Pinch My Salt

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Confession

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Near Innsbruck, Austria

So, I started jogging.

That’s my big confession.  Not much of a confession, you say?  Ok, here’s my confession:  I can’t jog.  Not good enough for you?  Well, I can’t do push-ups either.  Not one.  Not even the girlie kind on my knees.  I don’t like to tell people that because as far as I can tell, I’m pretty much the only person in the world who can’t even do one measly push-up.

But back to the jogging.  I really can’t jog.  Even in Junior High, back when kids were still encouraged forced to exercise in school, and Ronald Reagan wanted me to be able to jog a mile around the school track, I couldn’t do it.  I wasn’t overweight.  I just wasn’t a jogger.  And I couldn’t do enough sit-ups either.  So I hated P.E. class and I hated that Presidential fitness program because it always seemed like I was the only one who couldn’t run the mile, who couldn’t complete enough sit-ups, who couldn’t do the pull-ups.  And if push-ups had been part of that program, I guarantee you that I wouldn’t have been able to do enough of those either.

That stuck with me.  Those exercises weren’t part of our daily school P.E. regimen so I never had a chance to improve or see that it was possible to get in better shape and to actually score well on those fitness tests.  Instead, I labeled myself ‘non-athletic’ and trudged through five more years of Physical Education classes, dreading fitness tests and hoping I would never be singled out.

Does it sound like I’m blaming Ronald Reagan for the fact that I’m out of shape?  Well, I’m not.  I think we need fitness programs in schools now more than ever.  I just wish I had come away from those junior high P.E. classes with confidence and knowledge of how to improve my athletic ability instead of feelings of inadequacy.  But I guess Junior High is all about feelings of inadequacy anyway.

So, back to present day.   After years and years of believing that I just can’t do it, I decided to start jogging.  Being married to a bad-ass Navy EOD Tech for 8 years, I’ve become quite familiar with the inside of a gym.  I’ve slowly overcome most of my “I just can’t do it” feelings that used to be associated with all sports and/or fitness equipment.  But jogging and push-ups are two things that I just haven’t conquered.  And yes, there is still some shame and embarrassment attached to it.

So why am I announcing this to thousands of strangers?  Accountability, for one.  If you all know that I’m working towards a goal of jogging for 30 minutes straight, perhaps I’ll be less likely to give up when the going gets tough.  But the other reason I’m sharing this is that I  know I’m not the only person in the world who can’t jog and I’m probably not the only one who can’t do one stupid push-up (I’m hoping that at least one of you will admit that and make me feel better about my shocking lack of upper-body strength).

I’m not saying that everyone should be out there jogging.  It’s a personal choice.  For me, it’s something that I’ve always wanted to be able to do.  I have no desire to turn into a competitive runner, but I would like to be able to go for a jog with my husband.  I want to be able to complete a 5K and get one of those ugly free t-shirts.  I want to burn more calories and I want a healthier heart.  Also, I want to lose some of the weight I’ve put on since moving back to the United States.  And I don’t do diets.

So I’m going to share with you the walk/jog program that I started a few weeks ago.  There are several versions of this type of program out there; they are generally 10-12 weeks in length and move you gradually from walking to jogging with the end goal being 30 minutes of nonstop jogging.  After 3 weeks of doing this, I’m really not sure if this particular program is a good fit for me, but I’ve decided I’ll just repeat week three until I feel like I’m ready to move on.  I’m not gonna lie, week three really sucked.  But I’ve decided that it’s not important how long it takes me to complete the program, as long as I eventually do finish it!

Bud Coate’s Ease into this Running Program

Before you start: get your legs ready with eight days of walking:  Walk for 20 minutes a day for the first four days, then increase to 30 minutes a day for four more days.

Each week of the program, do your run/walk workouts on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Take a rest day or an easy walk on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

WEEK 1:  Run 2 minutes, walk 4 minutes.  Complete 5 cycles.
WEEK 2:  Run 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes.  Complete 5 cycles.
WEEK 3:  Run 5 minutes, walk 2 ½ minutes.  Complete 4 cycles.
WEEK 4:  Run 7 minutes, walk 3 minutes.  Complete 3 cycles.
WEEK 5:  Run 8 minutes, walk 2 minutes.  Complete 3 cycles.
WEEK 6:  Run 9 minutes, walk 2 minutes.  Complete 2 cycles, then run 8 minutes.
WEEK 7:  Run 9 minutes, walk 1 minute.  Complete 3 cycles.
WEEK 8:  Run 13 minutes, walk 2 minutes.  Complete 2 cycles.
WEEK 9:  Run 14 minutes, walk 1 minute.  Complete 2 cycles.
WEEK 10:  Run 30 minutes.

Note:  You may stretch out this schedule to include 2 weeks at a certain level if you feel tired after completing one.  Do not be tempted to shorten the schedule.  Remember, you are aiming for 30 minutes of uninterrupted running, not a distance.  Run as slow as you need in order to reach the goal.

