Running Project

I have never like running...I have never been good at it. In fact, I am downright BAD at it. With this in mind, please understand the enormity of my decision to start running.

I don't know if right now is the best time to try to add something to a schedule that is already verging on overwhelming, but I have to try.

My project is this: get good enough at running to do a 5k run with my brother in Colorado when I go see him next summer. I am giving myself plenty of time because I am not a good runner now, and I know that I will need to be able to run more than a 5k here if I want to run at least a 5k in the thin air of Colorado.

My plan is to "run" (read: jog) three days a week, and cross-training one day a week which leaves me three rest days a week.

I started yesterday. I found out that my best "run" is really a jog, and that I can actually jog for 5 minutes straight which I didn't know before. I also found out that I can control my breathing so that I don't get out of breath so fast. I really have to concentrate on my breath, but I'm good at that from doing Yoga. I feel pretty good. No soreness, or tightness.

Yesterday, I did 5 minutes of "running" followed by 5 minutes of walking twice, plus a 5 minutes warm-up and cool-down which totaled to 30 minutes of movement. Then I stretched and did a little corework on a mat.

I have chosen to do my workouts at the gym on campus, which requires a several minute walk just to get there. I must exercise just to get to the place where I can exercise. While this seems weird, I still think the gym is my best bet. I do not want to run around either campus, or my downtown neighborhood. The track at the gym is nicer on my feet than the street. It is also indoors, so I do not have to try and run in cool air.

I also plan on blogging this project. I have already told a couple of people my plans to run, but I think that the added obligation of blogging will help me keep to my plan.

I am giving myself permission to continue with my plan even if I miss a day. Previous workout plans of mine have failed because if I didn't stick to it completely then I just threw it out as "failed". This not only made me feel bad for failing, but also curtailed my working out which was the point in the first place.

I'm thinking that I want to do some kind of picture documentation of myself to monitor my physical changes. I would like to post these pictures with my blog entries. The only sticking point is that I'm not sure of what to wear in these pictures. What is too little? What is too much? A shorts bra and running shorts? A tank and running shorts? A huge over-sized t-shirt and baggy sweat pants?

Please give me any feedback you might have on the project in general, and my clothing options for pictures in particular.