This past year, Ann had made plans to start her couch to 5k training more than a few times, once she actually started but it didn't last long.
It was Week 1 Day 3, she was making progress and feeling so proud of herself, and then as it always does, work got really busy.
Starting early and getting home late, day after day, night after night.
She didn't make it to Week 2.
If you get busy at work on a regular basis, or it there are times when all hell breaks loose at home, the kids need help with their homework, your sons just landed his first job and needs a lift to work 3 times a week or your husband's travelling with work and not around to help, then the chances are you will end up like Ann, no time to train.
As hard as she tried Ann couldn't quite fit it all in, and let's face it, life gets busy for us all and trying to fit all the things you like to do doesn't always work.
Now as the story goes Ann wasn't quite done just yet, she was determined to finish her Couch to 5K training, to finally make it all the way, for years she had been telling herself, if I can just get started I know I will feel so much better, I know I will want to keep going...
Ann sat down one night and wrote down a list of all the things that she was going to do, things that would help her with her training goals no matter how busy she was at work.
My Couch to 5K Training "To Do List"

• Every Sunday night - plan the days that I am going to run.
  Do the Couch to 5K training Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 30 minutes every morning at 6.
  00am, the kids are out of bed and can get their own breakfast.
  
• Mark these days in my calendar
• On a piece of paper I will write-up my weekly training goals and put it on the fridge, my desk at work, and in my car.
  
• Tell the family that I am "not available" during this time
• Make sure I have all my running gear ready to go the night before.
  
• Set 2 alarms, one beside my bed, the other in the room next door so I definitely have to get up when I really don't feel like it.
  
• Get to bed 30 minutes earlier the night before, that way I don't miss out on any sleep, I get cranky when I miss out on my sleep.
  
• After each of my runs, tick them off, "all done", that's my favourite one, it's such a good feeling when I cross it off.
  
• Note: buy a nice new big thick black pen
• For 3 days of training I will plan on 4, so that if I miss a day, I have another day planned as a "just in case"
• When the weather is bad I will use my treadmill, go to the gym or try my luck outside and hopefully I won't get too wet.
  
• I won't turn on the TV before I head out the door in the morning.
  
• Don't talk myself out of it or find excuses on why it's too cold or wet, or why it's better if I give it a miss today, that's not going to happen...
  
• Every day I will tell myself, "I am a runner"
• I will use a Training Log for every run I do, record the date, the time I went running, how long or how far I went running, the pace, and how I felt during my run
• Buy myself a brand new outfit when I finish, hopefully I've dropped a couple of dress sizes, and wouldn't that be nice...
  
• I will read this list every day...
  

Ann went on to finish her 9 weeks of the Couch to 5K training and to this very day is still running, she's fitter and healthier than ever before, the only difference is that she doesn't need a list like this anymore, she doesn't miss out on her training because she's a runner and she can't go without it...