Becoming a runner

Can it be true?  Am I actually getting the hang of this running stuff?  Here's the story.

About a month and a half ago I started on my quest to run a 5k (the length of final leg of the "sprint" triathlon I'm doing in July).

• I got instructions from coolrunning.com and their 'Couch to 5K' plan.
• The hubby is a former cross-country/track guy, so he coached me, too.
• I mapped out a 2.0 and 3.0 mile course around my neighborhood.
• I was recently introduced to Robery Ullrey's Couch to 5K Podcasts for Running (thanks, Sonny!) and bought myself a very cool armband to hold my iPod.
• Oh yeah, and I've read a number of books/websites on the how-tos of running.

Two times a week for almost 2-months now, I've plodded around the course, not feeling very runner-like.  There were days in which I was downright miserable.  But I kept going.

Last week I had a breakthrough.  Then it  happened again TODAY!

During last Thursday's run I was without my iPod.  The hubby was running with me.
A little side note about the hubby... he's a natural runner - tall and sleek - he could run a 5K tomorrow if he wanted to.  He's also much, much faster than me.
So we're running last week.  Poor hubby is practically walking to as not out-distance me.  Finally, I tell him to run ahead... I'll catch up (or, I'll meet him at home).  After a bit of argument, he finally acquiesced to my request and ran off.

That's when I decided to run for 2-minutes, then walk 2 - a modified week two of Couch to 5K.

I ran.
... and ran.
... and ran some more.

The first set was 3 minutes long.  Then I walked.  Then ran again for FIVE minutes.  Then a walk.  Then 4 more running minutes. 

Most importantly.  I FELT GOOD!  I felt strong, like I could run even longer and not be in pain.

Tonight was similar.
I did a 4-minute warm-up, then it was time to run.  I ran for a little while... 2-3 minutes, then walked (to the top of the hill), looked down at my watch...
and... go!
6-1/2 minutes later I finally took a rest... tho I don't know that I really needed it.  WOO HOO!
I walked for 3 minutes, than ran for another SEVEN AND A HALF!  WOO HOO again!

I finally think I'm getting the hang of it.
Finally.

Tho, now that I look back on my progress, I shouldn't be surprised that it happened this way.
Whenever I've learned a foreign language I would struggle and struggle and struggle then all of a sudden **SNAP** I know it!
When I learned all the data and statistics and medical terms for my job I struggled and struggled and struggled, then **SNAP** I got it!
I guess running works the same way, just physical instead of mental.

I'm determined to keep going.

In two weeks I'm planning to bike 6 miles, then run 1 (or 2) in my first 'brick' session.  (BRICK = Bike and Run In Combination [K].) I'm going to do my best... its all I can do.

Now it's time for a well-deserved rest.
Good night!