I didn't believe it until I experienced it myself. A runner's high? Meh. Not possible. A few years ago it was a foreign concept, something I actually thought was a myth, or an inside joke among runners. You mean it's possible to literally feel good after running? I could never relate. I always felt horrible after running. Wait a second, I never really ran for more than a mile. But that mile sure made me feel like garbage.
It took a long time for me to catch this famous buzz. I certainly didn't feel it the first time I ran a 5K. I have a photo of myself from that day. My cheeks are blazing red, I am hunched over, and look like I am one chest pain away from sudden death. I did not feel high that day. I felt sick. When I ran a quarter marathon in Madison, I felt a brief high. Beyonce inspired me to snap my fingers once. That was kind of nice, I guess. But I was still waiting, wanting to get high without doing something illegal.
Some of you have asked me about this. When will I feel a runner's high? How will I know when I feel it? I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. It's not that I want to keep it a secret from you, it's just that I don't know. I suspect it's a totally individual experience. Even now, I don't feel it every time I run. There are days when I have to force myself through a couple miles and I just want it to end.
But there are a select few special days when magic happens. Perhaps the stars are in perfect alignment, or I ate the perfect combination of complex carbs and lean protien. Maybe it has something to do with barometric pressure or estrogen. Yep, that's it. Must be estrogen.
You are responsible for your own high, but I'll give you a few secrets about how to get there. The best highs happen when you don't put a lot of pressure on yourself. Give yourself plenty of time, don't commit to a specific distance, and enjoy the world around you. My greatest highs usually occur out on a country road, when I can see for miles without the interference of technology or development. Just farmland and houses and casual encounters with little creatures.
Wanna get high? Take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, then let it out slowly. Steady, controlled breathing helps with mental focus. And we all know this running game shakes out to be about 80 percent mental. With a fierce mental focus, you will run stronger and farther, and increase your likelihood of reaching that high.
But what does it really feel like? You are dying to know, aren't you? For the record, I have never done cocaine. But I told my husband today that if cocaine feels anything like the way I felt after my run today, I can see how easily people can get hooked. Here's what it feels like for me. Despite sweating profusely, I actually begin to feel a little chilled. Like the chill you get up your spine when you are really excited or in awe of something. I'm suddenly keenly aware of everything around me. Nature looks more beautiful, the air smells fresher, and nothing in my body hurts.
The best part of getting high is how good you feel about yourself. Unstoppable. You feel literally unstoppable. You don't hate the place where your ass meets your leg (the lass as I like to call it). You don't question decisions you made last week. You believe you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. For once, you believe in yourself. There is no better way to acheive a sense of self confidence then by getting high from running.
Go for it. Try to get high every day this week if you can. You won't have to spend one dollar or go anywhere scary to get your fix. It is addicting. You will want more. And you'll want to convince your family and friends to get high with you. I've even encouraged my kid to get high with me! But there are some days when I just want to keep it all to myself. I'm almost high just telling you about it!
What a rush!!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
U-Rah-Rah!!!
I've been a cheerleader my whole life. I had large pairs of green and gold pom pons when I was a small child. I would have preferred to sit on the side and cheer for my friends in little league. It seems I was never skilled at sports involving a ball. My professional cheerleading career started in 8th grade and I had a blast with my friends. And probably the closest I ever came to feeling like I won a state championship was the day my friends met me at the bus stop to let me know that we all made the varsity squad, as sophomores.
We were awesome cheerleaders and took our jobs very seriously. Every member of the football team had a poster on his locker before each game. We petitioned against the principal and school board when funding was cut so that we could no longer travel to away games. Thanks to our efforts and parents, that problem was solved. We sold tons of candy bars to earn money for new uniforms. I actually purchased more than I sold to others but still, the uniforms were fully funded. We really considered ourselves part of the team. But we were on sidelines for every game.
That spirit hasn't died. I am an avid Packers, Brewers, Bucks, and Ripon Tigers fan. My favorite summer weekends are the ones spent at Murray park, watching all the local kids suit up in orange and black. Honestly, I sometimes get stressed. I realize they're just kids but there's nothing like a double play to fire things up and I just can't take it when the umpire makes a bad call. My cheerleading days are far from over.
