February 1 to June 15 - 4.5 months of gym training; no running though yet: weak and not ready, HR too high even during treadmill walks. June 16 to 20 - First outdoor runs every day, 5-10 minute segments max. June 24 – My first 5K. Time: 38:00. Pathetic? Yes. But I finished. And I learned one trick that got me further than I thought was possible: "Just make it to the next landmark." A bridge. A lamppost. A tree. Your brain will scream to stop—so don’t think about the finish. Think about the next 30 seconds. June 25-27 - Three days of training, segments get longer: 10-15 minutes, harder trail terrain in forests. June 30, 2025 – Run 11.11 km in 1:17:00. One week earlier, 5K felt impossible - I barely got to 3.5K and rested for 3 minutes. Now? I crushed my 5K PR (34:00) during the 10K, and even ran a bit further. # The Real Lesson Wasn’t About Running When I lived in a smaller city, my excuse was bulletproof: "There’s nowhere to run." Then I moved — parks, trails, open sky. My brain panicked. It scrambled for new lies: "It’s too hot." "I'm too tired." "Just turn back home" (I almost did at 1K.) But here’s the truth: Your environment doesn’t determine your limits — it reveals them. # Hard Work Pays Off (If You Don’t Quit) 0K to 11K in 14 days isn’t about talent. It’s about refusing to let your weakest self win. That wouldn't happen if I just went home. I really wanted to give up. But progress hides in the moments you want to stop. Avg pace: 6’52/km – Not elite. But proof that showing up > staying comfortable. # The Choice You’ll Face Mid-Run (And In Life) Upgrade your environment → Remove the obvious excuses. Then decide: A) Upgrade yourself ("Just to the next tree... now the next hill...") B) Invent new excuses ("My form isn't the best. It's cold.") The universe doesn’t care which one you'll pick. But the results will. FYI: The date is 30.06.2025 aaand my body stats just for fun: 165 cm height, 28 years old, male, ~80 kg, ~28% body fat.