You're My Inspiration

Are you a fan of sweet? Like kettle corn perhaps? Go enter here!

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Every time I think about this post, I have that song going through my head - and I do again - "You give meaning to my life; you're my inspiration...." In the best vein of misery loves company, I can only hope that at least one of you is now suffering my fate.

I have a point though - shocking, I know.

I'm not one to do things halfway. I set large goals, and then - for the most part - I go after them. Take a trip back in time with me, will you?

I had a really neat goal a couple years ago - to run a 5k. I started doing the C25K program, and for the most part, it went fairly well. A good friend of mine who you would not peg as a runner told me how she had started to run 5ks and talked me into it.

In the beginning, it was great. A friend of mine from my neighborhood joined up with me after the first week, and we ran together. Having her with me was a huge help as we went from sixty second runs to ten minute runs. Then her knee started giving her problems, and I was on my own.

It was ok though. I had joined a gym to run inside (ummm I don't sweat, so running outdoors in the summer is not ideal), and I made it through week six with its twenty-five minute run, and week seven with its twenty-eight minute run. It wasn't easy, and I wasn't fast, but I did it.

Then summer hit. And so did the excuses. I missed a few runs here and there, and pretty soon there was no way I was running for twenty minutes. Over the next ahhhh two years, I was off and on running - frequently able to pick it up at week 5 (five minute runs) or week 4 (three and five minute runs). Then I was down to week 3.

I spent week after week at week 3. For whatever reason, I just couldn't get past it to start week 4, even though I was running my requisite three times a week. I was frustrated, but I kept trying.

Then I heard that Melisa was also planning to do the C25K program. And we somehow got ourselves signed up to run the 5K at BlogHer (our collective first!). She talked about her strategy and the days she was running. And I realized that maybe this is something I can do.

I hear her updates and see her happy Tweets about what she's accomplished. And you know what? It's kept me running, too. The days I think about skipping because I'm tired or it's too late or I have something else going on? I think about Melisa running no matter what, and I go.

I made it through week 3. I completed week 4. All the while, I remembered Melisa and her unflagging determination, and she kept me going. As I got into the longer runs, it got harder. I wanted to stop and take breaks. But I powered through - because Melisa was keeping me honest. On Friday, I completed - without stopping once - a twenty minute run. Yesterday, I did my five / ten / five run, and tomorrow I have a long twenty-five minute run.

Wow. After tomorrow I start week 7, and then I have two weeks before I'm truly running a full 5k - in plenty of time for our BlogHer 5k. I may not be fast, and I definitely won't be first, but I know I'll at least complete it before they close the course.

Running with a live partner the first time around was huge. And having a virtual partner now with Melisa? Well, I have this little song I need to sing to her....