Mothers Day Classic

Firstly, I would like to introduce myself as very much a non-runner. I have always liked the “idea” of running and have often woken up from a dream where I have been running (usually away from something, but non-the-less running…) but just have never had the inclination nor drive to become a runner …. until now. Two months ago in a desperate attempt to lose some Christmas kilos and tone up, I decided I was going to start running and set myself a gradually increasing plan for making myself a runner. In the second week of January when I started my plan, I could only run 2 km and that was very hard going. But from there I have gradually increased my distances and the amount that I was running vs walking.

I decided 4 times a week was more than enough to be exercising - didn’t want my body to pass out with shock! I save my big run each week until the weekend and again like a true athlete I aspire to getting it over and done with on Saturday morning so that I can relish in my Sunday rest day and also so that I have 2 full days to recover so I can walk at work on Monday! And because of the hot weather and evening motherly duties I had to commit to doing my run/walk in the morning before work and before it got to hot (I am a bit of a fair-weather exerciser). I also liked the idea of it being over and done with for the day (mmm, not the words of an aspiring athlete, I know). So gradually I have built up - 4km one week, 6km, 10km and then on Saturday last weekend after 9 weeks of training I ran 15km!! I am still in shock myself. Again I say, I am NOT a runner. 15km took me a long, long time - 1hr and 45mins to be exact… That is a long time to be exercising but it also equates to a very slow mins per km rate. But that is ok - speed will come (maybe, maybe not…) Despite the hours I spend congratulating myself on being able to cover this distance, I know that I have a long way to go to become a “runner”… but perhaps in the meantime I have achieved “plodder” status.

So my training for Mother’s Day Classic has well and truely begun - I have only ever walked the course in the past but this year I aim to be able to do the 8km run or perhaps the 8km plod… With 9 weeks to go until the event you too can be running - if I, the non-runner can do it then anyone can! So my goal now - certainly not to run any further but rather to be able to go a little faster - make it all be over a bit quicker! See you all out there pounding the pavement! Happy plodding!

- Danni