Closing in on a Goal

So yesterday I braved the treadmill after not having seen it for a whole week. My last 3 mile time was 34:48, almost 2 minutes off my time before that. In addition to not having been to the gym or to yoga, I managed to eat whatever I wanted. My calories went a little overboard at times LOL but I didn't binge (in the official definition of the word). I guess we have to count some things as victories to make ourselves feel better, right?

I've had the goal of running a 10 minute mile for a while. It's always been pretty elusive since I continued to hover between 42-45 minutes for years. Granted, I'd never pushed myself so that lengthy time was quite alright with me. But now, with 10 miles looming in the distance I know that I cannot let 3 miles at 45 minutes suffice; I'd be running forever and my legs just wouldn't be able to take it!

That brings us to the present day, I suppose. So, yeah, yesterday I got to the gym (coincidentally named "The Gym", seriously) and was a little afraid that my time away would be a huge detriment to my time. I'd set a goal for 33 minutes, understanding that I might have to pause or slow down or something before it was all said and done.

Well.

None of that for me! As soon as I stepped on the treadmill, set my time and speed, this competitor in me kicked in and said "You are not allowed to stop!" Now, some may say that this person could be a danger to my health; I agree LOL! I have a very bad habit of pushing myself, in exercise, beyond points of extreme fatigue simply because I have told myself that I cannot stop. But this time, it wasn't so bad! I watched The Boondocks episode "Pause" and tried not to let my laughter suck up my oxygen. That took up 23 minutes of my time and I figured another 10 wouldn't be so bad. At the 2.5 mile mark I was getting so bored and fatigue was starting to set in; I'm not as young as I used to be and I had nothing to distract me for the home stretch. At the 2.9 mile mark, I kicked my speed up to make SURE I finished within 33 minutes and managed to finish in 32:42, my best time running 3 miles EVER!

So, with this big victory, I am even more confident that the 30 minute 3 mile run is right around the corner. After my run I went to yoga to stretch out and was glad I didn't come home feeling too sore. This morning, while there is some tightness, I can walk reasonably well and I don't feel like I am going to crumble LOL! My diet is back on track, thankfully, so things are falling into place.

I guess progress isn't about it being stopped every time you fall off the wagon; it's about kicking it back into gear when you get back on.