Establish Your Base

When I first started running I remember thinking that it would be impossible to run anything more than a mile. I could not figure out how people ran 5, 7 or even 10 miles at any given time. I had to syke myself up just to run from my house to the Miami Shores park and home again. That was 2.2 miles (gotta include that .2 miles!). When I finished the run I was dripping with sweat, exhausted, beat red and it took me about 30 minutes to cool down and not look like I had been thrown into the pool and sunburned. That was before I got pregnant with my son who is now 16 months. I tried to run that route 2 times a week and felt like I was really accomplishing something. I know that I was because it was alot for me at the time. I signed up for my first 5k that I would run (the others I did and just walked). I ran the 5k in 30 minutes and was really proud of myself. I honestly couldn't believe that I actually ran 3.1 miles...without stopping!!! At that point I got the running bug. I could not wait to go running. The thought of running was so exciting to me. But the actual act was still a chore. I could not get past much more that the 2.2 miles to the park and back.



Fast forward to after my son was born. I decided it was time to get back to running. I ran 1.1 miles around my block. Then went to the midwest for the summer. I ran all summer long! I mean I really focused because thankfully my mother-in-law watched the kids every time I wanted to run. I learned through weeks of running this summer that you must establish a base when it comes to your running. I felt like once I got to the point when I could run 4 miles (4 miles was what worked for me but might be different for others), I was able to add mileage easier and easier. Running was no longer a chore. It was so enjoyable and fun. I could even run without my iPod and be fine. BUT...I had to get to that 4 mile mark. It took me all summer to be able to run 4 miles without ANY PROBLEM. For me it was at that point that I felt like I had a repertoire of running if you will. But it was hard to get there I am not going to say it wasn't. If you are committed to it EVERYONE can be a runner. Work on your "base" first and try on to get burned out.