Back when I was still in high school, I played volleyball, basketball and softball, but once college started I decided to take a break. That break lasted nine years, save for the occasional softball game with friends. Oops.

Three months ago, I decided that I’d had enough and it was time for me to get physical, Olivia Newton-John style.  So I joined the YMCA and started working out. My workouts were pretty minimal, though. Walking on the treadmill for thirty minutes about seven times a month was not exactly cutting it. It was especially not cutting it when I used those thirty minutes to justify some poor eating habits. It was pretty typical for the words, “I can eat this candy bar and drink this Pepsi because I worked out on Monday” to run through my head. Nevermind the fact that it was now Friday and I hadn’t been to the gym since.

So it was time for a new goal. I decided that in February 2010, for my 28th birthday, I will run a 5K. Do not adjust your monitor, you read that correctly.  I am going to go from my couch to a 5K in four months. Well, that’s the plan, anyway.

For my first step in accomplishing this goal,  I joined Shocker Fitness, a program run by Coach Bolt, the head coach of the Wichita State University track and field team. For one hour, three days a week, a group meets at Cessna Stadium and Coach Bolt leads a workout session. Oh, and did I mention it starts at 5:45 am?  On my first day of Shocker Fitness, my alarm clock went off at 5:00 am, alerting me that it was time to get up and go exercise.  And I did?!? Go me!

While weight loss would be a nice added bonus, the goal of running a 5K is not really about that. It is just about the exercise. You can check back each Tuesday for my weekly recap to find out what happens when Carly stops being ridiculously lazy and starts working out. Maybe I’ll inspire you to set your own goal. Maybe you’ll join me bright and early for Shocker Fitness (although I must warn you –  my bed head is pretty fierce at 5:45 am).  Maybe you’ll decide to do something you never thought you’d do. Or maybe you just like reading/laughing at the fact that I was lapped by a 75-year-old man (twice). Whatever it may be, I hope you find it here.

Shocker Fitness, Day 1:

Weight: Yeah right! I may be an open book, but this chapter is closed.

Warmup:

What they did: Jogged one lap around the track

What I did: Jogged 1/4 way around the track, started panting and walked the rest of the way. Convinced myself I was going to die.

Stretches:

What they did: Jumping jacks, quad stretches and a stretch the ladies around me appropriately named “Poop in the woods.”

What I did: Jumping jacks, attempted to stretch my quads, but almost fell on my face due to lack of balance while standing on one leg and the “Poop in the woods” stretch.

The main event:

What they did: Got in teams of three and ran 200 meter relay races

What I did: Found the lady who was injured and walked up and down the stadium ramps with her. Convinced myself I was going to die. (Let me just pause to say that while walking the stadium ramps does not sound very strenous, it was. Those ramps are steep.) Got lapped by the 75-year-old man who was running said ramps. (I guess they weren’t too steep.)

The finale:

What they did: Ran up and down the stadium stairs for 12 minutes

What I did: Walked up and down the stadium stairs for nine minutes. Convinced myself I was going to die. Took three minutes to stop and drink some water until the clock ran out.

Day One Recap:

Did not die. I’d say that’s a pretty good start.

Related posts:

1. [move] Running Just As Fast As I Can: Week 2
2. [move] Running Just As Fast As I Can: Week 4
3. [move] Running Just As Fast As I Can: Week 5
4. [move] Running Just as Fast as I Can: Week 8
5. [move] Running Just as Fast as I Can: Week 7