Almost

I was so determined to break 46 minutes on my treadmill 5K today. I’ve been getting stronger, but the past few weeks I’ve not done much running. My shoes really needed to be replaced, and I finally got a new pair on Thursday. I took a few Advil before I went to the gym this morning, to help with shin splints. What I didn’t count on was the fact that I had some sinus congestion. Running for any length of time without the benefit of breathing is not a real good idea, at least in my experience. So, it was another power walk. I cranked up to 4.1 mph. Last week it was 4.0, which is about my max walking speed. After that, it’s awkward to keep walking and I have to slog.

I should mention that my gym partner in crime, Barb, is 5′1″. I am 5′ 8 1/2″. So it’s kind of hard for us to keep the same pace because our strides are so different. We’ve done various speed ladder workouts on the treadmills before and we can never find one that works for both of us. A comfortable jogging speed for her is a painful, awkward fastwalk for me. A good run/jog for me is a sprint for her. Her endurance is much better than mine so I can’t go as long as she can. But, she is a great partner, very supportive and motivating, and I probably would’ve given up my fitness endeavors long ago if it hadn’t been for her. She’s the best, and there aren’t that many people I’d get up that early for each morning, but she’s at the top of that list.

So … that said … I busted it out and powerwalked. I wanted to run but was so congested. We’ve had a lot of wind the past week and I know I’m stuffed up from whatever is blowing around in the air. I was really hoping to get into the 45s today. I had visions of 45:30. And I came really close. But I wound up hitting 3.1 miles at exactly 46:00. Soooooo close, darn it! My first thought was, “Uggghhh, why couldn’t I have jogged for like FIVE MORE SECONDS?!” But, that’s still my fastest time yet. A whole 12 seconds faster than last week’s 46:12. I’m not going to beat myself up too bad. Progress is progress.

Barb and I talked it over and since I’ve been struggling with the running the past couple weeks due to painful feet/old shoes, and congestion, I think it’s best to go back to very basic intervals of running for one minute and walking for a few, then run for one minute, etc. Previously, I could bust out three minutes of running and then walk for a while, but right now just getting through one minute is a challenge. You’d think I’d know by now to give up that all or nothing thinking, but apparently, it’s a hard habit to break.

Next week, I’ll have new shoes that are actually broken in. I should be a pound or two lighter. And with any luck at all, I won’t have this morning congestion that loves to visit me each year around this time. So, I’m going to set my goal kind of high for next Saturday, at 45:00 even. Not sure I can do it, but that’s what I’m going to shoot for. If I can make it, I’ll be right back on pace for my longer-range goal. If I don’t, I bet it’ll still be faster than this week, and that’s what matters most to me. In the grand scheme of things, it’s 45+ minutes I didn’t spend with my ass on the couch, so I’ll take it.