Aargh!

That's the sound of me screaming through clenched teeth because I didn't read ahead to this week's Take it and Run Thursday until last night. One day AFTER I posted on this week's theme!

Oh, deflation.

Yeah, the theme for this week is Look Back, Look Ahead -- a mid-year running goals progress check. And I, like a dork, wrote about this on Tuesday. Those of you who haven't already read the post can go find it here. Feel free to check it out and then come back and I will entertain you with New and Exciting Additional Goals!

Go ahead.

I'll be here when you get back.

Just waiting.

No rush; read at your own leisurely pace.

We'll all just hang out here, waiting for you to re --

Great! You're back. OK . . . let's move on . . .

So, in addition to what I outlined in my other post, I have some new goals. They are:

1) To run more.

To do this, I will --
A) Attempt to run in the morning. It will be tough considering I am really not a morning person at all. I will be successful if, by the end of the year, I am consistently running one morning a week.
B) Start adding long runs to my routine. I can handle this. I will be successful if, by the end of the year, I am consistently running one 6+ mile run each week.

(This next one is cheating a bit, since I'm half-way through it.)

2) To complete the 100 push ups challenge.

To do this, I will follow the remainder of the 6 week program. It will be successful if, by the end of the program, I can complete 100 consecutive push ups.

Manageable goals, both of them. I think I should be able to achieve them, along with my others (to run consistently (done!), complete three races (almost done) and to run a sub-24 minute 5K (very close)). One thing that will help me along the way is to continue reading the great running blogs out there for motivation!

Goal check.

I've been inspired by some other bloggers to review my running goals for this year. Since those goals are not too lofty, this should be quick.

But first, a little background.

After giving birth last June and having not run for my entire pregnancy, 2007 was a fairly inconsistent running year. I started running again at the end of July and I ran when I could. Which, with a newborn, was not as often as I would have liked, but I made it work. I ran one race (it was great!) and that gave me renewed energy for running.

And then we sold our house, bought a new one, moved, and winter set in. So -- with all that going on, my running again was inconsistent.

My running goals for 2008 were simple: To run consistently and to run in three races.

How am I doing? Well, I've been running consistently since mid-March and I have run in and completed two 5Ks. I have two more races on my schedule, so I think I'll meet my goals.

As the year has gone on and I've seen how my running has been progressing, I did set a new goal for myself: To run a sub-24 minute 5K. I'm so close! I finished my last two races in 24:16 and 24:15 -- so I know I can do it, I just have to put in the extra work to get there.

Once that is checked off the list, I'll have to set some new goals. I'm looking at a favorite 15k in October . . . could be the new goal.

Buoys.

As I was running up the big hill in my neighborhood this morning, a woman was walking down. I've seen her before; we've chatted. Today, as we passed each other, she said to me, "You're doing amazing. This hill is so long and steep. Keep it up!"

I hadn't been feeling all that amazing, honestly. But I squeaked out a breathless, "Thanks!" and continued running, now with renewed energy.

See, her little comment gave me a big boost. In fact, it helped motivate me to add an extra mile to my route. As I was running, I thought about how important things like that are. The woman's few words had a real impact on me; they buoyed my spirit, thus, improving my run.

So, the moral of my story is this: If you see a runner out there doing her thing, give her a wave. Cheer her on. While you're at it, say, "Hi," to the walkers and the folks out trimming their hedges, mowing their lawns or pruning their shrubs. You never know, you might end up buoying their spirits -- and your own!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend --

Half way.

On my second attempt, I finished Week 3 of the push up challenge and I'm moving on to Week 4 starting on Monday. That means two things: 1) I completed 106* push ups this morning and 2) I am half way through the program. Three more weeks and I should be able to do 100 consecutive push ups.

Should.

We'll see.

Those of you participating in the challenge: How's it going? Have you had to repeat weeks like I have (both Week 2 and Week 3)? Or has it been all easy-peasy for you?

Have a great weekend!

*No, not in a row. With 2 minutes of rest in between the sets of: 25/19/19/17/26.