Turtles Can Run

By the end of last week I was feeling pretty good.  I did a 10 mile run at 8:56 min/mile pace, ran my first 20 miler, and rand a total of 55 miles in one week ( the most ever). The momentum kept building starting with the 10 mile run.  Since I was feeling better on Monday I decided to run 10 miles.  I started running and felt so great I thought I would make it a marathon pace or better run and I met my goal. When I finished my run I was 4 miles from home so I ran 4 more at a slow pace.  I had 2 more 10 mile days that week at a slower pace and felt great.  Then came the 20 miler.  Of course I was nervous, just because it was a new distance and I felt like it was a test.  Woke up and it was raining.  It rained the whole time.  To many this would not be a big deal but we really have not had very much rain this summer so it was the first time I would have to run in the rain.  It turned out not to be too bad, the rain kept me cool which is something I have not been on a run in a while.  I  had to finish the last 6 miles on my own.  Which honestly was fine with me.  The las 6 miles were slower than the first 14 I did with my training partners but I was ok with that.  My stomach was cramping up ( because I stupidly drank 12+ ounces of water all at once), it was raining and I was alone; so I decided to walk/run until the cramping was gone.  My only goal was to finish at a pace under 10 min/mile and I did.  My pace for the 20 was 9:54 min/mile.  Then I walked another 2 miles in the rain.  I would like to say this was a something I planned but it wasn’t.  Wandering and exploring made my 20 mile run end 2 miles away from my car, so I had to walk.  Needless to say I was tired and glad when it was over.  When I got home I was proud of myself and confident about being able to accomplish my marathon goal.  But as the weekend progressed I felt the doubts creeping in, then even feelings of just wanting to hang it all up and save myself the embarrassment and humiliation of failure.  I felt like I was a fool for even thinking I could meet my goals and just felt very discouraged.  My husband is very supportive, he listened and encouraged as I cried and poured my heart out.  I set out on a little run with him yesterday and after a minute just walked back home crying.  This morning I woke up and decided I was going to go to the track.  I knew this would either boost my confidence or send me spiraling down and feed my doubts, but I had to do something.  One mile warmup, a timed mile, then a couple of slow miles.  That was the plan.  I warmed up then started to speed, I watched my garmin, saw that I was hitting my  goal.  My husband jumped in after the first quarter and ran with me for a half a mile to encourage me and then I kicked it and finished the mile alone.  Amazingly the turtle did it.. I ran a mile in 6 minutes and 57 second.  My goal was to run a sub 7.  I smiled for the next 2 miles and have felt great all day.  Sunday I have a 5K race.  I am now not as scared of stinking it up and am confident that I will meet my goal.  Which I will keep to myself for right now.

I ran in my new Nike Frees 5.0 today.  They felt really light.  I liked not having a big heel at the back, I felt it really helped me keep proper form and not heel strike.  They (my nike frees) will be running the Casa 5K with me this weekend.

So I am feeling good right now. I know anxiety will be creeping in before the race, it always does.  But hopefully the doubts and depression stay away.

Filed under: Running Blog