you enjoy it! :)