Couch to 5K: Week 6 Day 1 Take 2

I had another good run this morning.  It was hard to get out of bed after a weekend away from home.  On top of that it was cloudy and threatening rain outside which always makes it easier to just stay in bed.  I'm pretty motivated lately, though, so I dragged myself out of bed, into my running clothes, and out the door.  It was in the lower 40s this morning, but the cold doesn't seem to be bothering me as much as I thought it would.  I'm a little cold at first during my warm up walk, but once I start running, I don't think it would bother me if it were 20 degrees.  The cold air feels good.

Today's run consisted of a five minute warm up, a five minute run, a three minute walk, an eight minute run, a three minute walk, and one last five minute run.  Things are started to click again.  I haven't really felt good running since way back in August before I had to take some time off.  It started off hard, but I just kept on putting one foot in front of the other.  When I got about midway through the eight minute run everything seemed to just come together.  I found a comfortable stride, my breathing evened out to an easy pace, and I just ran without thinking about it.  I was running at a faster pace than all of last week.  I thought about holding myself back but decided to see if I could handle it.  I was thankful for the three minute walk break, because I felt I had pushed myself, but I'm certain I could have kept going.  The last five minutes flew by and I wasn't really ready to stop, when the alloted time was up, but I did.  I've pushed myself too hard before, and I don't want to end up having to take another month off. 

Today's stats:
I did 2.8 miles in 32:50 for a pace of 11:44/mile which matches my 5K time from a few weeks ago and is 45 seconds per mile better than my first try at Week 6 Day 1.  After a slow start, it was a good morning at the park.  I went farther than I had been because the timing has changed.  I made it all the way to the end of the road in the park before turning around.  I was pleased with my increased speed and how things are starting to come together.  Hopefully I will continue to feel that way over the next few weeks.  

Next Up:
Week 6 Day 2 consists of two ten minute runs separated by a three minute walk.