Tove's Walk to Run - Running Log

Weeks One and Two

Intro
I’ve always been jealous of runners. To me, they radiate a tremendous sense of freedom. It’s like they’re not limited by anything.

I met Karey on the web when she started making plans for this site and that rekindled my old dream about becoming a runner. I did a bit of running in my twenties, but it faded out, and my attempts later over the years never became anything. I’m experienced enough to know my tendency when it comes to any kind of exercise: I start with enthusiasm and after a month or two something happens that makes me take a break – and eventually quit. Or, I might start again, but get discouraged because I find myself back on level zero. I’m also so self-conscious my extra kilos and my age that I feel embarrassed trying to run. Like a whale on land, a huge monster gasping for air. Add to that I live in the Greek countryside, where no one runs (actually, on one of my former attempts I was stopped by a farmer who wanted to give me a lift and who wondered if I was late for the bus since I was running?). The women here who do any sports go to the gym. And I hate the gym!

My goal is to get into an exercise habit that will last me a life time. I’ve been walking regularly for years and I do a lot of gardening, but I want to run. And I’ll treat that old dream seriously this time.

Karey is more than willing to help. She sends me her 12 weeks “If you can walk, you can run program”, and I commit to write a weekly report. No way can I skip out after two weeks now! I also decide to ask some girlfriends to join, as I hope I won’t feel as embarrassed as I would do if I was alone. Also, I hope, we’ll support and encourage each other. Irene and Sapphire are thrilled! So here we are: Irene, a 38 year old private nurse and artist, Sapphire, a 38 year old lawyer and me, Tove, a 43 year old writer.

Week One
We are married, we have kids and we work. So problem number one is deciding on when we shall go for a run. Originally I had asked Sapphire because our sons go to tennis together three times a week. We could drop the boys off, go for a run and then pick them up again. It’s just that Sapphire has a toddler boy, too, and who’s going to look after him? Her husband is at work and she doesn’t want to ask her mother in law to baby site again. Also, it gets dark at half past five-six, and it’s too far to drive into down where we find the only lamp lit training field in this area. All three of us occasionally work in the evenings. Then of course there might be a sick child, or some kind of family obligation that gets in the way. Recognize the situation?

Karey recommends training every second day, but that’s immediately voted down.“Let’s go every day when we can. There’ll always be one day when one of us can’t go,” the girls insist. And that’s the good thing about being three or more: If one can’t go, you’ll still have company.

Our running track is a field by the beach. There’s actually quite a few people there, either walking or running. What a difference it makes being with your girlfriends! Instead of feeling self-conscious we have a good laugh! I haven’t got around buying a watch yet. I brought my kitchen egg timer instead, only to discover it doesn’t ring. But from the car park to the pile of earth that we immediately baptize Mount Everest is approximately four minutes walking. Running from the mountain to the cypresses outside the beach bar must take approximately one minute. Actually, we find very quickly that it’s easier to go by signs in the landscape than the clock. “Only a little bit further, to that path crossing!” “Come on, let’s see if we can run all the way to that tree!” The baby-sitting problem is solved by Irene or me bringing one of our sons to walk the baby in the push chair while we run. The field is so flat we still can keep an eye on them. One day Irene and Sapphire go to the football field and just leave the toddler walking while they run - as the place is fenced there is no danger.

Week One is great! I find it much easier than I can remember. I wake up in the morning and look forward to the afternoon run. We have fun!

Week Two
Maybe it was the enthusiasm of Week One, because Week Two starts heavily – while we expected the opposite. My legs feel like timber, Sapphire is complaining about stitches and Irene says her knee hurt. I’m a bit worried about Irene, as some years ago she fell down from an olive tree and had a complicated leg fracture, which took nine months to heal. She says she’ll be ok. Karey says breathing techniques can help Sapphire for the stitches. I use to do some very basic yoga most mornings, but this morning I have skipped the yoga and maybe that’s the reason for the timber leg feeling?

“You shouldn’t try to run. Walking is much healthier!” says our sons’ tennis coach one day Sapphire and I drop them off. The coach starts telling about her exercise program and invites us to join. “No way!” I answer. “I’m bored walking. I want to run!” At the field we meet my old neighbour running. He’s older than me. “You go, girls!” he shouts to us. I find it very encouraging to see him, as I know that he wasn’t that fit last time I met him, in the summer. If he can do it, we can!

This afternoon, Sapphire had to bring the toddler (and we didn’t manage to get the older boys to come baby sitting). So she does more walking than running, Irene and I run and walk a bit forth and back to keep her company. Today we all feel fine, though we started a bit too late and it gets so pitch dark that we hardly can see the road and end up walking carefully for the last five minutes. Next day is a great day. We do the whole stretch in 22 minutes and decide to go for an extra round, though we walk more than we run. Feeling like champions afterwards. Irene and I decide to go for a run on Sunday morning, too. The beach is so lovely in the morning, but we have to drag ourselves our two rounds. Maybe it was too early in the morning?

Big test next week, as I have to go to Norway. I’ll bring my shoes along and I’m determined to run even there. Sapphire and Irene have got strict orders to not slack down while I’m away.