You're looking at a girl who just successfully went for a run. Sure, it was pathetically short and I was breathing hard almost instantly, but I did it! I won't admit how long I lasted, cause, again, it's rather embarrassing. But, I did stretch out for fifteen minutes before I took off. And for all you people in super shape, that's nothing. But for people like me, terribly out of shape who haven't exercised in years, it is also a work out.
And the stretch thing is where Nike comes in. Several months back (like two years ago probably), I went on this kick saying that I was going to get in shape. I bought the clothes, the shoes, got some apps. And I lasted about three weeks. Then life got the better of me.
Now, I was never a girl who exercised. I grew up blessed with a fast metabolism (actually too fast for a while, I was almost severely underweight when I was younger) and I participated in a lot of active sports (I played tennis several days a week and I swam a lot). I definitely wasn't out of shape. I mean, I played a four hour tennis match without significant break in the noon, August, gulf coast Mississippi heat! But there are different kinds of in shape.
Then life happened. Tennis got expensive. And very suddenly, I quit playing (not by choice, just circumstances). Then I got to college. As everyone knows, college is exciting! And busy! And if you're not careful, you'll go four years without really significantly hitting the gym, even when you mean to.
However, while I was in college, I picked up ballroom dancing. I got to a point where I was dancing almost five days a week for hours at a time! I definitely wasn't in tennis shape, but I was as terrible as I could be.
Then that slowed down.
Then I decided to go to law school. Let me just tell you, if you think finding time to exercise and have any kind of life beyond drinking alcohol in law school is possible, you have another thing coming....or you're superman.
I plummeted. There was no more tennis. Dancing was maybe once a month, if the one Saturday they had a dance in town, I was free. I didn't go to the gym. I started drinking a lot.
Before I knew it, an entire year had passed.
I wound up taking a tennis class my last semester of college. It wasn't serious or strenuous, but it reminded me how much I missed the game. So when I came home for the summer, I signed up for a tennis league.
One hour into my first match, and I think I had a heat stroke. I didn't play again that summer. But I did realize how out of shape I was.
Not that I ever did any better about exercising in law school. Except for that three or so week term.
Anyway, long story short, and back to Nike, I went for a run today! And I did a proper stretch, too. While the run was outside and relatively close to my complex (in case I totally crapped out), the stretch was with the help of Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson (and anyone who knows me, knows that I'm kind of obsessed about gymnastics. Ask me about Bailey Key's FX right now, I'm in love!). Nike has this app, which I totally recommend, full of exercises. Some of them are the design of famous athletes, like Shawn Johnson (Gabby Douglas has one, too), and some aren't. Some require equipment, some don't. But if you want a workout walk-through because, like me, you just have no idea how to get started, this app is perfect.
It's called NTC or Nike Training Club. I don't think I ever paid for it, but if I did, it wouldn't have been much, I'm way too cheap for that, and it has so many different work outs for all kinds of muscles! (And I definitely recommend starting with Shawn Johnson's stretch)
Because, if I can go for a run (no matter how pathetic and short), you can, too. And we all have to start somewhere, sooner rather than later.
So, Nike, while I prefer Under Armour products, today, thanks to NTC, I'm saying...
P.S. I'm putting you guys (my readers...if I have any) in charge of this. Now that you know I went for a run, I have to go again. I have to start working it out. Because now I've made it public. My Barbri brain can't remember the word I'm thinking of, but now that you know, I have to keep going with my program. I have an alarm on my phone set to go off three times a week so I go running. Hopefully, in a few days or weeks, I can tell you that I did it! If I didn't, shame on me. Either way, you guys will know and can hold me accountable!
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