Pushing Limits (and "Then" vs. "Now")

Today, I needed to up my running intervals from 1 minute to 2 minutes, while my walking intervals stayed the same at 3 minutes each. I needed to repeat these intervals 6 times along with a warm up and cool down.  When all was said and done, I moved 2 miles in under 40 minutes.

I would be lying if I said I didn't have some discouraging thoughts pop in my head at first. All of the "but back then..." thoughts seep in. "Back then" I was running 11:30 minute miles. Now it's taking me 20 minutes to move a mile. "Back then" I was so much faster. "Back then" I was finishing my 5Ks in under 35 minutes. "This time" I hoped to finish in under 45. Looking at my progress so far, will I be able to do it in even under an hour?

Negative thoughts are so unhelpful to positive progress.

I know I need to turn these thoughts around and focus on the "Now" and the "Moving forward" instead of the "Then" and "In the past" because 4 weeks ago, my butt was planted firmly on the couch and the thought of training for my first 5K in 7 years was not something I looked forward to doing. And look at me now! Today, I ran SIX 2 minute intervals and felt good doing it!

So, I'm going to try really hard to focus on the "can do", "am doing", and "will do" because what I can do, am doing, and will do is pretty impressive.

For example, check out my post-workout selfie. I'm not nearly as red and sweaty as I was when I took a similar picture just a few weeks ago, AND I ran longer and farther this time!

Post workout Shakeology with spinach and peanut butter. I promise, it's delicious!

My goal is to keep running longer and farther and maybe even a little bit faster. I think I can. I know I can!