I Guess I’m A Runner Now
Posted By Kristabella on April 23, 2012
As I mentioned in my last post, I had a race on Saturday that was 4.2 miles long. It was the Chicago Shadow Run of Pat’s Run that was going on at the same time in Tempe, AZ. It’s pretty cool – the main race is like 30,000 people running in Tempe and finishing on the field at Sun Devil Stadium. And in the meantime, dozens of alumni associations across the country are running at the same time in support of Pat. It was a very cool thing to be a part of.
I was thinking that I’d really like to run it in Tempe next year. But it was like 100 degrees there this year, so I’m not sure about that. It was 40 here. Quite chilly, in fact, as we all stood around waiting for our race to start and I was glad I wore my jacket. (Although, I wasn’t glad as I started moving around and was a bit too warm with it on.)
There were about 20 people who ran. I was the slowest runner on the trail. I started out at the end of the pack as the real runners took off like rockets. I ran a lot of the race in last place. I really, really didn’t want to finish last, but I really, really didn’t want to overdo it.
So I ran my own pace. I had my phone and listened to the live Nerdist Podcast that I saw the week before. It was a nice refresher since I forgot some of the hilariousness. I wanted to run the whole thing and knew that slow and steady was the way to go.
The race was actually on a path that is right near my house, one that I run on every weekend. A little after mile 1, we hit the turnaround at the northern-most part of the race. About that time, we had a few walkers. I finally was ahead of someone! Yay!
I just kept it going. Kept to my pace. And then people started walking more. And people started running slower. By the time we got to the next turnaround, a bunch of people that had lapped me had finished, but I had also moved ahead of a few people.
I really wanted to walk near the end. But the odd thing was it wasn’t because I was unable to run. It’s completely a mental thing. I wanted to walk because I could. And I felt like it was too much and I was overexerting myself. But I wasn’t. I was fine. So I kept running.
I finished in 42 minutes, according to my GPS. It was also a little shy of 4 miles. BUT! I ran for 42 minutes straight without stopping. FORTY TWO MINUTES! That is a first. I’m super proud of myself and how far I’ve come. I remember when three minutes straight was HARD.
Now that I know I can do it, I hope that helps my brain not always want to walk when we don’t need to. Either that or I’m pretending that every run is a race and I can’t finish last.
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You are awesome!I Congrats on finishing AND running for that long. I have never been able to do that.
heather…´s last blog post ..Failing The Test
Yayyy! Running the entire course non-stop, and not giving in to the thought that you could just walk? That’s not easy! Congrats to you, you runner! You absolutely had the right idea, too: when you’re running a longer distance than usual, just keep to your own pace and don’t feel like you have to race with the speedy folks right off the bat. The people who start off too fast will eventually slow down and then you’ll move ahead–happens every time. So, when’s your next race? 🙂
Kate´s last blog post ..Injury and Ego (and the “Finish on the 50″ 5K Race Report)
I was just saying to someone yesterday about how running is largely mental. I’m still grappling with that and I think I need to go in some ‘races’ so I push myself. Am in a bit of a running rut. Well done you. Keep it up.
jen´s last blog post ..Where we pretend we’re in Sherwood Forest for a little bit
Go, YOU!! Not stopping is HUGE, especially for that distance. If only we lived somewhere near each other, we could run together. 🙂
Angella´s last blog post ..Wide Open Spaces
Great job! That’s absolutely awesome!
SO SO SO awesome.
alimartell´s last blog post ..Why I Cried at a Mexican Restaurant. And Why I Will Never Answer My Door Again.
Congrats! So proud of you! 🙂
I am SO proud of you! Congratulations for having such a great run!!!
Jen on the Edge´s last blog post ..Cool Britannia
Great job!!! Pushing through those mental barriers isn’t easy but you did it. Running is such a mental sport but it’s hard to realize that until you’ve experienced it.
Erin´s last blog post ..Monday Moans
holy cow, you are TOTALLY a runner! FORTY TWO MINUTES! i can’t even imagine.
Alice´s last blog post ..bandwagons! i’m on them!
Well done, great effort, may you continue onwards now,
I just purchased a Fitbit after you recommending them, now just got to get of my backside out onto the pavement!!
Awesome! That’s so cool 🙂 And you’re still alive! Well done, girl! 🙂
Nina´s last blog post ..Ein kleiner Frühlingsgruß
That is wonderful. When I first picked up running again a little over a year again, I couldn’t finish 2 miles. The other week I ran 20. Its amazing what you can do when you make a choice to add running to your routine.
Corey Feldman´s last blog post ..Egret and Sam Have Breakfast