Week 1: Day One - Rest.

Day 1: Rest.

This is what my latest app is telling me to do on Day 1 of my "Couch to Half-Marathon" training program.

I can do that.

However, my ever encouraging fiancé, Chris, is totally pumped that I am undertaking such a massive adventure and wants to dive head first with me into better health by trying out yoga, so we try out a Yoga for Beginners by Yoga with Adriene (totally recommend!) video on youtube. So does my cat. My dog watches warily from the edge of the lounge room, occasionally thumping her tail when we huff out our breath. Namaste.

Day 2: Run/Walk 30mins

Day 2 means I have sore Down-Face-Dog forearms but I am feeling good about Day 1 and have not given into my cravings of soy-mocha's and those amazing nutella icecreams that are practically begging me to buy them while I walk to my train stop.

Day 2 and I am ready to embark on my long commute home, followed by my first interval training session.

I decide to take some "Before Photos" in the event that I actually have the opportunity to take "After Photos", and out the door we go.

My interval training program involves a 5 minute warmup, and 8 successions of 60 second runs, 190 second walks finishing with a 5 minute cooldown.

I can proudly say that I did not stop once before a dedicated resting interval. I can proudly admit that I didn't even think I could run for 60 seconds.

Day 2: Fucking Win.

Day 3: Cross Training (60mins)

I'll be honest. I spent most of my working day distracted by Google's never ending word vomit.

"How much water should I drink before a run?" "Can I eat right after a run?" "Running a Marathon on your period" "Running marathons Commando" "Funny cat GIFs" "How to write a reasonably good blog" Google provides.

I had to do a bit of a google scope to find out exactly what Cross Training could entail for a runner.

Apparently I can do a number of different exercises such as Kayaking, Golf, Swimming, Elliptical and even just walking on Cross Training days.

Chris is equally surprised that I made it. So far everything I have done is a surprise which goes to show how much I doubt my ability, and how much I obviously share this doubt with others.

According to websites such as Active and Runners World including Cross Training into your fitness plan "builds strength and flexibility in muscles that running doesn't utilize. It prevents injury by correcting muscular imbalances. And the variety prevents boredom and burnout". Sounds logical.

I opt to use my dusty elliptical machine (since my spare Kayak and trusty golf clubs don't exist) for my first Cross Training session and chuck on Burlesque so I have a distracting sing-along-movie to make the time go quicker.

The time goes surprisingly fast. I do 60 mins of speed intervals and even though I can't see the movie for the sweat in my eyes I feel like an exercising goddess. I almost fall on my face as I robotically peel myself from the machine when my time is up but I can't believe I made it. I wash down my euphoria with an Apple Cider. Instant regret, near-vom. Water.

But, Day 3 is down and I have achieved not only my exercise but also (mostly) my dieting goals.

Day 3: Fucking win.

What I find so interesting is that only a week ago, I could not possibly motivate myself to even walk the dog, and now I am excitedly anticipating my next exercise routine. What has changed that has made me lose this horrible dark cloud of obligation that used to hang over me every time I did a workout?

The difference is so subtle and doesn't even entirely make sense to me:

I am doing this to achieve better fitness and therefore better health.

I am not doing this to lose weight.

The end game may achieve the same thing, but there has been such a stigma on me losing weight my entire life that anything to do with it immediately makes me feel depressed and inadequate because it is something I constantly fail at.

All of a sudden, when I embark on a journey that requires me to run with open arms high in the air through a shiny satin banner, my heart soars and my feet itch to get me there.

One of my favourite sayings has always jokingly been "running is for emergencies" and now I want to run just to prove to myself that I can.

Day 4: Rest

Day 4 is about Rest and all I can think about is my next Run.

That is, until about 3pm when I find my face plastered to my keyboard.

I promised myself that I would go to bed earlier every night this week and have not managed to put head to pillow before 10.45pm. I also promised myself that I would do my exercise days in the morning before work and have not managed that either. Baby steps.

By the time I get home from work I am exhausted, body weary and 'hangry'. Chris decides that we should to go 'Late-night-Shopping' and have a look for some better workout gear. Chris also decides we are having Japanese for dinner and we order everything on the menu. No regrets. Nothing conquers 'hangry' like Aburi Salmon Nigiri.

3 hours later and we collapse through the front door of our home under mounds of plastic shopping bags filled with active wear. But I'm gonna use it this time right? In fact, I will use the shit out of it. So much so, that I will lose so much weight that this entire shopping spree will be pointless in 2 months. Sigh.