From Complete Book of Running, Amby Burfoot, editor, 1997, Rodale Press

As I said, there are plenty of walk to jog programs out there.  A very popular one is the Couch-to-5K Running Program.  That program promises to have you running 3 miles in just 8 weeks.  Another is the 12-week Beginning to Run plan at Eat Better America.  Speaking from experience, I think a 12-week plan is more realistic for those of us who have never been joggers.

Regardless of which plan you choose to follow, remember that you can always repeat a week if you aren’t ready to move on.  The point of these plans is to ease yourself gradually into jogging, not push yourself too hard, become discouraged and give up!  Do you like how I’m assuming some of you will want to do this with me?  Come on, you know you want to!

Well, if you do want to give this a try, here are some tips/suggestions:

  • Get some new running shoes.  I’m serious.  Go to a running store if possible and get the right shoes for your foot.
  • Get a heart rate monitor.  I know not everyone can afford to run out and buy all this fancy new gear.  But heart rate monitors have really come down in price and I think it will help with your motivation. By using the heart rate monitor, I’ve been able to see improvements in my heart rate before I can actually feel a difference.  It has definitely encouraged me even if I haven’t seen much improvement anywhere else.
  • Run on the right surfaces.  A treadmill is actually a really good place to start.  You are in a controlled (read: air-conditioned) environment, you can keep a water bottle within arms reach, and you might even be able to watch television.  But if you don’t have access to one, or are too embarrassed to start your huffing and puffing in front of people at the gym, try running at a school track or find a flat running trail.  Just try to stay off hard surfaces such as concrete.  That means no sidewalks!  Running is hard on your joints, hard surfaces make it even worse.
  • Quit being self-conscious!  Don’t worry about what other people think.  Everyone has to start somewhere.

Now for the push-ups.  I don’t have a specific plan.  I’ve been back at the gym for about a month and am slowly building my strength up with weight training.  My goal is to do ten push-ups by the end of the year and I am confident that it won’t be a problem.  I’ll let you know when I complete my first one (I’m about halfway there).

Now let me tell you about that beautiful photo at the top of this page.  When we lived in Sicily, we had the opportunity to travel to several other countries in Europe.  That photo was taken on a weekend trip to Austria.  My husband was in Stuttgart, Germany doing some training and I flew up there to meet him for our wedding anniversary.  We drove to Innsbruck, Austria for the weekend and this photo was taken on a day trip to a place called Walderalm.  See that little road leading into the Austrian Alps?  That is where I like to imagine I am jogging when I’m on the treadmill at the gym.  And next time I visit Austria, I think I’d like to jog down that trail instead of walk.

And who wouldn’t want to run when at the end of the trail you can sit down at this table and enjoy fresh cheese from the dairy, a cold beer, and the view of snow-capped mountains all around you.

View from the Dairy

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nicole says

    Vivian: That's great that you're training for the 1/2 marathon! I can't see myself ever going that far, but my husband likes to do things like that. I'm really looking forward to my first 5K! Exena: You should definitely do it! I enjoy the walking/jogging workouts much more than just 30 minutes of straight walking, biking or elliptical. The intervals help the time go by faster and it's fun to see that little bit of progress each week. And yes, I'm looking forward to completing my first push-up! Dana: I don't know if I'll become a life-long runner once I get started, but I am determined to reach the goal of jogging a 5K. There might be other things I enjoy more, but like you, I want a fast and efficient cardio workout to supplement activities that I enjoy more, but might not burn as many calories :-)
    Reply

  2. Susan from Food Blogga says

    I'm so happy to hear about your new commitment to exercise, Nicole. I don't jog (bad knees), but I do cardio and weights several times a week and love it. I think you'll find that the more you do it, the more you'll crave doing it. You know, the whole increasing endorphins thing. ;) And I agree with you about dieting. It doesn't work. Eating healthfully and moderately while regularly exercising does work. Kick ass!
    Reply

  3. Denise says

    Well I waited until 51 (gasp) to try to learn to run. I was walking one day and thought I could get the run over with in a shorter time if I ran. I ran for maybe ten seconds and thought I would die!! But I didn't die and I tried another 10 seconds. Three months later I ran! a 10K with my friend Carolyn who really encouraged me to keep running. Today I start my official training for my first 1/2 marathon! I will do it in Beijing China Oct. 18! I am now 52 and can NOT believe I am a runner. You can do it!! You will amaze yourself!
    Reply

  4. Katie says

    Those beginning running programs really work! I was in your exact position 2 years ago, but for some reason I agreed to run a 5K with a friend. I pushed myself through the Couch-to-5K program (often wanting to quit), and ended up successfully running the entire 5K. I can't even begin to describe the feeling of accomplishment at the end, so stick with it if you can! Somehow I grew to actually enjoy it, and now I'm training for a half-marathon.
    Reply

