that slippery, slippery slope..

Yesterday morning was a tad rough for me - for no good reason, though. Perhaps simply that it was Monday. For some reason, I just could not get out of bed in the morning and could only come up with rationalization after rationalization as to why I shouldn't go running.

My laziness won out, I'm sorry to admit. I think I was too ashamed to write about that yesterday so I also didn't post! Monday was dismal, indeed!

I finally dragged myself out of bed and told myself that I would run in the evening instead. I did not do that either. However, my one good excuse is that I had to study for my final that is this evening.

Soooo, this morning rolls around. I was this close to not getting out of bed again. I told myself that I stayed up late studying (11:30pm :P) and that I needed to get to work early so I could leave early and study more before the exam. I told myself that I already missed one day so it was ok and that for sure I would run tonight after the exam and that everything would be fine. Then I told myself it was already 7:30am so by the time I got out and running and back and showered I would be super late getting to work (knowing full well that I am late every other day for work).

Then I remembered the 5k. And thought about how embarrassed I would be if the day came and I couldn't do it. I thought about how I would be letting myself down and that I always give up on things and that for this I should finally stick to something. It's good for my heart, my health, etc.

So that finally got me out of bed. Phew. I have to tell you - convincing myself to get out of bed was a milestone at this stage was quite the feat. Usually when I want to quit something, I check out mentally right away, and then it's over. But not this time!

I started the third week of the Couch to 5K training session.

5-minute warmup walk
*90-second run
90-second walk
3-minute run
3-minute walk

repeat from *

I started the run thinking I wouldn't be able to do it (I was still sort of trying to give up, I think). But I persevered and I know it doesn't seem like much work, but I'm still proud of myself!

I take pleasure in the little things :)

I am trying to focus on the sense of pride and accomplishment I will feel once I am able to run 5k successfully. Again, I know this may seem like a piddly run for some people, but I don't care! I had to start somewhere.

Maybe next year I'll try a half-marathon. O.o Ok, ok, let's not get ahead of myself! I'll do this 5k and then see what's what.

Although, I think I mentioned in a previous comment that I want to try mountain climbing! Once I start something, I get really ambitious and want to try it all.

I think in the fall (after the 5k) someone (*cough* Shyn?) should take me rock climbing :)

Questions:

1. What will I do in the winter if I can't run in the morning outside? What are some other (cheap/free) options?
2. How hard is rock climbing exactly? How expensive?
3. What else can I try? There are so many things I haven't done! :)

Lessons Learned:

1. The later I go running in the morning, the hotter it gets! It is kind of ridiculous. Around 7am it is still cool-ish. By 7:45am it is starting to get really toasty! When I actually leave for work at *cough* 8:45am, it is positively roasting. It's weird how as the sun rises, it gets hotter, eh?
2. I like to dream big and revel in all tiny accomplishments.
3. I have more willpower than I previously thought I did.

Oh! I forgot to tell you all about my weekend! On Saturday, Mike and I biked into High Park (to the restaurant :D) and biked around a wee bit. This included a monstrously big hill (maybe just to mine own eyes) that almost killed me. Brutal. Then went home. It wasn't very long, but it was something!

On Sunday, I met up with Denise and we walked from Coxwell/Danforth to Queen and somewhere west of Leslie. We got rained on :( But luckily it stopped when we were done breakfast so we could walk back. That was nice! Ok, that is all. I just wanted to share that despite not going to the beach and playing volleyball, I still did something active this weekend. :)