Okay, just finished W4, D3. Basically debating repeating a day of it or just moving onto W5. Wasn't bad at all. A wee anxious about W5's 20 minute at the end, but excited, too. For those who have done it...how was it? It's almost like the inevitable.

I'm feeling a bit... well, let's call it grumpy. Last week I restarted at Week 1 (Start2Run) instead of doing week 4, because a friend of mine wanted to join me... And this week it seems she already started to skip runs (I ran W2D1 alone yesterday). I thought she really was motivated to run, but during our third run, she said already she wondered if she would go on till the end of the program If I had continued on my own, I would have been in week 5 now...

Ann, running happens to give you setbacks to test you. Just keep going and do your thing. Sushi, it's really not that bad. The whole program has been doable so far, and trust me...the last half of the program is just as doable.

Finished OHR W1 on Sunday. It was very humid, so our pace wasn't that great. I'm trying to figure out how to switch up the pace to make the runs more beneficial--it feels like the effort level is not decreasing, even though we've been running 30 minutes for 2 weeks now at this same pace.

OMG!!! I did it!!!! I ran my first 5K last Saturday!!! Coming off a pretty lazy vacation when I only ran once, and it was a crappy run that aggrevated my shin splints and the pain persisted for three days afterwards. The nerves started getting to me on Friday night when we arrived at my MIL's house (the race was near her). On the way in DH and I cruised down the road that the race was on and I realized (gulp!) that it was uphill until the turnaround point and then downhill (obviously) on the return trip. That intimidated me, since I've been a TM girl til now. Also it was pavement, which I knew was going to wreak havoc with my shin splints. Slept maybe 3 hours total that night, just could not get rid of the nerves/anxiety/what was I thinking. Woke up Saturday morning, had some cereal, stomach in knots still. DH came with me to the race, got there about 15 minutes til the start and thank goodness I didn't get there earlier than that cause as it was, those 15 minutes were excrutiating. Just totally freaked out by the whole experience, surrounded by people that looked a whole lot fitter and more comfortable in the situation than I was. I stretched and drank water to calm myself and then we lined up and bang! We were off.....and everyone (literally) went flying past me. I laughed a little at how slow I was compared to everyone else. There were a few people walking the race, so I wasn't Dead Last, but I was certainly last among the runners, haha. Made it about 3/4 of the way to the turnaround and I was feeling like I wanted to stop but of course I didn't. Right before the turnaround there was this big steep hill that I had to run up and thought I might die by the time I reached the turnaround where thankfully a nice old lady gave me some water and I walked for just a few seconds to guzzle that before turning around and heading back down. At that point I knew I was halfway so I couldn't stop, but boy did I have to sllooooooooowwwwww down. I think my pace in the first half of the race was pretty normal (12:00 to 12:30 for me) but the second half I was barely going faster than a walk. Once I got the finish line in sight though I HTFU and ran my heart out til the end. Finished with a time of 43:10, which I thought considering my shin splints and nerves and the first time I've ever run that far (since previously I've only made it to 2.75 miles)...I was pretty happy with that. For days afterwards I just kept shaking my head and saying, holy shit, I actually did it. I can't believe I actually did it. So hooray for my graduation and first 5K!! I'm taking time off from running until I can have my appt with a podiatrist to get checked out for custom orthotics or something to help with the shin splints, then I haven't decided where to go. I'm not sure I want to increase my distances any more than what I've done. I mean I am so happy that I did this program and accomplished my goal of completing a 5K this year, but I'm just not sure I want to become a marathoner or anything like that.

Yay, Jenner!!! Congratulations!! You really stuck it out and worked for this victory. That's a runner for you!!

sushigirl - you are more than ready for that 20 minute run. It's a mental barrier, more than a physical one. You can do it and you will feel awesome when you realize you did it! jenner - great job. I did OHR W7D1 very early this morning to avoid the heat/humidity. It is getting easier.