You say "potato" I say "almost an athlete"

Remember a couple of years ago when I started the Couch to 5K program?

No, then you can click here. But hurry back!


Hahahaha. Ha ha.

That lasted about as long as Anna Marie's resolve to keep her room clean every day.

Now, though, I'm hoping it'll be a different story. Since I've joined a gym, I have access to a treadmill. That's indoors! When it's 25 degrees outside! And I said to myself, "Self, this would be a PERFECT time to start back up on your Couch to 5K aspirations!"

(Yes, I use big words like "aspirations" when talking to myself. Don't you?)

I have two podcasts that I've downloaded - the "official" C25K, and one called PodRunner Intervals. I like the second better, mainly because the first one features a guy talking over the music. That really messes up my groove, y'all! The PodRunner podcast just gives me an audio signal when it's time to change from running to walking and vice-versa.

Now, my gym is the super-high-tech kind, with motorized treadmills. How do I make this work? With the speed controls, of course! There are two sets on these machines, one of which is right by my hands, so I can change speeds pretty quickly - like, say, during the audio signal.

The only thing I knew I was going to miss was being able to zone out and watch TV while I ran, but then I hit upon another solution - I watch it anyway! I can't hear it, because my earbuds are in my iPod, so I pick something like QVC that I can just watch without sound. Brilliant!

I'll probably never run a 5K, of course, but I think that this will help step up my training on the three days a week I do it. Plus, it can't help but make me a better walker when the Five Star Races come around this June!

Now, if I could only convince Jason that I could use a new pair of shoes, all would be right with the world.