I used to have really self-limiting thoughts about my running.
I haven’t been running that long.
I used to be fat.
For probably the first two years I ran, I saw myself as someone who had somehow beat the system, snuck in and pretended to be a runner.
Then I started training for the NYC Half, with the goal of going sub-2, and I started believing in myself. I didn’t do it on the first try (or the second, or the third, but that’s neither here nor there), but I started to think of myself as someone who could run for performance, not just to finish. I was only competing with myself, but that fire in my belly had been ignited.
Megan | Meggie | Leticia | some weird blonde chick with an accidental side pony | Jenny | Carla | Rebecca
Last night, I ran one of the Al Goldstein Summer Speed Series races. If you’re not familiar with them, they’re awesome. A $5 5K? Um, yes. They happen every other week in the summer, and last year all of my friends from the Internet went and had fun, and I was never able to make any of them. This year, I’m trying to make it to as many as possible.
I got off the subway and got completely lost trying to find the start of this small race. My directional skills are terrible; I’d need Google Maps to get me out of a paper bag were I lost in there. I started running the loop, hoping I’d run into someone I know, and I eventually saw a unicorn Meggie, who led me to the start and our friends. I’d run 3 miles as a warmup (was only supposed to run 2, so Jess, I would like to request a deduction in mileage somewhere else) and my legs were still a little spent from the tri, so I wasn’t planning on “racing” it.
Rebecca and I started off together, both a little unsure about how it’d go, but trying to run hard. Jess wanted me doing it as a tempo at 8:15ish pace. Oops. I held that for about the first mile, then we dropped to 7:43 and 7:50 miles. My 5K PR is around a 7:33 pace, so I knew I wasn’t going to PR, but I decided I wanted to run as strong a race as I had in me yesterday.
That first mile included a bigass hill, and then it was all downhill from there. Rebecca and I chatted a little, but even a not-really-racing 5K pace is difficult to talk at, so after the first mile we occasionally grunted at each other.
In the last mile, once I hit 2.5, I decided I just wanted to be done, so I ran that last mile in hard and finished in 24:33. A full minute off of my PR, but I was still happy with a strong race.
24:33 is a 7:55 average pace. I never thought I’d be able to run under 8-minute miles, or even one 8-minute mile four years ago.
That was not a fluke, and it excites me for the rest of marathon training. (Which is good, because this is only the first week.)
Oh, and then I woke up and ran 6 more this morning with the lovely Jen. I’m enjoying getting back into the swing of things.
What self-limiting thoughts did you get rid of to become a stronger runner?
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My 5K PR is right around the same as your time was -- so I KNOW you can run it even faster next time if you want!
You continue to inspire! Thanks for sharing.
Ha! Yay a shout out! I need a tennis ball to my hip flexor and a calf massage after this morning - and never to rearrange my perfectly outlined training plan again!
@Jen: My calves hate me, too. I'm going on a date tonight. It's totally acceptable to wear compression sleeves on a date, right? #runnerproblems
@Theodora: Ha! I don't see why not, especially if they have fancy colors. I keep stretching my calves by doing heel drops on the emergency staircase at work.
@Theodora: You should absolutely wear them! If he's a totally awesome guy, he'll appreciate your calf pain and be supportive :)
Seriously though, I'm currently running a 10:15-10:30 mile pace and working on getting faster (through speed work + increasing speed on shorter runs) and your increase in speed over the last few years is inspirational! :)
So many. That I'm not strong enough, that I'm not dedicated enough, that I'm not skinny enough. There are a lot and I'm still dealing with them. But I find that when I tune out my mind and just RUN, I tend to have my strongest races.
When I started casually running strictly as a way to mix up my workouts, I remember thinking "I culd never run more than 3 miles at a time." There was a 4 mile loop at work, and a coworker (who i thought of as a "real" runner) asked me to run with her. i said that i could never do it - But then one day I did. She and I started running together regularly and I crushed that 4 mile loop. There was a killer hill at the end and i always ran it, she usually walked it. I think that boosted my confidence too. i started increasing my distance and ran on my own 4 miles, 5 miles and then 6, then raced a 10k. I eventuall got up to 9 miles and registered for a 10 miler. over the past couple of years i have flirted with running over 10 miles and I am finally considering a half marathon....It's all about confidence!!!
Theodora totally love you rocking the side pony!!! I think compression sleeves would only enhance your outfit on a date, however, I demand photos. :)
I guess you are at the middle of the seven with number 794 I guess. Seriously when ever I try to run for long distance, I started breeding fast and faster, Dont really know the cause
I have recently lost 25 lbs and am getting back to running. I am not the best runner....yet :) Every time I lace up my shoes, I have a voice in my head that says "I am not a runner." I squash it with "I am stronger than yesterday." and head out the door. I don't know where that negative voice comes from. Quite annoying.
Nice job on the 5k. Congrats on such a great tempo run so early in the training cycle. It sounds fun that they put those on. I wish they did something like that down here.
Oh so many self-limiting thoughts. I'm too slow, too big, I don't work hard enough. I'll never be good at it. It's something I still struggle with, especially my tendency to downplay any accomplishments as not a big deal.