My Journey With Weight Loss – So Now What?

Today was my long run so I decided I should do an easy 12k (isn’t that an oxymoron?). I opted to run a different route than I normally would just for a change of pace. I was about 5 blocks into the run and I thought I so don’t want to do this. My legs were tired and heavy and just didn’t seem to be warming up. I convinced myself that I had worked hard this week so maybe just an 8k today. Then I got going and realized I was already 1/4 of the way into 12k and I said to myself, hey, you have a goal and you have never backed down from one before you can’t start now. The next thing I knew I was at the 1/2 way point and it was time to turn around. I finished my run strong and feeling proud of myself as I have pushed pretty hard this week but I plan to keep going.

Now if you remember 18 months ago my goal was to be able to run 10k. I met that goal nearly a year ago. And then after my coach kept making me do longer runs she convinced me at the beginning of this year that I should train to run a 1/2 marathon. Ok, I’ve done that so now what? Time to figure out some new goals.

I’ve been thinking this past week as I traveled a very large number of kilometers and I realized there are still things I want to do. I have already mentally committed myself to running another 1/2 marathon next year. However, I want to significantly reduce my time. That means I am going to focus some training on improving my speed so that it is sustainable. I have already proven I have the endurance, now I just want to do it faster. Coach has already given me the skills to do high intensity interval training and that is going to be part of probably both my short runs each week. My overall goal is to cut an hour off my time next year and I really think with some hard work I can do it.

The second goal I have decided on is the dreaded hill. Now you need to understand, if I run along the promenade at the beach then to come back home I have to run up a 4 block hill and the first 2 blocks of that hill are really steep. Even after just running 5k, running up that hill is brutal to me so never mind when I hit the last of a 16k run. So, hill training intervals are about to get longer so that when I hit the bottom of that hill I can keep my pace relatively consistent with the rest of my run.

I think these are not only 2 good goals but I absolutely believe they are achievable. Why? Because 18 months ago I set a goal, stuck to it, elevated it and look where I am today. I know with determination and the amazing support that I have been shown, I can do this.