Do Re Mi

I went for a walk today. I decided that I would combine running an errand with getting some exercise in finally, so I walked to the market for a few things I needed to get for a dish I was asked to bring to a church party tonight. I didn't need too much, so walking home carrying my groceries wouldn't be too onerous.

Anyway, for some reason the whole way there and back I had this song from Sound of Music going through my head. I really couldn't figure it out at first... but I finally realized that not only is the chorus to that song a great walking rhythm for me, but it also was talking about what I finally realized I need to do to get back to running.

Namely, start at the very beginning. The VERY beginning.

It's not only a very good thing to do, for me it's the only thing to do. I went running a couple of weeks ago with a friend, and felt awful. My right leg went numb from the knee down, I was gasping and huffing for air, and ended up hobbling the last mile, and then feeling awful for the next two weeks (allergies, and to be fair, a LOT of people were suffering with allergies during that time...) I tried run/walk intervals on the treadmill at the gym a little bit before that, and a wise friend (the one who really got me started in running - you know who you are!) told me I was jumping back in at a semi-difficult level, not a beginning level.

Anyway, so what's the very beginning for me? I'm going to start with walking 30 - 45 minutes 5-6 days a week for at least 2 weeks before I add ANY run intervals in at all, and when I do they will be short (like 30 sec - 1 min length) and interspersed with 3-5 min walk intervals. But first... walking.

On my walk today I saw a woman out running and instead of feeling bad that I've gone so far downhill from where I'd gotten to, I found myself smiling and looking forward to being there again. So... DO RE MI FA SO LA TI DO!!!! Here I go!