First day of my running clinic today. It may be a bit early to be claiming victory but I did survive. We’re quite a big group of wannabe runners but I get the impression that some people will drop out of every group before the end of the clinic.

Each session begins with a short trainin lecture before the group run.

Today we walked two mins and ran for one. Repeat seven times. We’re to get in two more practice runs before the end of the week. Next week it’s one min running followed by one minute walking x10. In 10 weeks we’re supposed to be able to run 10 minutes before taking a walking break. I hope I can keep up.

Each Running Room clinic is tied to a charity run. The one at the end of my clinic is the Little Big Run. I’m considering signing up for the 5km run. I don’t expect to have a great time for the run but I am hoping I’ll finish it. The following weekend is a run on the base to raise funds for the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC). I’d like to try running the 5km there as well but I’m not sure if two back to back races would be a good idea.

Runners, feel free to chime in with advice.

Tomorrow marks the first day of my 10 week ‘learn to run’ clinic at The Running Room. I’m alternately excited and terrified. Sure, I can walk 3 – 5 km daily but the idea of running scares me a little. What if I can’t keep up? What if I trip over my feet and fall flat on my face?

The joys of a worry wart personality.

pretty happy with my measurements at gym tonight. no change in calves & biceps but lost 8 inches elsewhere. no wonder I needed new holes punched in my belt!

For the past few weeks I’ve been babbling, blogging, scribbling on Facebook and Tweeting about my plans to register for a Running Room walking clinic later this month. It’s been a pretty common topic of conversation for me for a while.

I’ve changed my mind.

This morning I registered for the Learn to Run clinic instead. My end goal has always been to be able to run. In fact, my end fitness goal for this whole she-bang is to be able to run a marathon. Of course, I’m going to start with smaller distances and work my way up to the 26 mile monstrosity. I haven’t completely lost my mind. Yet.

Since I’ve managed to work my way from walking 1km to 5km in an hour in the last 2 months all on my own, I’m pretty sure I’ll eventually be able to increase my walking distance to 10km without needing to attend a clinic first.  I haven’t yet hurt myself walking and it’s pretty easy to keep myself motivated when it comes to putting one foot in front of the other at a walking pace.

Running is a completely different story. I know I’ll need to learn lots in order to ensure I don’t increase the existing damage to my knees and ankles.  It won’t hurt how to properly dress for the weather and eat for training, etc.

My upcoming goal is to run/walk my way through the 5km at the Little Big Run in May.

Long ago, when I was a wee bitty girl, I was a Highland dancer. I danced competitively for about 12 years. Anyone who’s seen Highland dancing can probably understand how the constant bouncing from one foot to the other does a big number on a lot of dancers knees and ankles. I’m no exception.

Just for balance, I have the most problems with my left knee and right ankle. Most of the time it’s just a dull little ache that I’ve learned to ignore. Until the weather starts to change. For a few weeks each year – usually as it warms up in spring and cools down in autumn – I’m in complete agony. My joints seem to swell and ache no matter what I do.

I suspect my seasonal joint pain visit will be a little extra special this year. Not in a good way of course. I wrenched my knee a little when doing lunges a few weeks back. Now I’m suffering through the annoyance of odd knee pain when I’m sitting or climbing stairs (up or down) that goes away when I’m walking.

Really. I know. It sounds odd. The only time my knee and ankle don’t bother me lately is when I’m walking. Wonder why?