Luckily, another guy I work with was thinking about getting in better shape and we were near the same level. So, we searched the web for a beginner’s training plan and stumbled upon the Cool Running, Couch to 5-K training plan. This plan was perfect for beginners, since it focused almost exclusively on time of activity, rather than distance or speed.
Set a goal, then tell your friends
The next step was to set a goal. We started this at the end of August 2004, and discovered the Medical Center 10K Classic. We registered for the 5K Run/Walk, and then told our friends and co-workers. We discovered, that for men at least, there’s nothing like the pressure created by publicizing a goal to keep you on task. The prospect of failing to reach a stated goal was a wonderful motivator for us. Our goal was to finish the event, and we had 12 weeks to train. Improving our physical conditioning and losing weight would be the bonus for achieving our goal.
