When people hear I'm a runner, they assume I book down neighborhood streets at super hero speed! That I am nothing more than a blur as I sprint by! That I could qualify for the Boston Marathon! Because in order to be a runner, you have to be fast, right?
Well, in my case, that couldn't be farther from the truth.
One of the reasons I started running was because no other team sport wanted me. You will hear no pity from me over this, because quite honestly, I can't blame them. I sucked at team sports. I made enemies thanks to team sports because that's how badly I played. With running, I could go at my own pace, and if I didn't go as fast or as long as I had hoped, I wasn't disappointing anyone. I found my Zen when out on the road, I made friends who paced the same way I did, and I have run happily ever after ever since.
Until now.
Because, lately, I have grown tired of being slow. I want to be fast. At least faster than I've run in the past.
I partially attest my sudden lust for speed to what I affectionately refer to as my midlife crisis. It's that ego-gone-wild that needs to prove that I can be cooler, hipper, faster, and hotter than I was ten years ago. Until, my "inner yogi" smirks at me and goes, "You mean to tell me you haven't suffered enough yet at the hands of your attachments? What are we going to do with you?"
I also credit my new need for speed to the Runner's World Run Streak that I have been participating in since Memorial Day. The rules of the streak are simple: Run at least a mile a day from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July, which will have me running for 38 consecutive days. I love the streak. It has gotten me back in running mode after my fairly long post-Philadelphia Marathon hiatus.
Some days, I go for 4 – 5 milers. I am just beginning to build up distance again for the half marathon I'm running the end of September. On the alternate days, I do a mile as fast as possible. Now that I have begun some "speed work," as they call it, the seed has been planted. I want to go fast. I need to go fast. I want to PR at my next half marathon. Like, super, super want to.
So now, I have to find that middle ground between dreaming big, working hard, yet staying realistic. Especially since I have not had the best of luck on half marathon race days. I ran my first half in 90 degree weather and took several unplanned walk breaks. On my second 13.1, I pulled my IT band at mile 10 and had to hobble the last 3 miles to the finish (I should have just walked off the course but that's a whole other story. At least now you see what a huge trouble maker my ego is). My most recent 13.1, I was scared to push my pace after the IT band fiasco, and just ran it for a good time.
But now I want to compete. At least, against myself.
Sometimes I wonder, if my prior limitations with getting faster have been physical or if they're just in my head.
Because most of the limitations we impose upon ourselves have nothing to do with what's actually possible or impossible and have everything to do with what we think is possible or impossible.
My running goal for my next half marathon is simple: Let go of the idea that I'm slow and just see what happens.
(That – and to completely crush my PR 🙂
Namaste, Divas!
© 2012 Ilene Evans
You can do it!
You are awesome! Thank you for the ra ra!
Ummmm…I think you’ve got this! In my opinion, speed work is what will carry you to the finish line. It made a HUGE difference in my time. Good luck!
YOU ARE A RUNNER. I AM A RUNNER. THAT PERSON OF THERE, IF THEY WANTED TO BE, COULD BE A RUNNER. It’s such an all inclusive sport and a loving community. Your fast is someone else’s slow. My slow, is someone else’s fast. Ryan Hall might have a mental breakdown if he ever ran what I consider to be my “fast pace.” It’s all relative.
Now, how are we going to get you to CRUSH the poop out of your PR? Simple. Train faster at shorter distances and build distance at a slower pace. There is more to it then that, but that is the basic formula. Can’t wait to keep reading about your journey.
Thank you Angela. The Run Streak has really set the foundation for some speed work. Now all I have to do is keep at it!
One would think I’d be a little faster, given I’ve had to “run from the law” before, but no such luck!
Seriously, I love being a runner and regarding the community, I love being a part of this tribe. You really capture everything I have to do in the above formula. Now I just have to get to work!
WOW! That’s all I can say. We’ve had a lot of the same experiences/thoughts. My first Half, I pulled MY IT Band but it was mile 12.25! NOT even a MILE from the finish. I hobbled too; my finisher’s photo shows the pain I was in. I never did well at team sports, either. I found every excuse to skip gym (name it, I’ve used it). My post-marathon hiatus is still on-going (fading but it lingers). One of the many thigs I’ve learned is the more you run, the faster you get. Speed work doesn’t work for me but “tempo” or threshold runs have DEFINITELY helped in speed AND endurance. I have learned now, when I race, I just RUN; simple as that and everything else will fall into place. It WORKS! Nov. 21, 2010, I ran my first 5K 32:41. Last month, I ran my eleventh 29:21. I race myself if I feel I can beat myself; if not, I just try not to be last.
Love this post! I’ve always believed the greatest thing about running is that you can set your own pace. Fast, slow, challenging, lax, it’s up to you–and any of them are just fine. As long as you don’t lose the fun in your running routine, I’d say you have a good thing going. I think a lot of us forget to enjoy the process of maintaining fitness! 🙂 great and witty blog you have here–awesome! 🙂
Wow!I got chills when I saw how much time you took off your 5K. Good for you! And crazy that you had an IT band mishap too..and so close to the finish! I am feeling you on that one. You’re right though. JUST RUN. It’s that simple. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Jessica, thank you for the reminder to keep it FUN. I LIVE for my runs because they are an infusion of total awesomeness for me. And thanks for the kinds words!