How I Went From Couch Potato to Running 391 km

I focused on everything I hated about running

I am a couch potato.

Despite my inclination to favor the couch, I found myself in the peculiar situation of having accidentally signed up for a half-marathon. I’d somehow temporarily forgotten that I don’t run. Or work out for that matter.

The only thing I can say in my defense is that it happened during wine night.

My first run was abysmal. So bad that I’ve turned it into a humor piece here. To say it didn’t go well would be an understatement but the important thing is that I came back a few days later, laced up my runners, and tried again.

My second run was probably closer to a walk than a run. I patted myself on the back for showing up at the starting line anyway.

I came back a few days later for a third run. Then a fourth run. Then a fifth run.

I’m not sure exactly when someone who runs begins to call themselves a runner. But here I am with 391 km logged on my running app.

I never thought I’d take a liking to running — there were just so many things I hated about it. And it was by focusing, one by one, on all the things I hated about running that I became a runner.

It never took long for a stitch to develop in my side. Or if it wasn’t a stitch, then it would be a cramp in my foot or my calf. Anytime I ran, some part of me was hurting or in discomfort.

Turns out I was running wrong. I was starting too fast— I wasn’t giving my body the time it needed to warm up and realize that I wanted it to get working.

I should add that when I say “too fast”, I really wasn’t running fast at all. But it was fast for me.

It wasn’t till I signed up for a running coaching program that I learned to start a run the right way — at a pace where I could still talk clearly to someone. When Coach said this, I was thrilled. Someone was giving me permission to be lazy!

I happily slowed my pace right down and, while I wouldn’t say I was exactly comfortable, I wasn’t hurting anymore.

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