I am pretty good at my power walking. I don't get too winded, even on The Big Hill - unless it is really hot or if I've really been walking fast. (Usually I end up walking fast if there are a lot of people to pass on the trail. Alas, the art of the pass is tricky to achieve at times. Some people don't want to be passed. And yet, do they really want me at their heels the rest of the walk?)

In other words, walking is pretty comfortable. I can't carry on a conversation when I am power-walking (oh, GOSH it sounds like I'm some polyester-pants-fanny-pak-wearin' oldster when I say 'power walk' but that is really the only way to describe it) but I am not huffing and puffing. At the end of the walk, my legs tingle in that pleasurable way that tells me that I did some great work. I get sweaty and I feel good.

And so, when I heard about this "Couch to 5K" running interval training, I thought it would be pretty easy. So easy, in fact, that I figured I'd skip Week One and jump right into Week Two. (How else could I ramp up into shape in time for the BlogHer 5K?)

Yes, I figured I couldn't just go run the 5K all-out. I knew I couldn't run my usual 2.9 loop up and down and up and down the hills without some sort of prep.

But with my "power walk" time of less than 45 minutes for the 2.9 miles, of course I am in shape enough to attempt a 5K in a reasonable amount of time, yes? And of course doing something silly like starting out at a 90 second run followed by a 2 minute walk would be a breeze for me, yes? So much so that I'd be on Week Three of the interval training this Thursday.

Yes - I hear your anticipatory laughter now.

My lungs are burning and it has been nearly twelve hours since I attempted my first shot at "simple" interval training.

Sure, the five minute "brisk walk" part was easy - because that is what I always do. But then I started the 90 seconds of run. My pants fell down, which was distracting. And then there were some dudes that I felt kind of uncomfortable passing given that I know my "form" isn't so hot, but I did it anyway. I felt every pound of flab bouncing up and down, whereas when I walk it is a centered, grounded propelling forward where I don't feel my weight as much as I use my weight. Well, running definitely uses different muscles and the bouncy-bouncy was pretty embarrassing. (Surprisingly, the only thing not bouncing was the stuff in the shelf. Really.)

During the two minute "brisk" walk following the run, I wasn't very "brisk." Still, I felt good. This is okay I thought. During my second interval, there was a tractor in my path. It was really odd. But I kept going by running up a muddy hill to avoid the tractor. My "brisk" walk thereafter was sort of in place. My third interval of running was pretty much in place. I had no energy left to go forwards. I'm pretty blacked out for the rest of the experience other than to know that I quit one running interval early, but I don't think it was too early. I started my final 90 second running interval about ten seconds late because I was not breathing. But I finished strong. I then walked the rest of the way (even after the official workout had ended because I was mid-loop) By the time I reached my car, I was back to my "brisk" walking pace.

Let me tell you of the time I tripped while smoking a cigar: it burned.
(Disclaimer: I don't smoke cigars on a regular basis. Really.)

Let me tell you about today: it burned the same way.

Seriously, my lungs are dead.
(Again, I've had like 3 cigars in my life, and maybe 5 cigarettes. My lungs should not be this dead.)

The funny thing is that my legs didn't tingle after the walk. Instead, I have some soreness in my shoulders. My legs are that flexible-comfy that happens when they've been stretched or worked out, but they aren't sore today. What is sore is those lungs.

I'm still coughing yellow and feel pretty lame for having such little endurance. But - I'll give it a try again in a couple days. (Still on "Week Two" though - oh no, my dreams of smashing past the recommended pace of the program have been squelched)

Confidence can be a killer, clearly.

But what's really crazy? I am looking forward to doing it again.