Progress Report

I got my run on today... and I don't mean sentences! Clare and I had a gym date. I was tired and had a headache we started off kinda slow with the weights and ended with speed on the treadmill. I feel a lot better now, endorphins high, headache gone. So glad I worked out.

The 5k is just about a month away. Now to give you all a progress report on my running status. 30 minutes on the treadmill:

16 minutes of running
Recovery Walk
2 minutes of running
Recovery Walk
5 minutes of running
Recovery Walk
1 minute of running

You see that I ran for 16 minutes!!! AMAZING! Clare told me that one of the reasons she keeps running is because she is afraid that if she stops she won't be able to get going again. Going into it today, I was just hoping to be able to meet the same 10 minutes I ran last time. I knew I wasn't feeling 100% but I want to continue to progress and push myself. Every minute that passed, I kept telling myself 1 more minute. Believe me right around the 5 minute mark, I wanted to give up. I pushed through, I hit 7 minutes and time flew (we were watching Marley and Me in the cardio cinema) next thing I knew I was at 9 minutes. I continued to push myself, minute by minute, I said, one more minute. I can do this. There were times I wanted to stop but I didn't though, I remembered what Clare said about not stopping. I thought of Sherri and how far she can run, I thought of my 5k. Each minute I pushed myself. After the 10 minute mark, every minute was progress. I wanted to see how far I can really run. Around minute 13 I hit the 1 mile mark. I was so proud I breathlessly hollered out my milestone to Clare. I ended up running about 1.25 miles in the first 16 minutes. So much progress! I ended up run/walking 2.11 miles today! About 1 mile short of the 5K distance but I know I could have ran/walked an additional mile, if time allowed.

I remember the first time I ran the treadmill with Clare, I could only run a few minutes and it took everything I had. Clare on the other hand ran what seemed like forever. Even though Clare is in much better shape than me physically, we motivate each other. I dream of the day that I can run like her or Sherri. I'm getting closer though. Sherri, I couldn't wait to get home and blog just so I you would know that I ran for 16 minutes! I'm so proud of myself and all my progress, both in weight loss and physical fitness. I could go on and on about all the exciting changes that I see in my body and in my life. Ahhhh.... life is good!

I might find myself back at the gym again tonight - not because I'm nuts but because my husband is getting motivated to go. If he wants to go to the gym, I've decided I will go and support him too. If we go, I will take it easy.