Nouriched: Eat, Move and Rest Your way to Wellness

DAY 1

About six months ago, when I decided to get more active, I started following a bunch of fitness folks I vibed with—mostly for inspo and snackable tips. Between the gym selfies and protein-packed meals, one thing kept popping up: cardio. And not just any cardio. Running. On treadmills, on trails, in the rain, in the sun—these people were out here clocking miles like it was nothing.

Meanwhile, I was holding it down with strength training (kinda). But recently, I started feeling bored. Like… “Can’t I spice this thing up a bit?” You already know I’ve been scouting for a personal trainer. But for cardio? I decided to do something wild: train to run a 5K.

Yep. Me. A whole 5K.

The plan? Run every other day, two to three times per week. The goal? Run a full 5K in under 30 minutes by December 2025. Ambitious? Absolutely. Logical? TBD. I have no idea how this will fit into my 9–5 work grind and 5–9 family life, but mek we see!

Maybe it’s the spring sunshine showing off like it’s in the Caribbean.

Maybe it’s the pollen turning me into an antihistamine ambassador.

Maybe it’s the Jamaican sprinting genes finally kicking in (Usain, Asafa, Shelly-Ann, Chantelle??). Whatever it is—running felt right. And today was Day 1.

Here are a few highlights (and lessons) from the run:

• Pre-run fuel was clutch: I had a slice of sourdough with lowfat cottage cheese and jam, plus some unsweetened spearmint tea. It gave me way more energy than my usual fasted gym workouts. Noted.
• Week 1 Run-walk method : I did 12 run-walk intervals in 51 minutes, after a 5-minute warm-up walk and some light stretching. I used Strava and a Tabata timer to stay on track, and honestly? Loved the pace.
• Runner’s high is REAL: Somewhere around mile 2, something hit. Energy. Joy. Euphoria?! I picked up the pace (briefly) without even realizing it. I’ve never felt that during a workout before. And now I want more!
• Foam rolling = non-negotiable: My hips are feeling a lil tight, so I did a good post-run roll-out. Painful, so I hope its worth it.
• Protein-packed breakfast: After the run, I ate around 30g of protein and watched a movie with my mini-me. A wholesome end to a solid start.

The whole thing took me about two hours. Not sustainable for weekdays, obviously. So I’ll need to tweak the routine to fit my life without rushing the process (injuries are not invited). Once I figure it out, I’ll share what’s working.

Oh—and a few things that’s definitely going in the “Running for Cysters” (title TBD..) e-book that I’m writing for every PCOS cyster who experienced pain or relived trauma in her body when she tried to do a 5k the conventional way:

• Get you some proper running shoes (my trainers are clutch)
• A supportive sports bra (especially if you’re blessed up top)
• And a FIRE playlist. Because the right vibe? Will have you floating like woah.

That’s it for today. I might not blog after every run, but I’ll probably share weekly updates and some behind-the-scenes of the e-book I’m putting together.

Stay tuned—and maybe even start running with me?