Taking the Plunge
Restarting a physical activity, you once loved can be both exciting and daunting. Three weeks ago, I decided to begin running again. In the past, I have participated in a couple of 5k events, but I never actually ran one from start to finish. However, after watching some inspiring videos, listening once again to “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen” by Christopher McDougall, and “Can’t Hurt Me” as well as “Never Finished” written by David Goggins, I decided to take the plunge.
When I was planning my very first run after the better part of a decade, I was worried I would falter and fail right out of the blocks. As a result, my plan was to walk for about 10 minutes, run for 10 minutes and alternate back and forth for a mile to gauge just how out of shape I was. I shocked myself by getting on the treadmill and running a full 5k. It took me 45 minutes to complete the run, and I was breathing like a steam locomotive when I was done, but thanks to inspiration from David Goggins, I did not stop when I was tired, I stopped when I was done.
I ran 2 to 3 miles a day over the next 5 days and was surprised at how quickly my body adapted to the new routine. I was feeling more energized, and I could feel my body, heart, and lungs getting stronger. Over the next week, I worked on running the 5k distance with less effort rather than focusing on speed.
On February 12th, just two weeks into my running journey, I decided to try and run a 5k event. I was nervous but excited to see if I could run the entire event. I started out at a slow pace, focusing on my form and cadence. As I ran, I could feel my muscles working hard, perhaps harder than they should have but I was determined to keep going. Once I hit the one-mile mark I knew I could complete the run.
I crossed the finish line in 30 minutes and 59 seconds, a time that surprised me. It may not be the fastest time, but for someone who had only been running for two weeks, it felt like quite an accomplishment. There were 125 people who entered the event. I placed 27th overall and 2nd in my age group. I even took a moment to feel proud of myself for taking on a new challenge and pushing myself as hard as I did.
Running is not only improving my physical health, but it is helping me mentally. Getting out there day after day, and making myself do what is hard, especially when I don’t want to is helping me forge the discipline and mental toughness, I feel I've been lacking for decades. I feel more focused and less stressed. Running gives me a sense of accomplishment and boosts my confidence. I am excited to see where this new hobby takes me, and I am looking forward to setting new, tougher goals and achieving them. I know it is early in my journey, but I would like to eventually run an ultra-marathon. It is said that if your dreams do not scare you, they aren’t big enough. The thought of running a 100-mile race scares me!
If you are thinking about starting to run, my advice would be to start small and gradually build up your endurance. It's important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard too fast. Remember to celebrate the small victories and set achievable goals. With a little bit of determination and perseverance, anyone can become a runner.
