Friday, January 15, 2010

Challenge Changes

I think I made a mistake.  Now this is not something I usually admit to, but I think I did.  As you know I have been working through my Running Challenge and my Cycling Challenge.  Yet each week I can not seem to get through.  I think the reason is I have set too hard a target and my body is just not ready for 6 days a week of intensive exercise.  That is where I one day hope to be, but I am not there yet.  My body feels completely exhausted and fatigued by Tuesday, and I still have the rest of the week to go.

So last night I gave it some serious thought.  I love my cycling.  So I decided to stick with the Running Challenge.  That may sound convoluted, but let me explain...

If I drop the running challenge and stick with the cycling with the aim of doing a run 'when I can', I won't do any running.  At this point in time running is hard and it is painful and it exhausts me.  My natural inclination towards laziness would then see me avoiding this. 

However, if I drop the cycling challenge, and alter the running challenge so I am now doing 3 runs a week instead of 2 runs and a walk, I will improve my running faster which will help me meet my goal of going in the Mothers Day Classic in May.  Plus, I know myself, I will still ride.  I ride to work every day.  Ross & I ride together when we can.  And I still love going out for a ride.  Instead of doing 3 hard cycling sessions a week, I will still do a decent amount on the bike, just not as rigidly.

So that is what I have decided to do.  My running is going well.  Wednesday night I did 4 running (aka shuffling) intervals and they were 90 seconds, 2 minutes, 90 seconds & 2 minutes.  7 minutes all up - my best yet.  And I want to keep improving on that.

On a slightly different note, the Accountability thing is still playing in my head.  I was Reading Deb's Blog this morning and she has just made arrangements with a friend to be Accountability Buddies.  What a great concept.  So now to work out if anyone I know has similar goals to me so we can do the same for each other...  Thanks for a great idea Deb.  :o)

Tonight Ross & I are off to watch a baseball game.  I haven't been since I went with my Dad.  He passed away in 1981 so that tells you how long ago it was!  I am really looking forward to it.

Have a great day all!

xox

5 comments:

Fat for a Triathlete said...

Solid strategy.

I still hate running :(

Kylie said...

I am hoping I will enjoy it one day. At the moment, it just hurts...

Trace said...

Oh hand in there ladies, It does get so much better and easier. It has taken me 12months. and yesterday i ran 1hr and 25mins (i just couldn't believe it myself) and the only reason why i stopped was because my new shoes caused a blister. So trust me it gets so good and you feel amazing afterwards. Great Idea with the accountability buddy and for changing your challenge, I agree I think that will work better. ox Trace

Trace said...

thats "hang in there" sorry

Linda50 said...

Hope you can find a "buddy" soon Kylie and totally agree with the changes you have made. If it is too hard - you set yourself up to fail. Adjustments need to be made along the way. Hope you eventually get to enjoy the running as I do now.