Slow Progress is STILL Progress

I attempted to run outside tonight with Ozcar. That was a bad idea. It was still over 90 degrees when I left the house. It turned out to be more of a walk and towards the end I had to carry Ozcar.

However, I am going to make no progress on my running goals if I don't run and if I only run indoors I won't be as prepared for my outdoor races.

Due to the fact that I haven't ran since school started almost a month ago, my goal for this week wasn't distance or time it has been very simple. Run three times. That's it. Sometimes we have to start all over at the beginning with a goal and it can be frustrating. However it can be more discouraging in the long run if we set our goals too high and continuously fail. Setting my goal at running 26.2 miles in under 2.5 hours is too steep of a goal for a beginning runner. I may never run that fast or that far in one run.

Tonight was my second run of the week and its only Tuesday! Between the two runs I have completes 2.35 miles in 47 minutes. In 18 days, I would like to run 3.1 miles in 30 minutes or less. At this point, is it still an attainable goal? Maybe, I just have to add 0.75 miles in distance and shave 17 minutes. Ok, maybe its on the far edge of attainable. A more accessible goal would be running 3.1 miles in under 40 minutes. I would only have to shave off 7 minutes to achieve this goal.

Slow Progress is still progress. If I only do the race in 42 minutes, I am still shaving off time and I will have completed the race.

Throughout my challenge, running is going to play a keep role. One of my goals is that I am more comfortable with my body and because I am currently not I know that exercising maybe exactly what I need to improve what I don't like. Running also is giving me something to be proud of myself for. I hated running in high school. Now, I really enjoy running and when I cross that finish line it will be an example of a goal set and achieved. Which in a world full of procrastination is something to be proud of.