So here I am, about to complete my third full week of running. I have been ahead of the program from the beginning, running an average of four times a week instead of the outlined three. I find that if more than a day passes between runs, it sets me back. So I try to keep it to one rest day in between. I also have become more mindful of the weather and take opportunities to run when the conditions are right – even if that means two days in a row. I just fear that if I don’t go now, things will come up a couple days in a row, and I will be screwed. Being a single mom means taking the time when it presents itself. However, I never push myself too far. I would have loved to go out running yesterday afternoon. After the storm, the temp was in the 60s and I had plenty of free time. But having run two days straight, I knew a third day without resting my body would have proved disastrous.
I also took the time to repeat “week three” in the program even though I’ve completed those runs. ‘Week four’ takes a leap that I knew I wasn’t ready for yet and I don’t want to push myself beyond my limitations. If I get injured or find myself unable to keep up, I know that I will feel defeated and be less likely to complete my goal. Tonight, I have the option of doing another re-run or moving on to “week four.” I will let my body tell me what to do after a long day at work. If it craves the release of more energy, then I will step it up. If not, then I will stick with what I know I can handle. However, my deadline to move up to “week four” is Wednesday. Eeek!
Aside from working the program and watching as my runs become longer stretches, I have been watching the changes in my body. I am not someone who cares that much about my weight in numbers as much in how I wear the weight. One hundred and twenty pounds can look perfect on a petite framed girl but could look sickly on a taller, broader built woman. It is not the number that counts – its the way I look and feel. However, when trying to trim down, weight (in numbers) can be one of the only quantifiable measurements. So for now, I find myself looking to that number. For the first few weeks, I did not see a change in either the number or my body shape. But in the last few days, that seemed to change. My weight dipped a little over the weekend and I find my clothes fitting a little different. During my massage on Saturday, my massage therapist took notice of the muscle I am building in my legs. After a few weeks of feeling like I was going nowhere fast, I finally feel like I’ve made a bit of progress! Yay!
Feeling like I’m making progress, I finally broke down and bought new running shoes. The shoes I’d been using were decent but I knew I needed something a bit better quality. After feeling that my commitment has remained on track (no pun intended) so far, I felt the investment was worth my while. I had someone assess the way I walk/run and he suggested Mizuno’s Wave Inspire. I have only logged one run in these shoes but I’m hopeful that they will make a difference as I continue my reach for 5K!
Patti Kurtz 