By the end of week three, I try to learn how to like to run – something I’ve hated for most of my life – for my entire month. “Lifehacker Fitness ChallengeI have to report a few hiccups and an incredible, practically incredible success.
First, the hiccups, of which there were several. I ran exactly once last week, even though I gave myself one Goal of three runs last week::
My goals for the next week are three runs, at least one of which is on a scenic trail. My longest run / walk this week was just over 20 minutes. So if I can get that down to 25 minutes it would feel like progress. And I hope that at least one run will appear on or near a “two” on the mood card.
There are legitimate reasons for this, namely that my parents and my grandfather came to visit the city last weekend. It was the first time in a year that I had seen her in person. And then, because I told myself I could train in a way that I enjoy, I decided on my elliptical trainer on Monday.
On Tuesday, Lifehacker’s editor-in-chief Jordan Calhoun and I interviewed each other Jason Fitzgerald of Strength Running for Lifehackers Podcast, The upgrade. (This episode is scheduled to be released on Monday. Then I’ll come back and drop the link here.) We were talking about this very subject – how do you get started as an adult? – and Jason was very kind and encouraging to me, even after Jordan told him how My ankles don’t bend properly.
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There were some important personal lessons for me from this conversation. First, in order for you to start running happily, you need to give him 30 days. (I ran into just the right time!) Second, that you’ll probably hate it for the first two – maybe three – weeks. (I had just that much time and still wasn’t a fan!) And then there would be a turning point; My body would feel different. My legs would feel stronger and the whole thing would become a little more natural and I would be on my way to enjoy it. I could tell that he really believed that, I could see that he wanted this for me, and I allowed myself to believe that it might actually be possible. After all, he’s the expert.
Newly motivated, I left the Zoom meeting, laced up my sneakers and started running. I needed a change of scene, so I went to the neighborhood next to me – one that’s beautifully bordered by huge sycamore trees and a little hilly but not quite as hilly as mine. I walked for a few minutes and then started jogging. I had the tight-fitting thing back and I said, “Oh, damn it, here we are again,” but then they loosened up and I left.
After a few minutes, I began to wonder if I should slow down as my body usually insisted that I do it after a few minutes. And yet I felt pretty good. I wasn’t particularly out of breath or unwell, so I just kept running. I haven’t timed myself, but my best guess is I ran 12-13 minutes in a row without stopping. And if I hadn’t had to turn around to go uphill at this point, I probably could have continued for longer. Walking a few minutes at the beginning and end took me to 20 minutes and I got home feeling pretty happy with myself.
Jason was right. My body felt different. My legs felt stronger. I felt less like I was running than I was actually running. And I kind of liked that feeling.
I gave myself a “two” from 1-5 on my Running Moods Scale. (In case you don’t remember, five is, “Fuck that shit right to hell” and one is, “Yay! Running is the best!”) Two was another goal of mine for this week, and it’s the one of that I didn’t think I’d reach
Now back to the hiccups (the figurative kind). Like I said, this was the only run I’ve done this week – although in fairness it’s only Thursday when I write this. The main reason I didn’t run yesterday or today is because my right ankle was a bit sore when I woke up yesterday. Not like an injured type of wound, but tight enough that I’m nervous about running on it. It’s my own fault; I haven’t warmed up enough, even though I know my ankles aren’t flexible. Jason also stressed that people try to do too much too soon and can make injuries worse. So I’ll give it another day or two before trying a run.
Asinine ankle or not, I call this week a win.