I'm sure most of you can relate. It's not all about sports either. We cheer when our kids do well in school or when someone gets married. We sing and dance in cheer when we go to concerts or special events. We root for the underdog, applaud the improbable victory and pull for a big finish. For goodness sake, I have stood in the crowd at a fishing tournament, waiting to cheer for my brother as he weighed in the biggest walleye. That is a superfan, I'm telling you.
But guess what? I'm not satisfied with just being on the side lines anymore. I want to know what it feels like to hit a home run, kick the winning field goal, or break away for a slam dunk. The old cliche, Life is Not a Spectator Sport, is really beginning to sink in. The competition may be a little different. (Remember, no sports that involve a ball.) It's now a battle for a faster time, longer distance, or a new challenge.
When I finished my first 5K, my father in law was standing near the finish line, hand outstretched. I slapped him a high five, for the first time in my life as the competitor and not the cheerleader. It felt awesome. The only way it would have been better is if he had orange and black pom pons to shake high in the air. If you know my father in law, you also know how funny it would have been to see him with said pom pons.
I'm not ready to give up my pom pons completely. I'm still going to use them to cheer for my son with so many fun years ahead of us. The Packers have given me reason to wish I still had those huge green and gold ones from my childhood. But I'm not going to hold onto my poms so tightly any more. I'm going to lend them out once in a while and let someone else do the cheering for a change. Now I've just got to get out there and give them something to cheer about.
It's a new week. Do something worthy of a special cheer.
We were awesome cheerleaders and took our jobs very seriously. Every member of the football team had a poster on his locker before each game. We petitioned against the principal and school board when funding was cut so that we could no longer travel to away games. Thanks to our efforts and parents, that problem was solved. We sold tons of candy bars to earn money for new uniforms. I actually purchased more than I sold to others but still, the uniforms were fully funded. We really considered ourselves part of the team. But we were on sidelines for every game.
That spirit hasn't died. I am an avid Packers, Brewers, Bucks, and Ripon Tigers fan. My favorite summer weekends are the ones spent at Murray park, watching all the local kids suit up in orange and black. Honestly, I sometimes get stressed. I realize they're just kids but there's nothing like a double play to fire things up and I just can't take it when the umpire makes a bad call. My cheerleading days are far from over.
I'm sure most of you can relate. It's not all about sports either. We cheer when our kids do well in school or when someone gets married. We sing and dance in cheer when we go to concerts or special events. We root for the underdog, applaud the improbable victory and pull for a big finish. For goodness sake, I have stood in the crowd at a fishing tournament, waiting to cheer for my brother as he weighed in the biggest walleye. That is a superfan, I'm telling you.
But guess what? I'm not satisfied with just being on the side lines anymore. I want to know what it feels like to hit a home run, kick the winning field goal, or break away for a slam dunk. The old cliche, Life is Not a Spectator Sport, is really beginning to sink in. The competition may be a little different. (Remember, no sports that involve a ball.) It's now a battle for a faster time, longer distance, or a new challenge.
When I finished my first 5K, my father in law was standing near the finish line, hand outstretched. I slapped him a high five, for the first time in my life as the competitor and not the cheerleader. It felt awesome. The only way it would have been better is if he had orange and black pom pons to shake high in the air. If you know my father in law, you also know how funny it would have been to see him with said pom pons.
I'm not ready to give up my pom pons completely. I'm still going to use them to cheer for my son with so many fun years ahead of us. The Packers have given me reason to wish I still had those huge green and gold ones from my childhood. But I'm not going to hold onto my poms so tightly any more. I'm going to lend them out once in a while and let someone else do the cheering for a change. Now I've just got to get out there and give them something to cheer about.
It's a new week. Do something worthy of a special cheer.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Bling Bling
Do you remember that old saying, "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold"? I've been thinking a lot about my friendships lately and that line always pops into my head. Gold and silver friendships have their differences but both are pretty special if you ask me.
How many gold friends do you have? Gold friends are so great because they already know everything about you. They remember the first time you served the ball over the net in 8th grade volleyball or the day you got your driver's license. They lived through your first broken heart and know why it's still a sensitive subject. You've had major successes together and probably some pretty messy failures too. I love gold friends because you can sit and talk for hours or you can ride in a car without saying a word and the silence isn't at all awkward. In fact, it's kind of nice. You can sing in front of them, change in front of them, and even fart in front of them without embarrassment.
