Strategy...

I'm tweaking my approach.

The BFF and I had this whole discussion yesterday about c25k, and how it seems impossible to make the jump from week 3 to week 4. And don't even get us started on week 5...

I've said all along that I do not expect to be able to run this whole 5k. My goals are (1) to finish, and (2) to finish in 45 minutes. I am following the Couch to 5k program, but I know that there will come a week when I will just not be able to do it. That being said, it almost makes you not want to do it at all.

Almost.

Anyway, here's the plan. I'm starting Week 4 this week:

3 minute run
1.5 minute walk
5 minute run
2.5 minute walk
3 minute run
1.5 minute walk
5 minute run
2.5 minute walk

It seems impossible, but (of course!) I'm going to try my hardest. I'm just not going to stress out about needing to get it down in 3 workouts. If I can't do week 4, I'm going to stay on week 4, no matter how long it takes. Then, and only then, I will move on to week 5. If I only make it to week 5 by the time of my 5k, then that's as far as I made it. I'm going to do the best I can at the 5k, and then use that as the jumping off point for my next 5k goals.

That's right. I said next 5k. There are two more 5k's in the works for me: the Cincinnati Zoo Cheetah Run on September 6th (also the same day as the WEBN Fireworks) and the Reggae Run on October 3rd.

Now part of me is wondering if this is me biting off more than I can chew - I mean, I haven't even ran my first 5k yet. What if I hate it?! But then, another part of me is really excited about it, because it gives me a reason to continue c25k after June 7th. And it gives me something to strive towards. I will have the first one under my belt, so I can work towards beating my time.

In the end, I feel much better about my decision to listen to my body and take c25k as I can. And I'm really excited about the possibility of saying that I ran three 5k's this year. This is exactly what I was talking about when I said I wanted to look back on this year and revel in my accomplishments, instead of wallow in my 'shoulda coulda woulda's'. (Read this post).

It blows my mind to think of the changes I'm making, the changes that I've already made, and the changes that are still yet to come.

I want to end this year with only one question in my mind...

Why didn't I do this sooner?!