I did it. I ran. I told "the voice" to go f itself and I left on my run. I felt like I was going to die the whole time and my legs felt like they could've fallen off. I couldn't get into a good flow today. I struggled with my breathing and couldn't get into my stride. I did it though. I ran through the pain and through the hardness.
I ran for a total of 30.5 minutes. That's the longest I've ever ran. I can't even explain the relief I felt when I was done. I was only required to run 28 minutes but I decided to push it.
Before I could even fully catch my breath I got in car to track my mileage. I was sure I did at least 3 miles. I was secretly hoping for more. I can't even explain the disappointment when I saw my mileage. 2.4! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!? I don't think I could've ran for another second. How am I going to run 3.1 miles? I've come far, but I'm disappointed.
At least 99 percent of running is just showing up, getting out there and putting one foot in front of the other. - (John Hanc, The Essential Runner)
ReplyDeleteHolbo - remember back to when you ran for 5 mins straight and you were so excited? Remember when you ran you first mile and thought "Wow - can't believe what a MILEstone that was!". Hold on to that feeling as it will carry you through to your next milestone - what ever that may be in your mind. It's not about the number of minutes you run, or the miles you do on the road or in your head. It's about the fact that YOU chose to get up and run when most of the world around you chooses to sleep in, or go for an ice cream cone, or have another shot at the bar. It's about the fact that you are setting a positive example for your boys and motivating the people around you who think they could never be a "runner".
The definition of a runner is someone who runs. Like it or not - you are part of that club! There will be days when you feel like you are in hell, and days when for a small glimpse of time... you feel "pretty good" running. Ultimately, at the end of the day, the positives will outweigh all the times when you feel like you are in hell. There will come that day - very soon - when you stop saying to your voice "just do it" and you can then say "I DID IT!".
Hang in there - stay focused on the positives - and put one foot in front of the other. (Seems like it would be so easy, right?).