The other awesome thing about gold friends is that your relationships with them can endure lapses in time, distance, and even disagreement. If a gold friendship gets dusty or buried in the dirt for a while, it's pretty easy to dust it off and shine it right back up again. Two minutes of catching up and you are right back to the comfortable feeling of being together. I saw a gold friend today for the first time in a long time. We just passed each other for a moment and shared a smile. We didn't stop to talk and that was ok. That smile said enough words for an hour of conversation and it reminded me of fun that dated back to second grade.
Silver friends feel a little different but that's what is so cool about them. These are the people who teach you about new things and bring you out of your shell. There is nothing better than meeting someone new and hitting it off immediately, talking for hours and feeling excited about getting together again. Silver friends are fresh and fun. Best of all, they don't yet know your faults or your annoying bad habits.
Facebook has created a type of friendship that we haven't had to consider before, the colorless friends. Friends that aren't really friends at all. Instead, they recognize your name, have met you once, or are being nosy about you. At some point, they might feel like they know you but it's based on status update alone. They know that you cheered for the Packers or that you "like" the Gap, but if you see them at Walmart you try your hardest to avoid running into them. The jury is still out on colorless friends. I often contemplate starting over on Facebook, a new account with no colorless friends, but then who would I spy on and gossip about?
I honestly think there are times when friendships get stale, lose their color. The gold or silver is so tarnished, it can't be shined up again. It's a tough lesson but I've learned it's ok to let those friendships go. If neither of you has worked on keeping the friendship shiny, it's best to focus on those who continue to shine brightly, or those who just need a little buffing.
So while my silver friends are impressed by my enthusiasm for running and fitness in general, my gold friends know how hard it was for me to get here. They were with me to lie to the cheerleading coach about running a 1 mile warm up at practice. Or beg the gym teacher to let us play HORSE on the side to avoid being killed by the guys who were playing basketball for real in gym class. I'm sure a lot of them still can't believe how I've changed in the past few years. But being the gold friends they are, maybe they knew I had this buried somewhere inside me.
Speaking of gold, I give a gold star this week to Brandi K. who met and exceeded her beginning fitness goal and is laughing in the faces of the New Year's resolution foes. I also want to wish a very Happy Birthday to my best silver-turned-gold friend, Deb (Totie) Kraus Nagel. My life just wouldn't be nearly as fun without you.
So here's to all my friends, gold and silver. Work hard and enjoy your week!
How many gold friends do you have? Gold friends are so great because they already know everything about you. They remember the first time you served the ball over the net in 8th grade volleyball or the day you got your driver's license. They lived through your first broken heart and know why it's still a sensitive subject. You've had major successes together and probably some pretty messy failures too. I love gold friends because you can sit and talk for hours or you can ride in a car without saying a word and the silence isn't at all awkward. In fact, it's kind of nice. You can sing in front of them, change in front of them, and even fart in front of them without embarrassment.
The other awesome thing about gold friends is that your relationships with them can endure lapses in time, distance, and even disagreement. If a gold friendship gets dusty or buried in the dirt for a while, it's pretty easy to dust it off and shine it right back up again. Two minutes of catching up and you are right back to the comfortable feeling of being together. I saw a gold friend today for the first time in a long time. We just passed each other for a moment and shared a smile. We didn't stop to talk and that was ok. That smile said enough words for an hour of conversation and it reminded me of fun that dated back to second grade.
Silver friends feel a little different but that's what is so cool about them. These are the people who teach you about new things and bring you out of your shell. There is nothing better than meeting someone new and hitting it off immediately, talking for hours and feeling excited about getting together again. Silver friends are fresh and fun. Best of all, they don't yet know your faults or your annoying bad habits.
Facebook has created a type of friendship that we haven't had to consider before, the colorless friends. Friends that aren't really friends at all. Instead, they recognize your name, have met you once, or are being nosy about you. At some point, they might feel like they know you but it's based on status update alone. They know that you cheered for the Packers or that you "like" the Gap, but if you see them at Walmart you try your hardest to avoid running into them. The jury is still out on colorless friends. I often contemplate starting over on Facebook, a new account with no colorless friends, but then who would I spy on and gossip about?
I honestly think there are times when friendships get stale, lose their color. The gold or silver is so tarnished, it can't be shined up again. It's a tough lesson but I've learned it's ok to let those friendships go. If neither of you has worked on keeping the friendship shiny, it's best to focus on those who continue to shine brightly, or those who just need a little buffing.
