Making Habits is Difficult

"We first make our habits, and then our habits make us." 

          - John Dryden

I haven't blogged for a few weeks because I really haven't had much to blog about and because I was putting in a lot of hours working. I have been participating in the training program I mentioned in my last post and it's been great. However, for some reason, maybe because I was working so much, or maybe I'm just a slug (to be honest, I'm sure it's both,) I didn't run at all in between the training days.

I did pretty good though during those training sessions. But, they did start out running one minute and walking four and each week adds a minute of running and decreases the minutes of walking. Last week the intervals were three/two, it was hot and I was having a little bit of difficulty with the breathing part at first but still completed the training.

Once a month the women's running group gets together for a run and pot luck dinner at a member’s house. Last week we did our training group at one of the member’s house that lives at a lake, so we ran around the lake and afterwards ate great food, drank wine and had great conversations. I didn't drink any wine, I felt like I needed to stick to just water. It was a great time.

I had the workouts set up on my Garmin, so I had to announce to everyone when to run and when to walk. I also scheduled the workouts for Wednesday (training with the group), Friday and Monday. I know I have to run throughout the week if I want to be able to keep up with the group and run the 5k on September 6th.

However, I didn't run Friday. I left work early feeling sick, almost like bronchitis was starting up again. I got home and slept and took it easy all night. So, I did my run this evening. I feel so much better. It was tiring and a bit warm (it was 86 degrees) but there was a nice breeze as I ran and walked around the lake.

Next Wednesday, the training intervals are run for four minutes, walk one. I've never been able to run longer than 'almost' four minutes. I'm a little concerned about being able to do it. I know that I have to run more between the training sessions. I know that I have to make it a habit, and so far, I haven't been able to do that. I don't know why.

I came across the quote above just a few minutes before writing this blog and it really hit home. I must make running a habit if I'm going to succeed at running the 5K in September, if I'm going to succeed at being a runner.

I really want to succeed.