Losing It: Do I Run Like Phoebe from Friends?

I don't look like that—um, right?

As I’ve stated in earlier entries, I am not an athlete. I am, especially, not a runner. I don’t like to run, could never picture myself running, and seriously questioned the sanity of anyone who professed to love running. Runner’s high? Yeah … you must be.

I think this all began in elementary school when our gym teacher decided that it would be a good idea to have us all run the mile multiple times a week. Weather be damned, we were out there making our way around the course, sweating in our Multiples jumpsuits and Jordache Jeans, eyes stinging and lungs burning from the cold, trying not to trip over the sprawled out bodies of the first graders who just couldn’t make it. I’m not going to say that this was child abuse, per se, but, seriously, it was. How dare you take my morning recess time away from me! I was scheduled to play bumper swings, followed by a mean game of Chinese jump rope. What, are you worried that in the not-too-distant future our country will be facing a scary childhood obesity epidemic? WTF?

I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve said that I was going to run a 5K since then. I know, I know … to most of you a 5K is a walk in the park, but not to someone who has had a real aversion to running for 35 years. My fears, I believe, are two-fold:

1. Failure. I don’t handle failure very well, and what if I just can’t run a 5K?
2. I’m not altogether sure that I don’t look like Phoebe when I run. I mean, I don’t think I do … But what if I do?

So, as part of this little experiment in public weight loss I have finally decided to run a 5K. No, really. I even have a plan:

1. To counteract any Phoebe-ness I got some fresh new running kicks from my friends at shoesontheweb.com. I may be all spazzy from the ankles up, but my feet will look incredible.
2. After consulting with those who have braved 5Ks before me and have lived to tell the tale, I have chosen to follow the training plan on Coolrunning.com. I downloaded their app—everything is cooler with an app—and I’m already on week two. I’m not dead yet, so there’s that …
3. I’ve started making my running mix, which is obviously the best part of this whole thing. Am I a Black Eyed Peas runner? A Brit runner? An LMFAO runner? An Air Supply runner? These things remain to be seen.
4. I’ve chosen, and signed up for, my race. Fresh-ish from their incredible showing at the 2011 Kidney Walk, Team “Are You Kidney-ing Me” will be making an appearance at the Gift of Life Dash for Organ and Tissue Donation on April 15! This cause is very close to my heart, as my dad is on the list at Penn and will, hopefully, be receiving a kidney transplant in the very near future. (Read our story here.) I cannot think of a more wonderful organization to support as I dip my toe into the world of running.
5. Get some of you to join me! Click on the link to the race above and sign up to run with us that day. There’s also a 10K for those who are into that sort of thing, and a 3K Family Walk. A little something for everyone! If running isn’t your thing (and if it’s going to be mine it can DEFINITELY be yours) then support the team by donating to a wonderful cause!

And there it is. Simple as that, I am going to transform myself from a bona-fide run-a-phobe into Usain Bolt. If he were a distance runner rather than a sprinter. Whatever. Just work with me here.

What I Did This Week
Other than starting my 5K running program, I bought myself a Yonanas Machine. A friend told me about this little gem, sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, that turns your frozen bananas into ice cream-like whips. I’m sorry, what? Something ice cream-esque for zero points? I grabbed my 20-percent off coupon and was out the door. It has not left my counter since I bought it. I’m making blueberry/banana whips, strawberry/banana whips, PB&J whips (not zero points, but I brake for PB), and there is a whole recipe book to dive into. I’m having them multiple times a day and am trying to decide if something like a chicken florentine whip would be any good. No? Time to relax on the whips, you say? Fine, but when you buy yours and are scavenging around looking for frozen things to whip and decide that, sure, chicken pot pie might make a good whip, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go dig around for that pot pie …

…………..

Robin Raskin blogs about her weight loss journey every Thursday on Be Well Philly. Catch up on the series here, and follow her on Twitter at @RobinRaskin.