Today's workout (week 4 day two of the iPhone couch to 5K app) 5 min warm up walk; jog three in; walk 2 min; jog 4 min; walk 2 min; jog 5 min; walk 3 min; 5 min cool down walk
Still going ok, although pushing to the 5 min without stopping was a push. But in a good way. I'm finally noticing this week that I feel stronger. Can run a little faster than before. I'm seeing improvement, and success is a great motivator to keep reaching. Overall in the workout I'm going about two miles now which isn't much. I feel I could go further, but am deliberately sticking to the program as outlined for now. Half way through and believing that the 5K distance is well within reach by the end of the program. I'm trying to decide if I should sign up for an actual race this summer to celebrate? I think that would be fun before moving onto the next longer distance.
Now I'd like to tell you the story of when I quit. Perhaps it will sound familiar to some of you? It was week three which was a crazy week (excuse.) We were moving so I was far too busy to do my workout that first day (excuse.) My muscles were sore from lifting boxes (excuse.) The kids needed extra emotional attention (excuse.) On the second scheduled workout that week I had a ton of paperwork to do and phone calls to make (excuse.) Slept in (excuse) and realized that right in the middle of a move was a bad time to be trying to train anyway...maybe in a few months when things settle down (yeah right!) On the 3rd scheduled run for that week I just flat out didn't feel like it. I had already blown the program and proved to myself that I was a quitter anyway...so why try (excuse.) I was reminded of other times I had started and stopped, and chalked it up as just the way it was. Why not just go back to bed?
Um...NOT this time!!!
Week three was a bust for sure. But on Monday of week four I decided to turn that week into a "pause" rather than a quit. So what right? Life happens. I got a little overwhelmed, but that doesn't mean I'm beaten. I had to ask myself if I REALLY want this or not? The answer in my heart and mind was a resounding YES! So...better late than never, it was a week three "do-over," that spilled into this week (now called week 4.) I'm fully back on track (pun intended) and as determined as ever!
Why am I telling you this? Because I don't think my story is unusual. Almost anyone who tries to create a major life change (in fitness or other areas of living as well) will have their resolve tested along the way. Hurdles block your path from time to time, and it's easy to fall out of step with your goals and begin to question them all together when the going gets rough. You know what? This is normal. And it is ok. Beating yourself up over it is not productive or necessary. The trick to maintaining a pace is not to never fall. But to brush yourself off and start again when you do. Get progress once again moving in a forward direction, and leave negative thoughts behind you in the dust.
The occasional "pause" does not have to equal a "quit!" I'm sure this is a message I'll need to replay for myself in the future again as well. Excited for now though to still be running (well technically jogging? shuffling?) :-)
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