I posted last week about cutting out the middle men and just doing the things that you want to do. In the spirit of practicing what you preach I went home that night and started a list of things I want to do. This isn’t a bucket list…more a what I Want To Do Now List (WTDNL – if you will). I’ll only get into the first part of it today.
Since June I have been on a huge getting into shape kick so the first part of my list dealt mostly with health and fitness. I started working out on the elliptical but became bored really easily. I needed to unleash my competitive side and it was clear I would only have myself to compete with sooooooo I decided to do something that scares the crap out of me, running.

I feel ya Homer.
Until recently my feelings about running could be summed up by Back to the Future 3 “Run for fun? What the hell kind of fun is that?” When you grow up you are told not to run in the hallways and I REALLY followed that rule. Then about a year ago I read a book called Born to Run and started to come around to the idea. Okay that’s a lie, I started to think about starting to come around to the idea.

Click on the pic to go to Amazon.
About two months ago I was finally ready to give running a try which is why it was the first thing on my mind when I started the WTDNL…it’ll catch on.
1. Run a 5k
2. Run a 10K
3. Run a half marathon
4. Run a marathon
The first week of running was hell. I decided to start out on the treadmill so I could keep better track of my progress. Day 1 I could barely run 25 mins at 5mph (thats like an 11+ min per mile pace)…it was bad but at least I had a starting point. My plan was simple enough, every time I ran my goal was to “beat” my last run. If a 2 mile run was scheduled I would aim to run it at least one second faster then the last 2 mile run. If a 30 min run was scheduled I would set the treadmill at least one speed higher then the last 30 min run.
About a week ago I ran my 10K on the treadmill while watching The Biggest Loser. Side note: I schedule my long runs on Tuesday so I can watch The Biggest Loser while I run. This habit is motivated by the middle aged woman inside me. Her name is Towanda and I love her. Anyway, I ran the 10K in just under an hour and now I’m hooked.

Didn't see that one coming.
On Thanksgiving Day I will check number one off of my list by running the 28th Annual Dan Gibbons 5K Turkey Trot in my home town Elmhurst. I’m super stoked because I get to run this 5K with, Courtney, one of my best friends. Can’t wait to see how it goes. To prepare I’m doing the same 10K training I just finished but I am ditching the treadmill for the streets/parks of Brooklyn.

Good luck to everyone running the NYC marathon on Sunday, including my roommates dad…what a badass!
Any runners out there with tips or advise? Do you have any running goals on your WTDNL?
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