Keep Going or Workout #9 for June

If you read my blog from Friday, you will remember that I was not confident at the end of 4.3 of Couch to 5k, or for me it was actually 4.6. I had run week 4 twice, and I was frustrated. Throughout the week I wondered if I would ever increase to week 5. I wondered if I could actually DO week four correctly. I DID 4.3, but it was a mess. I decided I could stay stagnant, or move onward and upward.

I discovered that I also injured the big toe on my right foot, at the base of the toe. It was a remarkable pain. I've broken toes before, and it almost felt like that. I decided to not work out Saturday at all, to give my foot a rest. It bothered me to sit on my duff, so to speak. All Sunday I pondered what I was going to do Monday.

I had received sound advice from dear friend M(O'R)J, who had experienced a foot injury, continued to carry on as usual, injuring herself further. Actually it gives me the willies thinking about it. Poor friend. I rolled her experience over and over in my mind. Morning came, and I had to make a decision. This is what happened...

I got on my workout clothes, and prepared Peach. The Captain modified his work schedule so that he could be home with the older two, so I could run. I am so thankful for his support. My mindset was, I have gone YEARS making excuses of why "I can't" or "shouldn't". I was afraid that given the (yes, valid) opportunity to make an excuse, I would take it, and run with excuses rather than my program.

I began my warm up walk. My foot, although it felt better upon waking up, hurt. I decided if it still hurt when I started to run, I would walk the half hour, because I had to do something.

Soon into running the first run (5.1 or week 5, day 1)I noticed the pain was receding. Before I knew it, the pain was gone. I don't mean "mind over matter" gone. I mean I felt like I usually do. So I kept going.

I was pleased that I made it through the first run without a major temptation to stop. As usual, the long runs have become the short runs, or in this case, today, what were the long runs for week four, there were now three of, with no short runs. Wednesday there are two LONG rungs, and Friday I will run for 20 minutes without a break. Because of this, I realized if I didn't do it right today, I didn't have the rest of the week to perfect it. This was it.

The second run I focused on a bit of advice I read yesterday: You have to consciously tell your feet to stop. Your body knows to keep going, so focus on something else. I listened to my breathing which makes me crazy. I thought about Disneyland. I thought about my siblings. I thought about my kids' sore throats. I made a goal to run to the entrance/exit to the park, and before I knew it, my app told me to "walk now". I was SO pleased! Winded, but SO pleased!

The walk between the two runs seemed to be far too brief. But I knew by the end of the walk, I had successfully caught my breath, and I was ready to run the final run. This was tough for me. Clearly. It was another long run. I was tired. I was really really really done. But I knew it was make it or break it day. I remembered what WB said, "You just have to do what you've already done." I had already ran that run twice. I just needed to do it once more. I was approaching the stop sign. This was pretty tricky for me, because my goal with week four WAS the stop sign, in the shorter run. My new goal was the kids' bus stop. I had to pass the stop sign without stopping. I visualized a sign that said "Keep Going". I crossed the street to avoid the stop sign, and rounded the corner. "One minute left", my app said, and I pressed on. Thrilled. I smiled that whole last minute. I almost cried.

I grinned the whole time I was doing my cool down. I was sweating from head to toe. I feel AMAZING. I am thrilled!

I look forward to Wednesday to find out if all I've been training for is preparing me to run so much already.

My plan? To keep going.