Comfort zone....

So I am wrapping another week of training. This week has been a good week in the gym, but I learned something last night during my workout and it is both good and bad ;) I 'learned' that I can run faster than I think I can. I admit I have been guilty of running within my comfort zone for bit to long now. I push it every now and then which I guess is OK cause I don't want to push to hard too soon and have something bad happen but I can and likely should take it up at least one notch if not two for my running. I like to keep the speed on the treadmill at around an 8:49 to an 8:34 mile, but yesterday I proved to myself that I can take it up to an 8:20 and even an 8:13 minute mile for a somewhat sustained period of time (which was about 25 minutes). Usually when I get on the treadmill it is for an hour at least, there's a chance I could maintain the 8:34 to 8:20 minute mile for that entire time (less the warm up and cool down), it's just getting myself to get out of my current comfort zone. Maybe I will start by picking one run a week where I challenge myself to keep that 8:20 pace for the entire run, I am planning on running the Minneapolis Marathon again this spring and still have a goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. To do so I would need to average an 8:24 pace. I believe I can do it, I just have to get myself out of my comfort zone and know it is OK to work like that. It is harder, but it is supposed to be, I'm not going to improve as a runner if I never push myself, but that is the key being able to push myself. While training is a lot of physical work, there is a lot that goes into it mentally. It may take me some time to remember that I am training to race and not just simply training to train!

On a side note, I just want to say that any form of working out a person does is impressive. I feel like sometimes people think that simply going for a long walk or a bike ride of a few miles doesn't matter, but it does. We all start at the beginning when it comes to our fitness goals and it is all good. When I am at the gym or on the trails some of my favorite people to see are the ones who are just simply doing what they can to get out there. They may not have fancy or even actual work out clothes on, but they are not letting that stop them. I think it is safe to say that we all know that a good deal of Americans are not putting in the effort to get or stay in shape, so when I see people who are just making the most basic effort, I think it is awesome. They are getting out of their comfort zone and that is what making positive changes in your life is all about!

Well it is about time for me to get to the gym. I didn't have time to swim last night as I had a date (which was awesome :) ) to get to, so today I had better get in that pool.

Cheers,
Katie