Couch to 5K with Fleet Feet Fort Mill

As I neared my 35th birthday and the blaze of candles that awaited, I pledged that 2014 would be the year I ran a 5K. Now a 5K isn’t very far, but it’s far for me – and would be a challenge and accomplishment. My hubby Jim and his sporty, sexy self had run the Baltimore Marathon 4 years ago finishing in just over 4 hours. He has always enjoyed running, but he’s fast and wasn’t an ideal running partner for me. I needed a starting point, and place to find support and camaraderie.

Enter Fleet Feet of Fort Mill which has just opened in the Harris Teeter shopping center on 160 and Sutton Rd. They offer their No Boundaries couch to 5k program. I signed up with some of the hot mamas in my neighborhood and we were ready to begin our 12 week training program.

Week one began and we were off! The program asked that we run as a group twice a week and train on our own either running, walking or doing cross training another two times a week. At the first group run we did a trial mile, which was a challenge for me. The other runners and coaches cheering me on really made a difference, and helped to change my ‘I can’ts’ to ‘I think I cans’. I finished in 15 minutes, amid huffing and puffing and cursing my ‘great’ ideas.

The next day my shins and quads were sore, but I ran/walked/complained another mile while my husband pushed the kids in the stroller. I had to admit, it felt good to get out in the fresh air and see what my body could accomplish.

Photo from: http://thestylebadger.wordpress.com/2013/03/07/no-matter-how-slow-you-go-you-are-still-lapping-everyone-on-the-couch/

Stay tuned as I train for my 5K over the next 11 weeks with the support and guidence of Fleet Feet of Fort Mill. Check them out on their website here, and like them on facebook!