*This post was written by a Start Healthy contributor.

For some people, running is the easiest thing in the world, but for others, it’s something that doesn’t come so naturally. As a non-runner, I was determined to run my first 5K this spring, and learned a lot along the way.

I started running about six weeks out in order to prepare myself for the day’s event, and on a semi-regular basis (at least 2-3 times a week). I wanted to acclimate my body to running longer distances. I ran inside on the treadmill as well to figure out what my pace was like, which made it easier when I transitioned into running outside!

Diet was also a large component for me—eating healthier made it easier to run, and I immediately noticed a difference in my progress when I started eating poorly again. What helped me even more was participating in the office-wide weight loss challenge, as it provided me with more of an incentive to make healthier choices throughout this journey.

Watch the vlog to see more of my 5K journey, but here’s a look at what my training plan looked like!

Week 1:

Start out small and run in intervals: Run 5 minutes and walk for 1 minute. Repeat 3 times.

Week 2:

Still run in smaller intervals, but up the ante by running for 3-5 minutes and walking for 1. Repeat 3 times.

Week 3:

Run for 7 minutes and walk for 1. Repeat 3 times.

Week 4:

Run for 9 minutes and walk for 1. Repeat 3 times.

Week 5:

Run for 12 minutes and walk for 1-2. Repeat 3 times.

Week 6:

Run 15 minutes and walk for 1 (or don’t walk at all!) Repeat 2-3 times.

Overall this was a great experience, and I actually started to enjoy running (something I didn’t think was possible at the beginning).