I place my new sneakers in my wardrobe next to my 3 other sorry looking pairs and promise myself that I will make a serious decision about which ones need to go. Later.

I may be a hoarder.

I plan to get up early in the morning and run. I check Google maps to see the distance to the nearest On The Run with fantasies that I might be able to run there and get my morning C-coffee.

Alarm set for 4.45am. Please cringe along with me (I told you I had a long commute to work).

Day 5: Run/Walk 30mins

I wake up with drool on my face at 6.30am and throw myself out of bed. Shit! Shit! Shit!

The run will have to wait until after work. Again.

I have just enough time to make myself a Chicken Wrap for lunch before I fly to work at the highest legal speed.

It is definitely one of those days where you wonder if the planet would be a safer place if you just stayed in bed. Am I the only one who gets that feeling?

I PMS the shit out of everyone at work and sulk all the way home, in no mood for cheerfully putting on my brand new sneakers for my afternoon run.

But I do it anyway.

The routine is the same as Tuesdays run, but it feels harder. My body feels more weary. At the same time, running doesn't feel as unfamiliar and I am silently pleased that my muscle memory is waking up and my body is remembering that running doesn't have to be awkward.

I also silently take note of the way my new expensive Active Wear leggings insist on rolling down over my hips after every 3 steps. I will be wearing my trusty old K-marts next time, that's for sure.

Early night for me. Laugh. Big day tomorrow.

Chris has decided we are going to do a 10km walk around the Adelaide Hills tomorrow.

Please make sure they write "Died Paving Face" on my gravestone. And on his.

Day 6: Rest Walk Until Your Legs Detach and Take Themselves To Hospital

My training schedule says today is a rest day, and tomorrow is a Run/Walk Day.

I plan to do an extra long walk today and see how I feel about running tomorrow.

I asked that Chris get us up at 5.30am so that we can be out the door at 6-6.30 ready to meet my colleague, Rhi, in the Hills at 7am to start our walk.

I am hoping that my body will still be asleep and I can exercise before it knows and can complain about it.

Especially because Google maps says we are going to walk more than 10kms today including some serious inclines. Cue re-hash of crying-lord-of-rings-valley moment.

4.45am and I cannot believe I am actually awake. And on a Saturday, no less.

We make it out the door and on the road in record time and meet my colleague just in time to get our feet moving.

The start of the walk takes us through the back roads of beautiful Uraidla. The morning is super crisp but we quickly warm up as the roads slowly get steeper the closer we get to the base of the mountain track.

I'm not gonna lie, the track to the top of Mt Lofty was on such a steep incline it could have curled back onto itself and dumped us back at the bottom, but we made it. After a quick drink and Granola bar from the cafe at the top, we began our descent and arrived back at the car in a record 2hours 40mins.

I just walked a casual 12kms and made it back home in time for lunch.

I told myself I would have a quick shower and have the whole day ahead of me. Instead, I had a nap and spent the rest of the afternoon acutely aware of every muscle below my waistline.

Day 7: (Run/Walk) Die Quietly

I decided that I deserved a sleep-in today.

Crawling out of bed at 9.30am, I was reminded of all the muscles I used the day before. My earlier decision to 'see how I go' regarding today's run looks more like a 'see if I survive the day'. How ridiculous.

I only feel more determined to do the same walk again with better results.

I'll be honest, not much happened today, but I made myself do a 25minute Gentle Yoga with Adriene before I went to bed.

In A Nutshell

Feeling pretty good about my first week.

I seriously surprised myself with my level of determination regarding my exercise routine and my food choices. Those of you that know me know that I have a weak spot for anything delicious (which, lets be honest, is pretty much everything, ever), so eating better is going to be one of my biggest challenges of this entire endeavour.

I was also surprised to have learnt some things about myself this week.

I found my competitive edge again. I also put some of my old brain cogs into place and understand some of my past failures a little better i.e. learning the power of perspective regarding weight loss.

Mostly I am just surprised at how quickly your outlook can change the way you feel about achieving something.

I have always believed in "Mind Over Matter" but I until my focus changed earlier this week, I didn't seem to be able to claw my way out of that dark space where this kind of adventure even seemed possible for me.

Fingers crossed I can weld, chain and glue that perspective to my consciousness for just a bit longer.

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