my very first 5k!
in november i signed up to do a winter 5k after being inspired by john, mark, and tom. it's a goal i had had for a while, bring a runner for 3+ years. i didn't know if i actually would ever do it though, if i actually could ever do it. but i signed up.
as the day got closer i was feeling the pressure. i started having doubts about my ability to run a 5k (3.1 miles) even though i do that every time i run a few times a week. i didn't think i had trained enough. i started to feel anxious about my time, about the weather, about running on the road and not a treadmill. until finally it was upon me.
yesterday tymm, incontango, & manley1 ran the 30th anniversary bill rodgers jingle bell run 5k. and it was amazing. i started off at my own pace and stayed there. my mom gave me the advice: "run your own race." and despite the fact that i was with a group of three people i love very deeply, this was for me. i paced myself, i didn't think about my legs or feet, i didn't think about the other people around me. i focused on my breathing, i repeated every motivational mantra i could think of in my head over and over. i thought about getting better at this. i thought about finishing strong.
i stopped for water, walking uphill. i stopped again briefly twice, to catch my breath and recenter. i pounded down the bike path, i could see the end. my heart was racing. as my foot hit the finish line i watched the clock roll to 35 minutes exactly. elation washed over me. i did it, i really did it. no part of this was easy.
for me, one of the hugest joys in life is personal victory. where you are so proud you want to explode, when you can do nothing but chant yes, yes, yes! over and over in your head, when you can't wipe the smile off your face, when you know there was a time you could never fathom such success. i earned this, i worked for it, i deserved it, i'm so proud, and now i want more.
as the day got closer i was feeling the pressure. i started having doubts about my ability to run a 5k (3.1 miles) even though i do that every time i run a few times a week. i didn't think i had trained enough. i started to feel anxious about my time, about the weather, about running on the road and not a treadmill. until finally it was upon me.
yesterday tymm, incontango, & manley1 ran the 30th anniversary bill rodgers jingle bell run 5k. and it was amazing. i started off at my own pace and stayed there. my mom gave me the advice: "run your own race." and despite the fact that i was with a group of three people i love very deeply, this was for me. i paced myself, i didn't think about my legs or feet, i didn't think about the other people around me. i focused on my breathing, i repeated every motivational mantra i could think of in my head over and over. i thought about getting better at this. i thought about finishing strong.
i stopped for water, walking uphill. i stopped again briefly twice, to catch my breath and recenter. i pounded down the bike path, i could see the end. my heart was racing. as my foot hit the finish line i watched the clock roll to 35 minutes exactly. elation washed over me. i did it, i really did it. no part of this was easy.
for me, one of the hugest joys in life is personal victory. where you are so proud you want to explode, when you can do nothing but chant yes, yes, yes! over and over in your head, when you can't wipe the smile off your face, when you know there was a time you could never fathom such success. i earned this, i worked for it, i deserved it, i'm so proud, and now i want more.