  5. Nancy/n.o.e says

    My daughters had similar experiences with the Presidential fitness tests; they both also consider themselves non-athletic. My younger daughter began Cross Fit this summer with my husband and is loving it - she's lifting and working on pull ups and running, and slowly her self-definition is changing. I was an avid runner (and member of the track team in high school and college) but a series of injuries has made it impossible for me to run for the past 20 years, and for the past 3 years I've been challenged just by walking. I'd give my eye teeth to be running in Austria, or even on the treadmill! I hope you come to love it.
    Reply

  6. Lizzzzzard says

    i just started running, too, after being out of it for a year and a half. it's incredibly difficult at first, probably because I'm so self conscious; but i know it will get better. and i, no matter how hard i've tried or how many weights i've lifted, never have been able to do a push-up. never. the closet i get are on the kitchen counter.
    Reply

  8. Haley W says

    I ran track in middle and first two years of high school and LOVED running. But, a hip injury my sophomore year made me stop running. I never picked it back up again, I've always been afraid that hip will give out again. However, I've always missed running. I think I'm going to try this. I REALLY want to get back in shape and this is a great plan to do so!
    Reply

  9. Rebecca says

    I'm not a runner either....well, I guess I could call myself a runner last year when I did my first 5k in 36 minutes. I went the next day, determined to keep it up, and made it 3/4 of a mile before I said "forget it! I don't have a goal now!" Well, goal is back on. 5k is September 20 and I am trying to find a 10k to do later in the fall. My best friend is running the half marathon in Columbus, OH in November and she's not a runner either, but I said "if Lea can run 13 miles, I can run 6". So, I guess that's my motivation...set a goal for yourself, and find someone who inspires you and try and build up to that. Good luck!
    Reply

  10. Kristin says

    I can't do a push-up either, and I was in Army JROTC which is like High School Army P.E. Class, and made it thru never doing a single push-up. Very proud of that, but still don't know how I did it
    Reply

  11. Shannon Mac says

    I did the Couch-2-5k program-- I loved it! And now I am about to start training for a half marathon. And, like you, I have never been a jogger.
    Reply

  13. Jamie says

    You can do it! I did the Couch to 5K podcast this spring (I am NOT a jogger/runner) but I ran my first 5K in June in 35 min (10 fast than my goal). I am now training for a 10K (eek). It is such a sense of accomplishment. Good luck to you!
    Reply

  14. Robyn says

    I swear this could have been written by me. I'm not out of shape, either. But I find running to be really hard, and I can't do a push-up. I also had the exact same PE experiences you did! I did have a period of time where I made my way up to running three miles, one time I even did four. But now I can't run at all, and it hurts my knees.
    Reply

  15. Lauren says

    I definitely understand the unable to jog thing. I was able to run while playing soccer when my mind wasn't on the running aspect, but I can't just get out there and run. I was always admonished by my coach though when I would do the slowest 2 miles out of everyone. And I was the only one who didn't walk at some point! My "jogging" is slower than if I were to walk. This actually motivates me to actually try and jog at a pace that isn't sluggish, and I've been trying to motivate myself to start working out again as it is!
    Reply

  16. Janet says

    I turned 55 last Thursday. I started running in my late thirties. I tried when I was younger, but I always ended up with shin splints--BAD. So at some point I stopped getting shin splints and I was able to become a RUNNER! I don't do marathons or run everyday. I just do it when I feel like it. No pressure. I'm not training for the Olympics--after all...I am 55. This morning I ran four miles. People are amazed that I can run and some of them can't. I think most people can...but you must do it at your own pace--even if it means taking a year to just run 1/2 a mile. After all...you are not training for the Olympics--you are training to try to have fun with it and to improve your health! And if you can't do it--so what! Just walk.
    Reply

  17. Nabeela says

    Half a year ago, I couldn't jog for more than 3 minutes and now I can jog for 90 minutes without needing to take a break. Your plan sounds good and I know you can do it if you stick to it. All the best!
    Reply

  18. The Blushing Hostess says

    I admire you for doing this. Honestly, even with greaet music, ther eis nothing that bores me more, physically, than running. But like you, my Husband, a career naval officer, loves it and encourages me constantly. I ride horses and that is how it will stay no matter how reasonable this running conversion appears, sometimes it has to do with one's mind, not one's body...
    Reply

  19. Jodi says

    I hate to run! And I am a semi-decent runner, but I HATE it. With that said, every year I sign up for some event and make myself do it. I am always happy that I did but I can never bring myself to commit to a full year of running. I need to. My problem is that I hate to run alone. I need a comrade....maybe I will pretend that we are running together on this beautiful road in Austria! Good luck Nicole! You sound like you are goal oriented and I am sure you are going to kick butt. As I was reading this article I was picturing the side of the PE dept at TJ, where we would do our Presidential Fitness Program, with all of us in our gold and blue shorts. And in HS, where we would have to line up on the numbers between the tennis courts and the swimming pool. Too funny. Thanks for the laugh and the memories. :)
    Reply

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