My spring training plans

Well, I did it. I signed up for the Running Room 5K clinic. I know, I know, you’re saying “Didn’t you do that last year? Where are your half-marathon ambitions, Tracy?”
 
Or maybe you’re saying “Woot! You go girl!” in which case, thank you very much. I’m no Jennifer Pinarski, you know! What I am is happy to be back out pounding the pavement after a very lazy winter (with virtually no snow, and therefore no excuse to have not been running).
 
To update newcomers, last year I, non-exerciser extraordinaire, decided to take up running. And no one was more surprised than yours truly when I ended up loving it. The sweating and endurance were hard, but the fresh air and solitude were heavenly to me. As a part-time work-at-home mom-of-two, I loved how accessible running was and how easily I could incorporate it into my days. I loved how my girls were my cheerleaders and watched me doing something very active and healthy. I loved that I was doing something I never dreamed I’d do. I remember a day when I was feeling particularly stressed about something and thought, "I want to go for a run" instead of "I want to eat a hot fudge sundae" and I ran, and then I felt better. 
 
But then it all came to a screeching halt after my 5K run in August. I hurt my knee, but even after it was better, I sort of lost my mojo. Over the last couple of months I wasn’t sure if I was going go back to running, but the weather was so nice that I went out a couple of times and decided that I still loved being out there, even if I’d lost all the endurance I’d built up.
 
Enter the Running Room clinic. My running buddy from last year’s Learn to Run clinic said, “If you go, I’ll go” so we are back, aiming for the 5K in May. Our adopted motto is “5K is better than noK” so here we go. The race I did last year didn’t make me feel as great as I’d hoped — I just didn’t have a great run — so I hope to find more satisfaction this time around.
 
“Then what?” people ask. “Will you go for the 10K?” I’m not sure if I will. I have a couple of highly motivated friends who are doing a half-marathon in May and training for a “Try a Tri” which is like a triathlon (but I’m not sure how it’s different). They put a lot of hours into training and I’m so proud of them, but I'm not sure I have that sort of dedication. However, I am planning to join them as they do their training laps at the pool each week, even if I will be the slow one. I think that will be enough. I like 5K. It’s a challenge for me as I get back into running and the time it takes fits well into my life. But never say never, right?
 
Any runners or wannabe runners out there? What are your goals for the season?

Photo by lululemon athletica via Flickr