Backtracking several months back…. I remember everytime i tell people “I don’t know how to run”, I always get a quizzical look “how can you not know how to run? It’s human nature?” Perhaps they didn’t realize that i was referring to the sport, running. When I have enrolled myself in a gym years back, I have always struggled with the treadmill. It intimidated me. I felt like a loser everytime I step on it because I couldn’t get myself to run even 4.5 km/h for 10 seconds without hurting my feet and my legs. Seeing the others beside me do it, makes me feel worse. So, I said goodbye to treadmills and hello cardio dance classes! Sure, I wasn’t the most graceful student everytime, but I got what I wanted – a good sweat and cardio workout.
learning how to run
But you know what, I still did not give up on the idea that I could run! Why can’t I? Am I doing something wrong? Are my steps awkward? Am I too heavy, perhaps 🙂 (but that’s another story). Was it the shoes? I thought to myself “nah, can’t be the shoes, I’m wearing Nike Free!” I have resigned the idea of running and turned to biking instead!
Hah! I love it. It gave me a chance to workout outdoors. Something I haven’t done before. I love the wind on my face, i love passing scenes, i love passing runners, i love passing slower bikers, i also love being passed by the faster bikers too. I biked around lakes, parks, and discovered the beauty of the UP campus in Diliman. Outdoor workouts have been a weekend habit since. I bike, while my husband runs. He got into fun runs and I willingly went with him in all of his runs. I saw him off at his gunstarts and met him in his finish lines. This has sparked my renewed interest for running. I thought it would be nice to run with him during his races.
Last April, we went out of the country for a vacation so I have missed my biking routine for quite a while. My husband got me a pair of adidas running shoes during the trip and retired my hot pink Nike free. When we came back home, I have decided not to bring the bike to UP and try running. Using my new adidas pair, I have planned to walk/run/walk around the oval for at least one lap. I was told to slow it down and take it easy. And that’s what I did. I also ran up and down the stairs of Melchor and Palma halls to get my heart rate up. As I increased my laps, I also slowly increased my running minutes while decreasing my walking time. I slowly found my rhythm and have been increasing my running mileage since then. To date, I have joined and finished 4 fun runs. Last weekend, I have finished my 2nd 5km run 5 minutes better than my PR. I have been on a high and can’t wait for the weekend so I can replace my homemaker hat with my sports cap and put on my trusty pair of adidas and hit the road.
I knew how to run afterall!
And yes, it definitely pays to have good shoes.
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