As I discovered last week, I am ridiculously out of shape. However, I found out just two weeks ago that my mother wants me to run a 10k on July 4th with her. I’m scared though because I have never done anything that long and just going a few miles is like murder to me. What is the best way for someone like me, a ridiculously out of shape person, to be well enough to at least walk the entire thing by July 4th?

I have been trying to get ready, so I have maintained a schedule of exercising 5 days a week. I started a C25K program, so right now I’m doing about 30 minutes of cardio a day (via the program). I’m towards the end of week one, and it’s just alternating periods of walking with slightly shorter periods of running. Is this enough to get me in somewhat good cardiovascular health for this or do I need to do more?