Basically, because I want (need) to work out. Walking just gets too boring after a while. Running is harder but much more fun.

I was never the athletic type in my life. I was the kid that avoided running in school. I even avoided running in the army, strolling along the path during officer’s course, while the other cadet’s were running along.

I guess the Internet made me start running. Reading about fitness, running came up repeatedly. People seemed addicted. I really wanted to give it a try, but wasn’t sure where to start. Then I found the Couch to 5K running program. Well, couch potato I was, so I had a good starting point! I decided to give it a try, skeptic as I was.

It was like a miracle. Gradually, week by week, I managed to complete the plan. Two and a half months later, I did it – I ran my first 5K (actually, a bit longer). For real runners, it may sound funny – it’s only five kilometers (or three miles). For a couch potato like me it was nothing short of a miracle.

It did come at a cost though – during the last month of the program, I had to end each run with elevated feet and ice packs on my knees. I gave myself some recovery time afterwards. It lasted a bit longer than anticipated… then we traveled, and then I just got lazy, and here I am less than a year later, having to start the running all over again…

I’ve decided to go at it at a slower pace this time around, to try and minimize the risk of injury. Instead of taking nine weeks to finish this, I am taking 18, repeating each week’s program for another week. Hopefully, this will let my body adjust more gradually and protect my knees.