So while my silver friends are impressed by my enthusiasm for running and fitness in general, my gold friends know how hard it was for me to get here. They were with me to lie to the cheerleading coach about running a 1 mile warm up at practice. Or beg the gym teacher to let us play HORSE on the side to avoid being killed by the guys who were playing basketball for real in gym class. I'm sure a lot of them still can't believe how I've changed in the past few years. But being the gold friends they are, maybe they knew I had this buried somewhere inside me.
Speaking of gold, I give a gold star this week to Brandi K. who met and exceeded her beginning fitness goal and is laughing in the faces of the New Year's resolution foes. I also want to wish a very Happy Birthday to my best silver-turned-gold friend, Deb (Totie) Kraus Nagel. My life just wouldn't be nearly as fun without you.
So here's to all my friends, gold and silver. Work hard and enjoy your week!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Make Your Dreams Come True
It's so fun to talk to kids about what they want to be when they grow up. My kid is a typical boy. The answer is usually baseball player or race car driver. What I love about kids is that they say what they really mean, from the heart. They don't think about how much money the job will pay or what obstacles stand in the way. Little boys don't see any reason they can't be a professional ball player. They love to play ball and so they think that is what they should do. Makes sense, doesn't it?
I've started asking new clients that question when I first meet them. So many of them are burdened and unhappy because of the stress they encounter at work. They are tired and beaten down. They dread Monday morning so much that they can't even tolerate Sunday nights anymore. Ask them what they want to be and a dreamy look comes over them. Maybe even a small smile as they think of something that could have made them truly happy.
As a preschooler, I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. Wouldn't that be fun? In middle school, I wanted to be an archeaologist. I thought it would be so fun to find old stuff and examine it. No one told me that this would include hours of tedious digging and almost no salary. Another good career prospect was sun screen tester. I was certain, at age 14, that there must be people who would have to test the sun screen. As much as I loved tanning, I was sure to be the best candidate for the job. Skin cancer? Wrinkles? Neither mean a thing to a 14 year old!
If you asked me now, I would tell you I'm pretty content. Once I realized that testing sunscreen was really a ludicrous idea, it became clear to me that I wanted to do something in medicine. Even then, I tried many avenues before finally settling into mental health. Lately, it has crossed my mind that I would love to get certified as a personal trainer, teach yoga classes, or write for a fitness magazine. These days, those dreams don't seem so ludicrous.
Think about it. Maybe you can't change what you do. You might be stuck in your job or career. Perhaps the pay or the benefits are too good to give up. Certainly, the job market isn't open to much change right now. Or maybe, like me, you are content with what you are doing. But what other dreams do you have? If you could have a second career, what would it be? And what would it take for you to get there?
Trying something new can teach you a lot about yourself. If you had told me five years ago that I should think about a career in fitness, I would have died laughing. Hard, gut wrenching laughter. But that laughter would have been more about self doubt, lack of confidence, and fear of the unknown than it would have been about anything really funny.
Many of you have joined me in a commitment to run a 5K or half marathon this fall. Lots of you have never done anything like this before. Do you know how brave you are? Do you know how much I admire you? And most of all, do you have any idea how excited I am to see you succeed? For some of you, I know you still have doubts about this accomplishment, which is certainly a normal way to feel. You'll probably have some fear and doubt until you cross the finish.
But you will cross the finish, and do you know what will happen? You will start asking yourself, what else can I do? When you accomplish something big, it opens doors all over your life. Whether you want to take it further and run a marathon, go back to school, or take on any other challenge, you will be equipped to handle anything. So start dreaming. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I've started asking new clients that question when I first meet them. So many of them are burdened and unhappy because of the stress they encounter at work. They are tired and beaten down. They dread Monday morning so much that they can't even tolerate Sunday nights anymore. Ask them what they want to be and a dreamy look comes over them. Maybe even a small smile as they think of something that could have made them truly happy.
As a preschooler, I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. Wouldn't that be fun? In middle school, I wanted to be an archeaologist. I thought it would be so fun to find old stuff and examine it. No one told me that this would include hours of tedious digging and almost no salary. Another good career prospect was sun screen tester. I was certain, at age 14, that there must be people who would have to test the sun screen. As much as I loved tanning, I was sure to be the best candidate for the job. Skin cancer? Wrinkles? Neither mean a thing to a 14 year old!
