This morning in Cranleigh was bright and sunny albeit very cold.
It was perfect for me to get my running shoes and shorts on (and hat, gloves and two t-shirts) and hit start on my RunKeeper app to set off on my first 5k run.
Two weeks of early mornings Monday, Wednesday and Friday to start to get fit after 23 years of absolutely no strenuous physical activity in order not to make a complete fool of myself when I run for our charity event, the Jigsaw 5k fun run on 2nd December.
I well recall the first Monday morning run (although calling it a run requires quite a high degree of poetic licence – more walking than anything else) when I managed 2.7k in just over 28 minutes.
Gradually I have been getting fitter and stronger and just last week for the first time ran the whole way round my initial course of 3.28k in 19:47.
This morning I did 4.84k in 30:28.
My goal is to get the time down to under 25 minutes in the weeks I have left before the Jigsaw 5k.
As I said it has been a very long time since I did any serious exercise but I want to prove that by having a program and a bit of determination I can do it.
I had forgotten how good exercise makes you feel. Lets hope the back and knees hold out (and every other vital organ as well!!)
Photo credit: Flickr/loop_oh
