How to run a 5K when you don't like running

Step 1. Don't!! haha JK

Step 1. Choose a race to run in. Make sure it's far enough away that you have the amount of time you need to train. I choose one about 6 weeks away thinking that would be a perfect amount of time to train. I also think it helped that I chose a charity race for something I'm interested in. All the money it cost to sign up for the race went to help kids in Africa attend school. Education is important to me and it felt good to have my race money going somewhere that actually mattered!

Step 2. Get some workout clothes that are comfortable and that you like. I have workout clothes from Victoria's Secret that I love. But I've also bought workout clothes at Wal-Mart and Ross that I love. I enjoy putting on my workout clothes and honestly it motivates me to go running when I have clothes that I only wear running. The main thing that got me though was my Nike's! I bought some Nike Free shoes for my birthday back in May. Oh my heck!! Seriously THE BEST shoes I've ever had. They are so comfortable and light, I could wear them all the time. They defiantly motivate me to run though because they look like runners shoes to me.

Step 3. Find an app. I found this app called Runkeeper. It's been awesome! You can put in all your goals and measurements. It'll track your distance, current mile time and overall mile time. One of the things I liked most about it though is you put in when your race is and what type of race and it comes up with a training plan for you to follow in order to be ready in time. It has different types of exercises. For example, one is you run 60 seconds and walk 90 seconds for 25 minutes. The app tells you when to run and walk and gives you a warm up. Some of the exercises are a 45 minute walk, or a 2 mile run, or 2.5 mile walk/run. I just really liked using the app to help me train because honestly, I don't know what I'm doing. I've never been a runner or even been interested in running a race. It was nice to know how much my time was increasing by and I liked to see my current mile time even when I was walking. I thought it was a very useful app and it's free! I'll still use it even after my race when I go running or even when I go walking because I think the information it tracks is so useful.

Step 4. Find a buddy. I was so glad Sam wanted to run the race with me. He didn't always train with me but sometimes he would come out. It's just nice to have that support and companionship when running! It was much more fun to do the race with him! 

The race was so much fun! It was a cold rainy morning but I wasn't raining while we were running so it turned out to be just really nice cool weather. We ran for most of it but I defiantly walked quite a bit. Everly wasn't the happiest of kids in the stroller which was weird because she's always been totally happy to be out in the stroller. I ended up beating Sam (something that I think bugs him:)) and I had my best mile time in my training so far. Overall, it was a great experience and super fun. We had a good time together as a family.