Back in 2010 I started run/walking through a Couch to 5K app. I ran/walked 5 marathons and multiple (I lost count) half marathons, 10Ks, 5Ks, and the occasional 10 miler or 4 miler.

Then I got burned out on running and through conversations with online friends decided to give Tae Kwon Do a try. I discovered I really liked it – well, the forms anyway. I didn’t like the sparring at all. I made it to Double Black Stripe and was just missing the test for Black Belt, but my dojang was super spar-heavy on the test and that was a nope for me. Technically I could still go back – I was on the “Black Belt Plan” which covers ALL classes until you test for Black Belt. But…

Through other friends, I learned about OrangeTheory and got into that. Like really into that. And then came 2020. And we all know what happened then. Everything shut down. I did my best to get out, I tried run/walk again. I had a couple of pretty bad falls – one understandable tripping on a janky sidewalk, but the other was on a perfectly smooth sidewalk so no reason other than my middle name should have been Grace.

I struggled with getting back into OTF once it re-opened, and then they changed things up a bit with a lot of classes being you chose cardio or strength…most of them being the times I could make. To me that defeated the purpose.

I downloaded a walk/run 5K plan and did a 5K in August with friends. Well, we met up before and after. They were much faster than me. Which I’m used to.

But Winter was rough with cold weather. I do technically have a gym membership for about a month and a half more – I won it at a raffle at my running club’s variety show. But I HATE the treadmills they have, so it was never enticing to go. I was supposed to do a 10K yesterday, but I knew I was in no way, shape, or form ready for it – even to walk. So I DNSed it. (Did Not Start for those unfamiliar with running jargon.)

BUT. I need to make sure I’m getting my exercise in. And eating right. Some of my numbers which have been great always have crept up and need to get back down – my doctor feels confident that adjusting diet and exercise will be able to manage them. I want to prove her right. I’m on the Hers GLP-1 program as well as WW. So I’m working on it.

A little while ago I signed up for the Brooklyn Pride Run on June 14. Back to my walk/run 5K plan. It’s in my calendar and the plan starts tomorrow.

To keep me motivated through the summer I signed up for the runDisney Virtual 5K series. Can’t pass up the cute bling!

I’m going to make it a point to use the last month and a half of membership at the gym to get in some strength work – either by classes or with weights (or a combo). I’ll likely change to Blink or Planet Fitness after the membership ends – the gym I have one at now is expensive and like I said, I don’t like their treadmills.

So… It’s past time. Let’s do this!