If you asked me now, I would tell you I'm pretty content. Once I realized that testing sunscreen was really a ludicrous idea, it became clear to me that I wanted to do something in medicine. Even then, I tried many avenues before finally settling into mental health. Lately, it has crossed my mind that I would love to get certified as a personal trainer, teach yoga classes, or write for a fitness magazine. These days, those dreams don't seem so ludicrous.
Think about it. Maybe you can't change what you do. You might be stuck in your job or career. Perhaps the pay or the benefits are too good to give up. Certainly, the job market isn't open to much change right now. Or maybe, like me, you are content with what you are doing. But what other dreams do you have? If you could have a second career, what would it be? And what would it take for you to get there?
Trying something new can teach you a lot about yourself. If you had told me five years ago that I should think about a career in fitness, I would have died laughing. Hard, gut wrenching laughter. But that laughter would have been more about self doubt, lack of confidence, and fear of the unknown than it would have been about anything really funny.
Many of you have joined me in a commitment to run a 5K or half marathon this fall. Lots of you have never done anything like this before. Do you know how brave you are? Do you know how much I admire you? And most of all, do you have any idea how excited I am to see you succeed? For some of you, I know you still have doubts about this accomplishment, which is certainly a normal way to feel. You'll probably have some fear and doubt until you cross the finish.
But you will cross the finish, and do you know what will happen? You will start asking yourself, what else can I do? When you accomplish something big, it opens doors all over your life. Whether you want to take it further and run a marathon, go back to school, or take on any other challenge, you will be equipped to handle anything. So start dreaming. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Let's Get it Started
Well, last week I presented you with a challenge. Join me for the Fox Cities Community First Marathon, participating in the event of your choice. The invitation is still open. You are still welcome. If you haven't received an official invite via Facebook and you want in, let me know. Your options include a 5K, 1/2 marathon walk or run, full marathon or marathon relay (4 or 5 people split the 26.2 mile race).
I am worried that some people might be questioning my motivation here. I don't want to come off as a know-it-all or give the impression that I am some fabulous athlete. On the contrary, I have a long way to go and could use some support! I'm doing this to share the joy of the accomplishment but also to learn from your journey. At the very least, I just want to facilitate a way for us all to learn and grow together. I'm hoping to get to know some of you better and get closer to those of you I already know and love.
With that being said, several of you have commented that you are going to need some extra support or guidance. Many have asked me where to start. All of you are starting at different places, so here is what I will suggest. Those of you who have a head start, do your thing. Newbies, this week, at some point, you need to complete a one mile course. You can walk, run or a combination of both but I want you to time yourself and write it down somewhere. They did this at the beginning of last season's Biggest Loser and I loved it because it will give you a place to look back to at the end when a mile no longer seems like a challenge but a warm up.
This mile can occur anywhere. No treadmill? Walk outside. YES, I know it's cold. NO MORE EXCUSES!!! Bundle up and move your body. You won't freeze to death walking outside and a mile will not take you any longer than 20 minutes or so, even as a beginner. Oh, but who will watch my kid (s)? Again, this excuse can't fly anymore. Figure it out. Walk on your lunch break, drop them off somewhere, pay a high schooler or tell your husband that this is your time. For goodness sake, call me. I'll watch your kids while you work out, and I'm not even joking. I don't care how you do it but you must find a way to make time for yourself. This will be one of the hardest challenges but also one of the key points to successfully reaching your goal.
Next, you must have decent shoes. I understand the financial burden of good walking or running shoes. But please trust me. You can spend 40 bucks at Kohls or Shopko right now and one of the following things will likely happen. You will either get hurt or you will end up buying another pair of shoes. I know this because I have spent hundreds of dollars messing around with cheap shoes and shin splints. Please consider going to RunAway Shoes in Oshkosh or Fleet Feet in Appleton and being properly fitted for shoes. (I'm sure similar stores exist outside this area).Don't let it scare, embarrass, or intimidate you. The staff is very considerate of new runners and they will help you choose a shoe that will work for you and hopefully help prevent injuries. There is a lot of great running gear to spend money on but the only thing you really need is decent shoes. The rest is all just fun.
Finally, start talking and reading, as much as you can. Talk to other runners at all levels and find out what worked for them. In this group alone you have good resources. Sara Radloff, Shaunda Jennings, Erin Endreson, Rebecca Yancy Lorge, and Brenda Velissaris have all completed half marathons. Diana Malkowski and Erin Moldenhauer have both run full marathons! Send these women messages and ask questions. I know all of them would be happy to share their experiences. (I also know they all wear decent shoes.) Get on the web and scour running sites, active.com, and anything else you can find. Bob Harper from the Biggest Loser has great workouts on his site.
