Sunnyside Up

By Nicole Rogers

Last week, I wrote about being a squishy grandma and, even though I have resigned myself to the fact that I am more cushioned than rigid, I still aspire to be healthy and strong for as long as I can. In the back of my mind, I have always dreamed of running at least a 5K race. My daughters, sister, several cousins and an elderly uncle have been running for years and I have always admired them for their dedication. Many times over the decades, I tried to get into the habit of running and it never quite stuck. Recently, the running bug bit again but when my husband became too ill and weak to walk but only a few steps unaided, I honestly felt too guilty even going out for a walk. I shared these feelings and he, of course, said that it was ridiculous to feel that way and it would make him sad if I didn’t shoot for my dreams. So, with encouragement from my soulmate and inspiration from my three daughters and younger sister, I started training for a 5K. I wanted to do this smartly and safely and protect my body as much as possible, so I found a sensible seven-week plan from Mayo Clinic.

My mantra that has motivated me to step out that door ready to run is “You don’t have to move mountains, you just have to move.” For people who struggle with motivation, or perhaps even depression, taking small steps is a good way to begin. This ideology helps impatient people (like me) who want things right now, to keep plugging away and moving towards their goals. So, I am not moving mountains, but I am moving, slow moving but moving. The training regimen is fairly easy, which involves running for 15 seconds and then walking for 45 seconds for 30 minutes. Since I had been walking already, I felt I could fast forward a bit on the schedule to do 30-second run/walk intervals. This has been a challenging, but not too hard, routine and now I am up to running over a minute and walking 30 seconds for 2 to 3 miles. I am not writing to boast about my running skills; in fact, I was quite tickled that on my first run I passed two turtles near the Mill Pond trail. I just hope to inspire others to keep moving in any way that they can. It may be slow; you may need assistance but just keep moving. For me, it has helped me cope with issues I struggle with in a healthy way and it is a great way to escape from the stresses and aggravations of the world. While I am on my run, by counting the run/walk intervals in my head, I get a nice break from thinking about anything else. And it feels wonderful to sweat again, I mean really sweat. It reminds me of being back in a school sport. It reminds me of being young again. When I come back home after a good workout, check off my training schedule, I feel a bit stronger, appreciate my health, and feel like I am better able to help others in need.

I hope everyone has a sunny and healthy week.