It’s that week of the Couch to 5k that I like to call The Turning Point. On Day 3, you must run 20 minutes with no walking breaks. Why do I say this is The Turning Point? Because if you’ve never been a runner before, NOW YOU ARE. Why?

Because you completed your entire run without stopping.

What’s interesting to me is how quickly things progress in these last few weeks of the program. During the first four weeks, I was doing the same run-walk intervals all three days of the week. Just take a look at Week 6.

Couch to 5k – Week 6

Day 1

• 5 min warm-up
• Run 8 min
• Walk 3 min
• Run 8 min
• 5 min cool down

Day 2

• 5 min warm-up
• Run 10 min
• Walk 3 min
• Run 10 min
• 5 min cool down

Day 3

• 5 min warm-up
• Run 20 min
• 5 min cool down

Notice here that before Day 3 , the most I’ve run was ten minutes. “Now you want me to double that time?” I thought.

But I didn’t care. I  knew I could do it. I did it last time I followed the Couch to 5k program. I also knew it would be difficult. But you know what?

It makes the COOL DOWN walk home soooooo worth it. It was hard and I did feel like I was running out gas at certain parts during Day 2’s second ten-minute run and at the end of Day 3’s 20-minute run.

But, I can honestly say that those five minutes of the cool down are probably the best of my day. With endorphins pumping through me, everything in the world looks a little brighter. 😉

Side note: On Day 2 this week, halfway through the run, I saw a fox. Or at least I thought it was a fox. A couple of years ago, I saw a red fox in our neighborhood about a block form our house. I was in my car and it was carrying a small animal in its mouth. It freaked me out because what if it came into our yard? Would it harm our dogs? Our yard is fenced in, but there are spaces between the gates where bunnies can creep in and out.

I did a google image search and found that it wasn’t a red fox I saw. I don’t know what it was. It didn’t see me and I didn’t see its face. It was running into the woods. It actually looked like Shamrock from behind with the long tail and the floppy ears! Maybe it was just a dog? But the way it pranced off into the distance, it looked more confident and wild. In any case, I turned around and went the other way!

You can read about my first weeks in this Couch to 5k experience here:

• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4
• Week 5

Now on to to the first “race” I’ve chosen.

It’s in quotes for a few reasons.

The Scott Carver County Humane Society is holding it’s Annual Walk Fur Love Fundraiser. I’ve never participated before because I didn’t know about the Scott Carver County HS until we adopted Shamrock. We learned about the event at the Dog Day 5k this year.

This will be the first year a 5k Run will be offered along with the walk! It’s a “non-credited” 5k {actually measures to be 3.21 miles} and I have no idea {guessing not} if it will be timed. I’m also guessing that since it’s the first 5k they are offering that there won’t be many runners. This means, with as slow as I am, it is quite likely that I’ll be last. And while this is always one of my biggest fears, I’m reminding myself that it’s for a good cause. And I’ll do it for Shamrock and any other pets out there in need of adoption!

Please join me by donating, running or walking with me or by adopting a rescue animal yourself. You can donate on my donation page here.

I’m looking forward to seeing all of the pets! If you are in the Twin Cities metro, why don’t you join me?!

What charities do you support and why?

Cheers~
Carrie