Treadmill Training Camp

Last week I convinced Todd that I *needed* a treadmill in our house, or I might die from lack of exercise. Dramatic, yes...but inspiring? Totally.

I decided I wanted a treadmill in the basement last Monday night. On Tuesday morning I searched Craigslist for cheap ones. Found a nice Reebok one for sale, and the minute I got home from work Tuesday evening, Todd and I went back out the door to check out the Reebok treadmill. Unfortunately when I tried it out, we found out that the belt stuck, causing me to jerk forward while walking. I had visions of myself slingshotting off the back of the treadmill if I ever tried to run on it, or even walk without holding on to the handrails, so we thanked them kindly, told a little white lie that we wanted to sleep on our decision, and hightailed it back home.

The next day, the Reebok treadmill was re-posted for $50 less, stating that the belt sticks when walking.

But my search was un-phased and on Wednesday I found a new posting for a treadmill a short distance from our house. So on my way home from work I called the Craigslist poster and asked if we could come by that evening to check it out. She said yes, so I called Todd and said "umm...i made an appointment to see a Treadmill tonight..." Not exactly how he wanted to spend another evening off of work, but we went to see the treadmill -- WHICH was in fact being sold by two of the sweetest old ladies ever.

I decided that was my 'mill...and we paid the ladies. But by the time the two of us had strained and stretched and hauled the treadmill up their stairs, out of their house, down their driveway, and stuffed into the back of Todd's truck, I was inclined to ask them to pay US for equipment removal. But seeing as they were little old ladies, we just huffed and puffed and shook their hands and smiled and poured our now exhausted selves into the car to head home, just to do it all over again!

Luckily, getting it into our house and down the stairs to the basement was significantly easier than removal from little old ladies house. Since we were exhausted...and it was 10pm, we crashed early and I decided Thursday would be my first day on the Treadmill.

So Thursday evening I walked for a full hour while watching the results show from the first voting on this season of American Idol.

On Friday, I was feeling motivated, so I emailed my best runner friend, MOH Lori! I said "Ok, I wanna do a race with you". She was stoked. So she said she'd look into some upcoming races, and send me some options.

On Friday night, I did nothing. Sat on the couch.

On Saturday, I again, did nothing. More couch time.

On Sunday I decided I needed to get my butt in gear, so I did a quick 30 minute walk (with approximately 2-3 total minutes of jogging mixed in).

On Sunday night, I decided if I was going to get any good at this treadmill thing, that I needed to make this race thing a real goal.

Fortunately Lori could hear my silent pleading, and first thing Monday morning, she emailed me "Lace up your shoes! It's race time!". She found a 6K race mid-April and we were signing up.

I panicked. Seriously terrified. I emailed back "OMG. Kill me. You realize this means I have LESS than two months to figure out how to run!".

So, being the awesome (and organized!) friend that she is, she immediately sent me back a running plan. "Melis' plan for running a 5K in 6 weeks".

The schedule is awesome, and totally doable -- which was my first sigh of relief, knowing that what she had mapped out was attainable for me. A NON-Runner. Or rather, a NON-exerciser.

Well, Monday night was supposed to be night one of training, but we had already planned a girls night out at the Melting Pot (UM, DELICIOUS!), so I started "training" last night.

I did my first 4 miles walk/run combo. After 2 miles, my legs sort of went numb and it got so much easier. By the time I hit 4 miles, I could have kept up with the walk/run combo, but I was starving and hopped off to go eat dinner.

It was incredible to actually set a goal -- even though it was just a half-step in the hundreds of miles of training to come -- and actually reach it.

I felt so accomplished. Now I can't wait to get back on the 'Mill...and, when the time comes, begin running outdoors...and eventually complete my first race.

So in turn, I have a feeling that this little blog o'mine is going to start being flooded with training updates. Unless of course, I end up pregnant and have to quit running...

JUST KIDDING HUBS! AND MOM! No babies until AT LEAST after Race 1 is completed. I'd like to fit into my jeans before spilling over the top of them. :)