This morning on my run I had a bit of an epiphany. I was thinking about how far I have come since I began this "journey." I started with the couch to 5k program. I couldn't even run 30 seconds without becoming exhausted. I began to think, okay I am not meant to be a runner. I gave up on the program and never finished it. However, I kept trying to run, just not following a program. I remember the first day I ran two miles without stopping. I was pushing Audrey in the jogger and texted Brandon how excited I was. I had the greatest sense of accomplishment. I stuck with a 1-2 mile run for a long time. I was complacent and thought, okay I am not mean to be a long distance runner. I was totally okay with that. It wasn't until I signed up for the strongman that I finally started running longer distances.
I am lucky that I have found such a fab running partner and she kept telling me about these "walls" I had to push through to go farther. Running is far more mental than physical for me. Finally, I broke down those walls and just kept going. I went from thinking I couldn't be a long distance runner to running a 17 mile obstacle race.
After the strongman I wanted to work on my pace. I had always been concerned about distance and not pace. I never broke that 10/10:30 minute mile and began to think, okay I am not meant to be a fast runner and I am fine with that. However, I persevered and kept pushing. Then, one day I had a 5 mile run where this happened...
Yea, its only a few seconds less than a 10 minute mile but it was big for me. Then this happened...
EEEEK!! and then last weekend Brandon and I participated in a race and we averaged an 8:25 minute mile!
So, today on my run I realized...hey I can do whatever the heck I want. There are no limitations, I can run fast, I can run long distances....hey I can run a marathon! That combined with my running partner committing to a marathon has convinced me.
SO, March 30th, 2014 I will be running my first marathon! Just 4 short weeks after my first half marathon in Paris. Am I crazy for committing to marathon training in the winter? Possibly, but I have no doubts that I can do this!
Moral of the story? Suck it, stick with it, don't give up, you CAN do anything! :))
 |
| Pretty much sums it up. |
