I love to exercise.
Pushing the envelope with just one more push-up or ten more seconds of jogging is exhilarating. It isn't so much a moment of positivity as it is a moment to win or lose - how strong is your resolve to finish? I don't always win, but I certainly always try, and I believe that is the most any of us can hope for.
I am now in Week 4 of a 5k training program. Although my general fitness is certainly far above a 5K program, I've never ran even a small marathon like this before, so I wanted to start at the beginning. I have continued most of my regular exercising (the elliptical, free weights and ab work outs) in conjunction with three times per week of running/jogging at variable speeds and lengths. It's been tricky and certainly a learning process. 35 minutes on an elliptical is nothing like even 25 minutes of alternating between running and walking outside. Even so, I've continued to push, and have really felt my stamina build. It may seem like running on a country road for three minutes without ceasing is not much, but when I started I could only go for one - to me, that's progress.
By the end of the 9 week training period, I should be able to run for a full 35 minutes, equaling (roughly) the 5k distance. Even if I don't perfectly reach that goal, it feels wonderful knowing I'll be much further along than when I started. I haven't even decided if I actually want to run a 5k. For me, it was never about the finish line; it has always been about the journey along the way.
