W5D3

I was prepared to go for week 5 day 3 on Friday when I went to bed the night before. I'd figure I'd go at 8 am because it will be cooler, so 6 am wake up call was needed. 6 am rolls around after a long night of tossing and turning worrying about 20 mins of running. Ok I'll go at 10am and get 2 more hours of sleep and run in with Robert when he goes to work... 8 am comes along "Dang it! he closes and wont be going in till later, well I'm too tired anyway, I'll skip it or do it tonight" (five seconds later) "Dang it!, I work till midnight and have to get up really early the next day. Fine I'll go at 10."

10 am rolls around and I'm still quaking in my boots. "I'll just do what I can if I have to stop then I stop big deal." So I drive down to my spot, get out of the car to stretch and realize I haven't had the short walk I usually before the stretch. OK I'll walk back and forth like I'm pacing... whatever. Stretch for a few mins.

"you may begin, now" The voice says. Off I go ... "oh a twinge in my ankle, my calf is not working right, ... blah"

3 mins in my ankle is fine, my calve has calmed down but I mentally think about not being able to do it. I feel myself faltering. "WAIT A MIN!" I realize I don't feel that bad yes I am tired but I have run before tired I will get as far as I can. I think to myself " I can do this I will do this, 5 mins in and I'm fine. Here I go."

"Congratulations ... 10 mins has passed" I feel great! no cramps not out of breath, my calve is fine and I'm going strong. 15 mins, 18 mins, 20 mins! Wooo Hooo! I felt so good when I passed 20 I didn't even realize I had done it. I started my cool down like the lady said but I wanted more. I picked up the pace 2 mins into the cool down and ran for another 3 mins back to the car.

I had done it and done it without dieing! I am so proud of myself foe not psyching myself out mentally. I really found that after 3 mins I found my stride (still a 12.5 min mile I am going to work on speed soon), and my breathing pattern, and before I knew it I was going for 20 mins and 1.6 miles.

What should you take away from this? It is a mental game, once you find your groove you can go for much longer than you think. Don't put yourself in a poor mindset, believe that you can achieve any reasonable goal you put your mind to, and know your limits. If I can do this anyone who wants it enough can. I may be a lot slower than some but it about going a distance of time, once I get there I can work to improve my speed.

Cheers