When did I get the nerve to run?

So, how did I get started running?

Funny you ask. I had really never ran in my life before working for Goodwill.

Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Inc. here in South Bend, IN sponsors a corporate team in the Sunburst race. It starts downtown South Bend at the Grid Iron which is in front of the former College Football Hall of Fame and they try to end the race in the Notre Dame Football Stadium every year.

One year, long long ago, someone asked me to run in the Sunburst (early 2000's) on the corporate team. I don't know what I was thinking, but I had agreed. It was unbearable. Unbearable for a couple of key reasons and it is these reasons I think a lot of people give up on running.


First reason is breathing. I had never ran before in my life. I hated sports. I hated field day at school. Tennis was ok, but there really wasn't any "running" involved just short sprints. I remember the very first time I headed out to go run. I thought to myself that this can't be very difficult. In fact, I used to laugh at people who ran along the road so slow that it appeared as if I could get out of the vehicle and walk faster than them (by the way, I am sorry if your one of those people that I made fun of). We live all of about a tenth of a mile to the corner of an intersection. Yup, that is the great distance I was able to run my first time out without stopping.

I almost gave up at that moment, but decided to push on and ended up running a little, walking a lot, running a little, and walking a lot. You get the picture. My first "run" was a combined length of walking and running of a whopping 1 mile.  It was then I purchased a book, Running for Dummies. It taught me a valuable lesson, BREATH! Ha-ha. Really, I started out counting inhale-2-3-4 exhale-2-3-4 where each count was a footstep. That was fine when I was walking quickly. As I picked up my pace I shortened it to inhale-2-3 exhale-2-3.

Once I had a breathing rhythm things went a lot better and I continued to participate on and off. Still, I was not very excited about running. The thought of running didn't bring me any happy thoughts. I had no idea what I was doing wrong. I only knew that it was not fun and my ankles, legs, and knees all hurt when I ran. I thought it was because I was on the heavy side. While that plays a part of it, I made and astounding discovery last year.

If you've read the challenge blog from yesterday's post then you already know the answer on the next biggest mistake most beginner runners make. Who wants to "really" invest in an activity until you know if you like it, am I right? So if you were like me, all of the training and runs that I had participated in from early 2000 to early last year I ran in Tennis Shoes that I already owned.

So yeah, the answer is shoes. Last year I had decided to run a half-marathon with my brother-in-law. We had talked about it, I thought it was a sure thing... so I signed up, he did not. He decided to wait for the Indy Half earlier this year. Anywho, because of my decision to run such a distance, I thought... maybe I should purchase a pair of running shoes. If you've ever been on the Dave Ramsey plan, then you know my dilemma. Use my work clothes budget for the spring for shoes.... or get much needed work clothes. I decided that my health had to take priority and I really needed the shoes. So, where does one go for "running" shoes? $69 at Kohl's right? Footlocker? Where?

Well, running all those half dozen or so 5K's on the corporate team over the years I started to recognize a particular vendor, Metro Run & Walk. That was probably the best single decision I had made. It also helped that a co-worker re-enforced the idea. We were at lunch and he mentioned when he purchased shoes from them and that they took the time to take you outside and watch you run. Then they suggest shoes that fit your running style. I went, I ran around in their parking lot and tried on some shoes.

Can I say I hate yellow? I do. But, of the two shoes they had me try on, the charcoal and yellow (Mizuno Wave Inspire 8) shoes really fit the best. I even ran around in their parking lot with the new shoes on. While there, the shoes seemed really light and almost awkward. I was used to tennis shoes, but they were comfortable, so I coughed up the money (plan on about $90 - $125). The person helping me said if they didn't work out, I could come back and exchange them for a different pair. Which is a real bonus. Not many regulars shoe stores I know of will do that, especially if the shoes  look "used" when you try to return them. When I got on my way, I read the receipt and almost died. NO CASH REFUNDS, STORE CREDIT ONLY. I thought I had made a huge mistake.

To my surprise,  those shoes made a world of difference. It is hard to explain, but running all of a sudden became fun. I started increasing distance and speed. Knees, ankles, and legs did not hurt anymore. Sore, yes - but the normal kind of sore from a good workout.

So, if you are just starting out and running with me. My first two pieces of advice are to figure out your breathing rhythm and purchase a good pair of shoes from a reputable source. Those are probably the two biggest things you can do to help yourself.

I did run the Sunburst 5K this year, but I only had time to go out on two runs before the race. So I made it a little further than a tenth of a mile today.

Here is today's running log: