Had my boss not “encouraged” me — in the presence of Jo Berry, no less — to participate in Boogie and write about my training, I would have remained blissfully inert at my desk.

I don’t have anything against Boogie; encouraging community spirit and better health is a brilliant idea. And I could easily fit a 5K run on April 29 into my life. It’s the training three days a week that is the problem — particularly the group training Sundays at 8:30 a.m. or Tuesdays at 6 p.m.

My excuses are legion, starting with the fact that neither training day fits my schedule. I work Sundays until 10:30 p.m., so being up early that morning when I already struggle to stay awake finishing the paper that night is tough. I’m never done work by 6 p.m. on other days and can’t see leaving for an hour either.

I’ve also got a bad knee and tendonitis that makes my ankle creak when I overdo it . . . so, lots of excuses, but I know it’s not a sustainable path.

Getting up early Sunday wasn’t that bad. The running-walking combo was easy and I didn’t break a sweat though there was a twinge of tightness in my chest during the run.

I forced myself to leave the desk midweek and let the walk lights guide my downtown jaunt. I felt a buzz for a couple hours after, but that may have been because I skipped lunch to do my walk-run.

I’m not sure I’ll ever be one of those people who wakes early to do 10K before work but you never know. If it makes me feel energized, reduces my stress and adds more of a social network, I just might start drinking the Kool-Aid.