Chasing My Goal to Run a 5K in Under 30 Minutes
On this blog I talk a lot about goals. I also talk a lot about how I love to set goals but really struggle with doing anything about them. I find some of my goals are too long term and I typically need a little time-pressure to really get my butt in gear to go after them. However, there is one goal on my list that has been plaguing me for over a year and I may finally be seeing the end in sight.
I’ve discussed my history with running before on the blog. I’ve ran off and on throughout my life. My husband and I went through Couch to 5K about 10+ years ago and that was the last time I really dedicated multiple days a week to running up until last year. Last year I started a running program called 30 Day Breakaway. I completed the 30 day program and then I continued a hybrid of it for another one and a half months before I ran my first official 5K.
For that first official 5K, I ran it in a little over 30 minutes. I honestly couldn’t believe it. When I did a trial run of a 5K around my home, I completed it in about 33 minutes. About one and a half months later, I completed the official race at around 30 minutes 20 seconds. I couldn’t believe I had done that well and made it so close to my goal. I mostly attribute that time to my excitement for doing my first 5K, but I really felt like my goal was in my reach.
This year, I’ve run in two timed official races. In the first (after only running once since the beginning of the year), I finished a 5K in about 34 minutes. My other race this year was a 5K and I finished in less than 31 minutes. This was very exciting to me because I had not done much training since last fall except for my normal cardio and weight training.
Now, here we are, less than a month from another 5K and my attempt to accomplish my goal. I have started the same running program I did last spring and I’m seeing that my numbers are comparable to what I was doing last year at this time. This tells me I haven’t lost much of my training after not running all winter. This also tells me I may just make it in under 30 minutes!
My plan for July is to follow a running program and push myself more than I normally do. Knowing I have that goal at the end of the month has really given me the boost I need to focus in and accomplish this goal. The program has me running three times a week for the first two weeks and then I move to four times per week. I’m not sure how I will fit these runs in with all the work and kid projects I have going on, but sometimes you have to make yourself (and your goals) priority.
The craziest part of all? Thinking about life after this goal. During my Miracle Mornings, I write down my top 5-10 goals that I am striving to reach. For about a year now, I have been writing “Run an official 5K in less than 30 minutes” every single morning. I can’t wait to knock this one off the list and start planning what my next goal will be!
Are you a runner? Have you every successfully shaved 45 seconds off your 5K time? How do you feel after knocking out a goal you’ve had for a while? I’d love to hear your experiences!
