Calling all would-be runners!

Posted by:
Maya Mohan, Department of Public Health

Maya is the Physical Activity Coordinator for DPH and is a wannabe runner.

It’s almost the end of 2009 and I have a question for you.  Have you reached the fitness goal(s) you set for yourself?  (I suppose the first question should be, did you set a fitness goal to reach in the first place!).  Assuming the answer to the latter is yes, then I want you to think back and reflect on the experience.  Are you ready to start thinking about your next goal?  2010 is almost here, people!  

Personally, I’ve always, always wanted to be a runner.  I’ve also, for as long as I’ve lived in Boston, wanted to run the Boston Marathon.  I just read this article in the NY Times by Tara Parker-Pope about her transformational experience from couch potato to marathoner.  It is really inspiring… because like her, I will be one of those “plodders,” I imagine.  But is that a bad thing?  

You know from my past posts that I’ve been searching for motivation for my workouts, a reason to get re-energized. So, maybe 2010 will be the year I run a marathon?  To be honest, I’m nervous to make such a lofty commitment in a public forum like this.  But, then again, maybe that will help keep me honest!  And, if I do this, your encouragement will REALLY be important in helping me reach my goal.   For all the runners out there, any words of advice for me?  For all other fitness enthusiasts and newbies, what will your fitness goals for 2010 be? It’s not too early to start thinking about it!  I’d love to hear from you.  

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Comments

[compléments alimentaires]

Hello
I want to admit that I have no reached at my fitness goal but I am still trying for it.This is a good post about would be runner.I also want to be.Thank you very much for sharing this with us.

[sporternahrung]

Thanks for this nice post. I like your thoughts. I have joined a club for running. I am happy to joined it.

[Brad Blake]

Join a running club! There are often clubs associated with areas, age groups, etc.. I work at the State House, so I joined the State House Running Club. Through it, I've met other runners at all different levels, from people who just want to work up to running a mile to a coworker who's doing an ultra-marathon (I think 50 miles) in a couple of weeks. It's great motivation, too, to see people in the halls or get the emails encouraging you to show up on those days when you don't really feel like it. I did my first olympic distance triathlon this year (two of them) and my first half-marathon. Advice and support from other runners was really helpful for both.

[Danica]

Hi there!
I am also someone who wanted to run, but didn't think I could do it and I didn't know how.
I use the Couch 2 5k training program http://www.c25k.com/
Training for a marathon (in my case 5k) takes the pressure off me "trying" to lose weight, or just "getting to the gym." It's about taking the training one day at a time and going the distance and the side benefits are that I feel better, and I have lost a little weight. Good luck to you!