NSV: Using the treadmill

a_stronger_steph

Okay, I know a good portion of the people on this site probably hop on a treadmill every week without thinking twice about it. But not me. Up until today... well, it's very silly, but I was quite intimidated by/scared of treadmills! I've been using the elliptical and stationary bike in my condo's cardio room faithfully for the past few months, but haven't built up the courage to step on the treadmill.

There's a number of 'reasons' for this: there are three treadmills but, from my vantage point observing them on the elliptical, I think only three work. Almost always there are people on the other two. In my head, they are for runners: fit, sleek people who turn them up high and on an incline and seem to go for hours and hours on end. I am decidedly NOT one of those people! I felt like if I took up one of them, the people who regularly came in to use them would be resentful of the chubby girl who keeps walking then running for a bit, then walking. So I just didn't use them.

Also: in my head, I am not a runner. I am many things, but a runner is not on that list. This, despite the fact that I played rugby for two years in high school, and then played soccer for five years in undergrad/during my masters. These sports involve running, but I am NOT a runner.

Well, lots of people have been doing the c25k around here, including lots of my wonderful MFP pals. They've inspired me so much. Today I went into my cardio room, and there was no one in it. I eyed the treadmill. Armed with c25k week 1 podcast booted up on my ipod, I stepped on... pressed "start"... and started walking. Then started running. Then started walking. And repeated.

And you know what? IT. FELT. AMAZING. My knees don't even hurt (I thought they would, because I have sorta crappy knees). I didn't challenge myself TOO much because I was still getting comfortable, but... I DID IT!!!!

I used a treadmill AND I survived AND I even liked it!

Nikstergirl

Yay!!! This is so awesome... you are now a runner!!!! Yes, that's all it takes, the determination to try it and keep doing it! Congrats!!!!

C25K saved my life... and I'm now and athlete and a runner, and I NEVER was either before (and I'm 39 years old!)!!!! You can DO this!

lynne_p

Congratulations on starting! You can do this!!! YAY YOU!!!!! :flowerforyou:

janelle1993

good job! glad your conquering your fears! and just b/c your not a "runner" doesn't mean you don't deserve to be on those treadmills! haha keep it up!

hilhall822

I was the same way, now I LOVE jogging! Congrats on your victory!

audigal2008

what is C25K?? Sorry Im a newbie

MrBrown72

Fantastic!

The exercise equipment is there for people who want to exercise. That's why you're there so have at it.

a_stronger_steph

Thanks so much everyone!! I am excited to see where this will take me!

good job! glad your conquering your fears! and just b/c your not a "runner" doesn't mean you don't deserve to be on those treadmills! haha keep it up!

Aw, yeah, I know... I knew that "intellectually" but in my gut I was still afraid to use it. I make up some crazy excuses sometimes! No more excuses though...

a_stronger_steph

what is C25K?? Sorry Im a newbie

C25K is the "Couch to 5k" program... basically designed to get people from a sedentary lifestyle to running 5km. So it starts you off slow, with spurts of jogging and walking, and works you up to running all the way, so you don't get burnt out too easily. I'm not exactly sedentary but I'm going to try to follow the program because I have very little running experience!

There's lots of resources here:
http://www.c25k.com/

I downloaded a podcast with music that tells me when to run and when to walk, and I found it very helpful!

runningfromzombies

Yay! I'm glad you're enjoying it...that's the thing I liked best about C25K, that it eases you into running so you don't grow to loathe it. Lol. You're doing great. :]