Read Runner's World. At first, it will seem that it only applies to "real runners" but sooner or later that group will include you and the information you learn from reading will have been instrumental in getting you there. One word of caution, not everything you learn will apply to you. Everyone's bodies and limits are different. Take what works for you and let the rest go. Don't pressure yourself to be at the same training point as someone else. Just stay focused on your own goals.
Today is the first day of the new year. We have 259 days, plenty of time, to reach our goals. I am personally so excited by the responses I have received from all of you. Kudos to Laura Albright who hopped right on her treadmill and did 2+ miles the FIRST TIME!!! I can't wait to hear about your progress! All of you. It's going to be a wonderful year.
I am worried that some people might be questioning my motivation here. I don't want to come off as a know-it-all or give the impression that I am some fabulous athlete. On the contrary, I have a long way to go and could use some support! I'm doing this to share the joy of the accomplishment but also to learn from your journey. At the very least, I just want to facilitate a way for us all to learn and grow together. I'm hoping to get to know some of you better and get closer to those of you I already know and love.
With that being said, several of you have commented that you are going to need some extra support or guidance. Many have asked me where to start. All of you are starting at different places, so here is what I will suggest. Those of you who have a head start, do your thing. Newbies, this week, at some point, you need to complete a one mile course. You can walk, run or a combination of both but I want you to time yourself and write it down somewhere. They did this at the beginning of last season's Biggest Loser and I loved it because it will give you a place to look back to at the end when a mile no longer seems like a challenge but a warm up.
This mile can occur anywhere. No treadmill? Walk outside. YES, I know it's cold. NO MORE EXCUSES!!! Bundle up and move your body. You won't freeze to death walking outside and a mile will not take you any longer than 20 minutes or so, even as a beginner. Oh, but who will watch my kid (s)? Again, this excuse can't fly anymore. Figure it out. Walk on your lunch break, drop them off somewhere, pay a high schooler or tell your husband that this is your time. For goodness sake, call me. I'll watch your kids while you work out, and I'm not even joking. I don't care how you do it but you must find a way to make time for yourself. This will be one of the hardest challenges but also one of the key points to successfully reaching your goal.
Next, you must have decent shoes. I understand the financial burden of good walking or running shoes. But please trust me. You can spend 40 bucks at Kohls or Shopko right now and one of the following things will likely happen. You will either get hurt or you will end up buying another pair of shoes. I know this because I have spent hundreds of dollars messing around with cheap shoes and shin splints. Please consider going to RunAway Shoes in Oshkosh or Fleet Feet in Appleton and being properly fitted for shoes. (I'm sure similar stores exist outside this area).Don't let it scare, embarrass, or intimidate you. The staff is very considerate of new runners and they will help you choose a shoe that will work for you and hopefully help prevent injuries. There is a lot of great running gear to spend money on but the only thing you really need is decent shoes. The rest is all just fun.
Finally, start talking and reading, as much as you can. Talk to other runners at all levels and find out what worked for them. In this group alone you have good resources. Sara Radloff, Shaunda Jennings, Erin Endreson, Rebecca Yancy Lorge, and Brenda Velissaris have all completed half marathons. Diana Malkowski and Erin Moldenhauer have both run full marathons! Send these women messages and ask questions. I know all of them would be happy to share their experiences. (I also know they all wear decent shoes.) Get on the web and scour running sites, active.com, and anything else you can find. Bob Harper from the Biggest Loser has great workouts on his site.
Read Runner's World. At first, it will seem that it only applies to "real runners" but sooner or later that group will include you and the information you learn from reading will have been instrumental in getting you there. One word of caution, not everything you learn will apply to you. Everyone's bodies and limits are different. Take what works for you and let the rest go. Don't pressure yourself to be at the same training point as someone else. Just stay focused on your own goals.
Today is the first day of the new year. We have 259 days, plenty of time, to reach our goals. I am personally so excited by the responses I have received from all of you. Kudos to Laura Albright who hopped right on her treadmill and did 2+ miles the FIRST TIME!!! I can't wait to hear about your progress! All of you. It's going to be a wonderful year.
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