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Hi. My name is Eliz and I'm afraid to go fast. I'm your typical Goldilocks character. I like to challenge myself (I go on adventures through the woods and have no problem staying with strangers that I have never met before), but I also like to be comfortable. In my ideal world, the temperature would always be 72 degrees, except when I'm running outside, then it would be about 68 degrees. The perfect shoe has a wide toe and about 1/4 inch of room from where my longest toe ends and the front of the shoe. Dress shoes would look like stilettoes but feel like running shoes. My pillows would always be fluffed just right. MJ would never raise her voice again. I would never burn my tongue when taking a big gulp of coffee. I want to go fast. I want to be faster, mostly for time's sake. I dream of the day where my easy runs are at least 10 minute miles. But I'm afraid. I'm afraid of pain, I'm afraid that I won't be able to tell searing-giving-your-all 5K pain from legitimate, you should stop running cuz your hip is falling off pain. Perhaps that's the Goldilocks in me, perhaps I have a little paranoia from all those years I ran with an injury that no amount of rest would completely heal, perhaps I just have a really unrealistic expectation of pain. In any case, I've realized the past few years that I am simply afraid to go fast, and it's been hindering my development as a runner. That's where that Peloton app has been pretty helpful. The coaches (that's what I like to call them, I think their job title is 'instructor') have set paces they tell you to go, which naturally are based on normal ranges for runners. So, on a treadmill, a 4.5 is a power walk, 5.0 is a light jog, 6.0 is a light run, etc. As a good student, I like to do exactly what the coach is asking of me, so I end up going a lot faster than I would normally go. Most of the time, it works and I amaze myself at how well I'm doing and how fast I'm going! There was one run where I got under 9 mm pace (for just a little bit, not average), which normally would seem untouchable to me at the end of a workout. There are other times where I have to remind myself to be humble. It's exciting. I haven't tested the speed outside - too much snow, or melting snow turned ice or too cold of weather. I am looking forward to see how things work out, though, and I'm really looking forward to that 5K in April. My only hope: that I can be brave enough to go fast and smash that previous PR. Gratuitous engagement photo (by the great Morgan Miller Photography)

FULL DISCLOSURE: This is not an ad, but I'm totally going to be touting a product. Sadly, I'm not getting paid for this. It's winter. I have spring 5K plans. It's winter. Those of you who know me know that I really dislike running in cold weather. I also dislike running in the dark, trying to find a running buddy who goes my pace, and trying to fit my weekday schedule around a group run. Group runs are great, but the only time I've ever made a weekday group run work was when I paid for speed sessions. And it's cold. It gets dark early. It's cold and windy at lunchtime. Lately, the sidewalks are either snow or ice covered - or both. UGH. I'd have to go inside to have a safe, quality run. Enter Peloton Digital. Yes, that Peloton. With the $2400 bike and the $4400 treadmill. I do not own either, nor do I have plans to own them. I do have the app, which, let's me take live or on-demand Peloton classes. For the longest time, I didn't do any running classes. But last Tuesday, I thought, if I have to run indoors, I might as well be engaged in something while I do it. The reason why people would buy the bike or the tread is to be more 'connected' to the live classes - then you get to see the leaderboard, and can 'race' others taking the class. Me? I'm usually just racing myself, so having that access isn't that big of a deal to me. Let me tell you, it has been transformative. It's like I have my coached group workouts again. No pressure to go a specific speed, only what speed works for me in that moment. Do I get challenged? Heck yes I do. And I love it. Instead of just plodding along at the same speed, I'm speeding up and slowing down, changing the incline, or maybe just focusing on my heart rate to really get that endurance training in. It's seriously transformed the #dreadmill into enjoyable treadmill running for me. I really feel like I'm getting a quality workout in, and that I'm improving as a runner. For example, this past Sunday, we had another round of winter weather roll through, leaving 1/4" to 1/2" of ice along roads and sidewalks. And where water pools, there were mini ice rinks. AND there were 24 MPH winds, gusting to 32 MPH. I don't run in that sh!t. So, the future hubs and I went to the gym, where I did a 10 minute warmup class on the Peloton app, followed by a 45 minute funk run. I ran up and down hills and did some speed intervals, topping out at 5K speed. It's two days later and I'm still on the high of killing that run, which otherwise would have been a boring, 4-mile plod. I've already become attached to one instructor who ran a sub-3:00 marathon in 2017. All that to say … I'm really excited I discovered the joy of these classes for indoor running. It's injected a new level of excitement that I just really need right now. They also do outdoor guided runs, which I feel like could be nice or be a disaster - what if I'm running a hilly route and they are all like, 'SPRINT!'? But, I will give those a try when it gets nicer.