From Zero to 10k

I have never been a runner.

In fact, before this, I hadn’t run a single mile in my life.

If you asked me a few months ago, I would have told you I don’t run unless something is chasing me.

Despite my history as a non-runner, I stepped up to the starting line of the BMW Dallas Marathon 10k. I crossed the finish line with a time of 1:14:34 - and even managed to clock a new 5k personal record of 32:00 along the way.

Starting up

On October 7th I signed up to run the 10k marathon during the BMW Dallas Marathon weekend. With the race scheduled for December 13th, I had exactly 67 days to transform myself into a runner.

Before picking a training plan, I needed a reality check. I wanted to see exactly how bad my starting point was. The same evening I signed up, I headed to a local park and just… started. I walked, I jogged, and I struggled through four loops. By the end, one thing was clear: my ‘willpower’ needed a structured plan to back it up.

I was also monitoring how my body recovered. Surprisingly, after that initial run, I didn’t feel any tenderness or pain in my body. Which meant that there was room for me push.

Getting help

I turned to Gemini to help me build a plan. The strategy had these principles,

1. Run/Walk Method: A mix of running and walking to build aerobic base without putting too much stress on joints and muscles.
2. The Long Run: A long run once a week, that gradually increases in distance.
3. Cross-Training (XT): Non-running workouts like cycling, swimming, strength training, or even a brisk walk. XT builds supporting muscles, prevents burnout, and is crucial for injury prevention.
4. Rest: Rest days for the body to adapt and get stronger. Skipping rest is the fastest way to get injured.
5. Conversational Pace: On running days, I should be able to hold a conversation. If I’m gasping for air, I need to slow down and it’s key to building endurance.

Here’s the prompyt that I used,

You are an experience marathon runner with multiple Marathon winnings. You are also an expert coach helping people get into running.

I am a beginner in running and I have never ran even a half marathon in my life. Today is 7th October and I'm running a 10 km Marathon on December 13th.

Create a structured plan for me to start training. Give me a detailed plan which includes the days I should run, the distance I should be running each day the days I should take rest and the days I should be exercising.

As part of progress check, I would give you a daily report so that he can tweak the plan according to that and you can decide whether to increase the intensity or decrease the intensity.

And here’s the first two week’s of the training plan,

Week 1: Foundation (October 7 - 12)

• Tuesday (Today!): Run 2 mins, Walk 2 mins. Repeat 4 times for a total of 16 mins.
• Wednesday: Rest.
• Thursday: Run 2 mins, Walk 2 mins. Repeat 5 times for a total of 20 mins.
• Friday: Rest.
• Saturday (Long Run): 2 km at a slow, steady pace. Walk if you need to.
• Sunday: Active Recovery (e.g., a 20-30 minute walk) or Cross-Train (XT).

Week 2: Building (October 13 - 19)

• Tuesday: Run 3 mins, Walk 2 mins. Repeat 4 times for a total of 20 mins.
• Wednesday: XT for 30 minutes.
• Thursday: Run 3 mins, Walk 2 mins. Repeat 4 times for a total of 20 mins.
• Friday: Rest.
• Saturday (Long Run): 2.5 km at a slow, steady pace.
• Sunday: Rest.

🤔 Hmm… I guess the AI doesn’t have Mondays?

The real training plan

The real challenge wasn’t the miles; it was the “Working Parent” part of me. Between my job and acting as the evening shuttle for the kids’ various classes, my schedule was tight. I knew right away the training schedule that I got won’t work with the weekly schedule that I had. So I made some changes and my training schedule looked like this:

Monday	Run-Walk session
Tuesday	Power Walk
Wednesday	The “Long Run”
Thursday	Power Walk
Friday–Sunday	Rest and Recovery

It felt manageable, and for the first time, a fitness goal felt like it actually fit into my life.

Making progress

I wasn’t very consistent with the plan.

I had some starting trouble and I was not motivated enough to stick to the plan and I didn’t make much progress during the first few weeks. Then again around November, as the temprature dropped, I stopped running as I had to figure out how to keep myself warm.

My running spot was around downtown Frisco and I was hitting every road around Frisco Square. I needed the peace of mind knowing that if my legs cramped up or I completely ran out of breath, I was never more than a 10-minute walk from my car. It was my safety net while I built my confidence.

I quickly realized my endurance was higher than I anticipated. I fast-tracked my intervals, moving from a “2-minute run / 2-minute walk” to a “3-minute run / 1-minute walk”.

By October 27th, I hit a massive milestone: I ran my first 5k non-stop in 33:09.

From there, my goal was to add just 1km per week. I stayed mindful of my body-if I felt a strange pain or got winded, I’d slow to a walk. Here is how the numbers climbed:

Oct 27	5k	33:09
Nov 10	7k	46:20
Nov 19	8k	59:09
Dec 8	10k	1:09:47 - My first 10k in training!

Race day!

The race day was cold! Really cold!

After standing in the starting corral for nearly an hour, my muscles were stiff. Just 1km into the race, I felt a sharp twinge in my knee.

Then came the bridge. I had done all my training on flat ground, so seeing an uphill section was a total curveball. Despite the incline and the knee pain, I pushed through the first half and actually set a 5k personal best!

The final 4km was a battle. The knee pain worsened when I walked, so I found a slow, steady “shuffle” pace that felt better than stopping. My mental goal was to finish under 1 hour and 30 minutes.

When I crossed the line at 1:14:34, the relief was incredible. I could have done better, but for a first-timer? I’ll take it!

My phone officially clocked me at 1:15:33. To be fair, I hit ‘start’ the second the countdown ended—even though I was still shuffling toward the line-and I was a little too exhausted to remember to hit ‘stop’ immediately after crossing! Still, I’ll take it. 😀

Here’s the link to the offical result.

What’s next?

Right now, I’m in recovery mode, focusing on healing my knee and getting some light exercise back into my routine.

Will I start running again? Maybe. Does a half-marathon seem possible now? Surprisingly, yes. If you’re sitting on the fence about a goal that feels too big, just remember: two months ago, I wasn’t a runner either.