Couch to 5K - Starting Over

Well, I am starting the Couch to 5K plan all over again. It's been a month since I was on track and posted anything. I did end up speed walking my first 5K on Sunday, March 13. It was the Mini-Mukluk Marathon that is both a fundraiser and a "fun"raiser for the Rotary Club of Nome. We raise money for college scholarships for students from Nome. Anyway, I walked with people with long legs and a person about my height who wanted to walk fast. Instead of turning around where the rest of the walkers turned around, my friends and I turned around farther up where the runners turned around. I finished in 64 minutes - I kind of slowed down and talked to some people at the end. After that, my husband and I came home and cleaned our house in preparation for Iditarod guests. I ended up getting in over 20,000 steps that day. A record for me!

I did not exercise again until I hiked on vacation. I took a little time off to attend to some work-related issues. While in hindsight I know that I could have been still on track for couch-to-5k, I just needed to let something go and it was training for my challenge to run a 5K sometime in 2011.

Now I am back and did Week 1, Day 1 again. I walked at 3.8 mph and jogged at 5.0 mph. I am thinking that the next time I exercise this week, I may jump to Week 2, Day 1. I did not really break a sweat today, but I did not want to push myself too hard. I pushed myself too little, but still feel that I got a fairly good workout. I will be traveling this week, so workouts will have to be flexible. The next time I work out might be on Thursday morning. I am hoping to walk/run the country roads of Northwestern Ohio as I visit some of my relatives. One of my uncles is not well and I really want to see him. Please keep him in your prayers.

Tonight while I worked out, I listened to a sermon by Rev. Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor of United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, called "If I Don't Do It...Remember Rule #6." He talked about taking time to slow down and listen to God. He also urged listeners to resist the urge to busy ourselves so much that we miss what God is saying to us. I am someone who can easily busy herself and spend 12 hours a day on church-related matters if I am not careful. I am a Pastor and I want to be the best Pastor God has called me to be. I am grateful for a husband who gets me out riding snowmachines (aka snowmobiles) and going to the Recreation Center. Again, I find that I have time to slow down and listen to God when I am exercising. Even though my body many be running or walking, I have still taken the time to get out of the grind and do something healthy for my body and soul.

I hope that you will continue to journey with me...even if I did take a break in the middle. My next opportunity to run a 5K will be in August. I am looking forward to running outside in Nome once the snow melts!!