By: Lisa Paris

In elementary school the cool kids are sporty, which made for an inopportune time to keep it on the chubby tip. In hindsight, what can you do?

If the popular kids got picked first for kickball, let's just say the Lisa Paris's of the world were barely scraping by. Out on the kb field I was lobbying for  second or third from last pick, and even then I really had to sell myself. If the P.E. class all stars ran the mile in under six minutes, the mini me's of America were hitting the finish line in the twelve minute range. Yeah, the gap was noticeable.

Those were some dark days, my athleticism doing little for my social life. Hence my tendency to loathe the act of running, I haven't attempted it since high school, where I was forced by a lady with a whistle. How powerfully impressionable you are in your early years!

Since going raw I have dabbled in the exercise. I've gotten crazy with yoga and jumped higher than humanly possible on my rebounder but the idea of running... shivers down the spine!

That being said, a miracle occurred earlier this week. Feeling a wild surge of energy, I decided to see what kind of havoc I could wreck on the treadmill. My aim: see how fast this old cardio playa hater could "run" a mile.

So Monday morning, September 7th, I hopped on. My mile time wasn't pretty but the realizations that came to me were, the main one being:  running makes you feel good! It's the act of comparing yourself to other people that brings the pain (that and a few tainted childhood memories involving gym class).

Let me repeat, my Day One mile time wasn't pretty and Day Two was no early 90's Glamor Shot either. I ran that thing faster back in day, towing around all the extra poundage, but I feel like getting over that and continuing to run could be a powerful thing. And so I bring to you the "Release Your Inner Chubby Child" Challenge....

I am going to run a mile on the treadmill everyday, see how quickly I can get my time down and how it effects other aspects of my life. It's all about overcoming the crap from our past, right?

Here is a recap of the challenge I logged on Twitter or Facebook.

30 Day Challenge Recap

Let the games begin...

DAY 1

First day on the "mill". Felt good, but the numbers- ouch! Drum roll please....... I ran a mile in 13:30 minutes! Oh my god, I think my worst mile back in the day was around 12 minutes. Not feeling great about my time but hey, things can only get better. Note to self: set up meeting with Guinness Book people sometime next week. This was a record breaker.

DAY 2

Today's time: 13:09 minutes. Shaved off 20 seconds! Granted, my grandmother could run faster than this, but I'll take any progress I can make.

DAY 3

My calves are so sore I have to hobble downstairs like a 90 year old. I am wimping out today, disgracing the Presidential Fitness programs across the elementary schools of America.

DAY 4

Still sore as all hell but I persevere and a miracle takes place. I run the mile in 10:46! That's like two and a half minutes shaved off in a day... Move over Michael Phelps! Oh wait- he wasn't a runner, was he?

In all seriousness, I am ecstatic! Looking back I believe that the fact that I didn't look at the clock until the very end of the run totally helped. Watching the clock= head games/ discouraging thoughts. I think I have begun to accept the fact that I can run. Good game.

DAY 5

After picking/eating plums all morning I was hesitant to jump on the 'mill and get going. I ignored my attempts at talking myself out of the run and clock in at 10:24- you go, you 80's jogger (with your sweet spandex) you.

Day 6

Inner Chubby Child Challenge... Mile Time: 10:07. I've almost beat the best mile time of my life. 9 minutes, 50 seconds: fifth grade.

Day 7

Fat Kid Complex be gone... Mile Time: 9:59. I made it in under ten minutes! Tell yo moms:)

Day 8

Inner Chub-A-Dub Challenge... Mile Time: 9:52. Two seconds away from my pudgy fifth grade record of 9:50. Can she do it folks??? Tomorrow is tell...

Day 9

Later little tubs... Mile Time: 9:13! I can now officially say that I am in better shape than I was in the fifth grade. Awww, yeeaah!

Day 10

It's on! Mile Time: 9:08! Today I pretended to chase bandits... maybe if I pretend to chase a raw cheesecake tomorrow I'll clock in under nine minutes! What do you think I should chase?

Day 11

Mile Time: 9:19. I'm proud of myself for even trying- wasn't in marathon mode this morning... what are you accomplishing today that you never thought possible?

Day 12

Lisa Paris bones out of today's mile after juicing for six hours straight for the Naked Food Fest. Sometimes life happens.

Day 13

Mile Time: 9:08 & I'm back in the saddle again:)

Day 14

Mile Time: 9:11.

Day 15

Lisa Paris whimps out of today's mile. Sometimes whimpyness happens.

Day 16

Mile Time: 9:03. Whoomp there it is.

Day 17

Mile Time: 8:59! Nine minute miles are so last season.

Day 18

Mile Time: 8:50! Is the Olympic commission still accepting resumes?

Day 19

Mile Time: 8:51. In the words of Uncle Jesse "Have Mercy!"

Day 20

Sayonara pudge of my past- Mile Time: 8:44. I'm not going to lie- I did break a sweat.

Day 21

After this morning's eight mile hike... Mile Time: 8:39. Who am I and what have I done with Lisa Paris???

Day 22

Mile Time: 8:36. Bring on the Nike contracts...

Day 23

Mile Time: 8:32. Slowly but surely I am making my way to the three minute mile...

Day 24

Mile Time: 8:30. Shawn Dion of Portland, OR suggests I blast the Chariots of Fire soundtrack during tomorrow's mile. What do you think I should rock?

Day 25

Mile Time: 8:24. Per music requests I rocked a Rocky/Beyonce/Daft Punk/Flock of Seagulls/Chariots of Fire mash up while watching the 80's slasher classic: Halloween. Thanks readers!

Day 26

Mile Time: 8:22. Running makes you feel good! What are you doing today that makes you feel good?

Day 27

Mile Time: 8:12. Today's Lesson: The faster I run, the less time I spend running:)

Day 28

Mile Time: 8:19. All that bling was weighing me down... note to self: leave gold chains atop nightstand during tomorrow's mile.

Day 29

Mile Time: 8:02 and I was running like a guest star on an old "Cops" episode. Tomorrow is that last day and I, mark my words, WILL get in the seven minute range!

Day 30

Mile Time: 7:56!!! Many a 5th grade dream has come true today... Thanks for all the support peeps, I could not have done this without my homies:)

Day 31

Challenge over but was missing my treadmill... Mile Time: 7:58. A mile is a terrible thing to waste.

Day 32

Oops I did it again! Day 32: 7:47. Unstoppable...

Day 33

No mile in sight...

Day 34

Mile Time: 7:47. Stealthy like a 747.

Day 35

No mile on today's agenda... is this the end?

Day 36

Today's 7 minute 55 second mile was inspired by Zach Galifianakis Live at The Purple Onion. That greek man's jokes power this greek girl's run.

Day 37

Powering the treadmill for todays 7 minute 46 second mile: 37 cents.

Powering the stereo to blast Jay Z for the run: 11 cents.

Seeing one of Lisa's shoes get flung off the treadmill: Priceless.