Walk or Run?

As I've discussed before, one of my New Years Resolutions is to run 5Ks this year. I am working through the Couch-to-5K program for the second time, getting my lungs and my legs back in shape to run 30 minutes at a stretch; I am on Week 5 now and it's going very well.

But my new co-workers/long-time friend was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and she asked me (and others) if I wanted to do the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, which is a 2-day event where you walk a marathon one day and a half-marathon the next. She ran the Chicago Marathon last year, and does triathlons and other events regularly. I was intrigued of course, not just because I want to do something for my friend but also because one day I will walk or run a marathon. That's in the long-term picture, and I wondered if there was a reason why it was coming up sooner than I anticipated.

I have been considering it; if I agreed, then I would need to start training immediately after the St. Pat's 5K, and for the next three months, work on long walks and probably not do 5Ks at the same time. Which meant my New Years resolution probably would not be achieved. I would still be exercising and it would be a new challenge to accomplish, but it wasn't my original plan. But my friend would be thrilled, and I found out another friend was also planning on doing it and we could train together. The appeal was pretty strong.

Still, I felt like I was letting myself down. Walking a marathon for breast cancer is a noble idea, and I know I would have a lot fun doing it and it would be great exercise and a good discipline lesson etc etc etc, but deep in my gut I was disappointed. Jessie and I talked about it while we were out on Saturday, and she pointed out that I do very well with a series of small mini-goals, as well as just having a competitive nature; running a bunch of small races fit who I am much better than training for a marathon. I realized that it isn't right for me right now; right now I want to be a 5K runner.

So that's what I am going to do. I will donate to both my friends who are walking, and I may even join each of them for a couple of miles that day, but I am doing to stick with my 5K plan. I feel better already about my decision.

And there are SO many to choose from! The heart of the season looks like it is in the summer months, but I can find at least one race every month all year long. I am definitely signing up for the St. Paddy's Day 5K Run/Walk and Leprechaun Leap on March 14th; that's my birthday weekend and we will be staying downtown already. Ooooh, that is the weekend of the Dyeing of the Chicago River and the parade; I love being part-Irish and being born 4 days before St. Patrick's Day. It has always been "my" holiday.

After that, I will coordinate my races with local fishing holes that Hubby may want to explore, and see if we can't find reasons for both of us to go to various small towns around the area.

Yeah, I like this plan a lot. It's right for me.