The saying goes ...

... If you don't take it out and use it, it's going to rust!

        Like a roller coaster, my running ability and drive have been pretty pathetic and low, and also ridiculously amazing (for me) and out of this world. In November 2012 I hopped on the coaster for another ride and started (and completed!) a half-marathon training program. Bootcamp and school had thrown me off my running wagon, but I was ready to get back into it. I was unable to run the actual half marathon, but the point is that I could have if I had wanted to. At that peak, my comfortable running pace was just over 10:00 min/mile and the longest distance I had run without stopping or breaking was 11 miles. That's pretty damn good for me! However, after I completed that training I starting preparing to graduate from school, move to my next command, and [insert a number of other time and attention-consuming obstacles here]. The result was that I did not continue running and I've gotten rusty. In comparison my comfortable running pace is about 11 min/mile and I haven't been able to get more than a 4.5 mile run out of my feet and I'm averaging about 3-3.5 miles a run.
        Introducing a new running plan, accompanied with some training goals/challenges. After searching the internet for a running plan that started out at a level I could complete, I finally settled on a plan which focuses on running TIME and not miles. The miles will accumulate the more I run, but the amount of time I can effectively run is something I can expand upon. I gave it a trial run last week to see if it were a) doable and; b) something I could following without feeling overwhelmed and the trial was a success. I started it in earnest today, and will attempt to follow it through for the next 6 weeks (or is it 8 weeks?). I'm actually pretty excited. The runs also include some interval training, which will definitely help me craft my speed boots!
        In addition to running, since I am an obsessive Runkeeper user, I have other goals that go in hand with my personal running challenge:

•  In a month, burn at a minimum of 8,000 calories.
•  In a month, have a combined total of a minimum of 75 logged miles (including cycling, rowing, and the elliptical)
•  Each cardio session is at least 45 minutes
•  Push-up challenge!

        I'm pretty excited for the next couple of months, just to see how well I meet this challenge, and to see how much I improve!

All personal blogs have motivating pictures, right? Well, I like this one a lot.