Since I’m likely signing up for Color Me Rad in April, yesterday I decided it was time to bite the bullet and start training. I’m not a runner. In fact, I’ve always loathed running. Even when I excelled in every other category of the physical fitness testing in grammar school (I rocked the flex arm hang!), I always struggled with the mile run.

In middle school, I signed up for the Azalea Trail Run (1-mile fun run) with a friend. Because I had a sore ankle and was recovering from a cold, I just couldn’t do it. Even at soccer practice during high school and crew team training in college, I always managed to “forget my running shoes” or “have an injury.” I’m not proud of this, but I always seem to give up on even the smallest goals for running.

So, with that said, why start running now? Well, on the surface, being pummeled with colored cornstarch sounds AWESOME!

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Also, while I’ve always been fairly fit and have never struggled with my weight or health, I’ve become incredibly sedentary thanks to my 8-5 office job and no real exercise routine. There’s my gymnastics class, but that’s one hour out of a week. Sure, I walk for about 30 minutes during my lunch break a few times a week, but that’s more for mental clarity.

It seems like everybody I know has a newfound passion for running. I’m competitive by nature, so I want in on the action. Having parents who suffer from multiple health problems, I realize the importance of taking advantage of what my body can do while I’m young and healthy. Also, if one of my oldest friends, and former non-runner, can overcome cancer and run a half marathon less than a year after her final chemo treatment, why can’t I push myself just a little?

I will never be a radically committed athlete who spends hours in the gym and works out each day. That’s just not me. Also, since we really need only moderate exercise to be healthy (in addition to eating well, getting adequate sleep, managing stress, and moving around throughout the day), I feel that running 3 days a week with plenty of rest/leisure is just what my body needs.

So, from January 22 until April 20 (race day), I’m completing my own variation of the Couch to 5K.

To begin, Mark and I walked a bit to warm up. He and I ran about a quarter of a mile and then walked the rest. While he went home to cook dinner, I decided to continue. I ran for approximately ¾ of a mile. I walked maybe for a minute or so and then finished the mile with a run.

(During my run, I wore my new Old Navy Active compression leggings and jacket. They were comfortable, stayed in place, and kept me quite warm. Be sure to read last week’s review of the tank and capri pants.)

Surprisingly, I’m not that sore today. I feel pretty energized, and while I really believe I could’ve finished the whole mile, I didn’t want to push myself too hard and cause an injury.

Tonight is my gymnastics class, but Thursday and Saturday I plan to attempt another mile run—or possibly even 1.5 miles. Once I accomplish that goal, perhaps I will reward myself with this.

Developing and maintaining an exercise routine is one of my goals for 2013—and running a 5K is #1 on my 30 Before 30 list. Since nutritious food is fuel for attaining such goals, let’s move on to what I’ve been eating this week.

breakfast: oats and coffee (duh?!)

snacks: cocoa-dusted almonds, Chobani

lunch: chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat, white grapes

A few dinners from the week:

[baked tilapia, sautéed zucchini/squash, salad with butter lettuce/tomato/goat cheese, crescent roll]

[sautéed veal cutlet, yellow squash, rice]

[bracciolone or bushaloni: beef round stuffed with onion/bell pepper/garlic/bread crumbs, simmered in homemade marinara]

Happy WIAW. Till next time…