Let me start this by saying, I have NEVER in my life, ran a mile!!!
Back in November/December 2018 I attempted to run... I just ran until I couldn't anymore.. It was .25 of a mile. I made so many excuses as to why I had to stop, it was 34° outside & my lungs were on fire.. lol
Fast forward to last weekend, my mom & her boyfriend, Zack, were at my house. We were all sitting out front, talking. Zack has been trying to get me to run a 5K with them for MONTHS!!! I do NOT run. I CAN'T run! I am NOT a runner!
However, he made me promise that I'd do one with them by the end of the year. He would even pay, but I had to do it!
I relented. So, I vowed that I would begin "training" this week, and then I MIGHT be ready by December haha.
Today is day 3 of my usual gym week.
I decided I just needed to see where I was at, and how much work I needed to do to be ready for a 5K.
I walked into the gym, at 6am, headed straight to the treadmill.
I told myself, it's ok if you can't get a mile, just do like last time, run until you just can't anymore. Then stop, and try to do better next time.
I pressed start & set the pace at 5mph.
That felt comfortable, and I could always lower the speed if I needed to in a few minutes. (The treadmill told me that was a 12 minute/mile pace.)
About 9 minutes in, I sent a SnapChat video to Zack, letting him know I was almost at 1 mile! I couldn't believe it!
Then, I took a video for myself at the 10 minute mark.
Once I was near the first mile, I figured I could keep going & just stop when I needed. After all, I had already surpassed my expectations. I was already proud of what I was capable of.
Next thing I know, I'm creeping up on 2 miles & I felt like I could go a LITTLE bit longer.. Maybe 2.5? Nah, I'll probably stop way before then, for sure. No way I could do another half mile!
Then, 2.5 came.... I told myself, just push, SEE IF you can get close to 3! Also, I increased the speed to 5.5 mph.
As 2.7 neared, I found myself wondering if I could do another half a mile.....
I mean, that's all it would take to reach 5K!
That's not too much longer.. So, I pushed.
3 miles...
3.06 miles...
3.13 miles...
3.17 miles...
3.2 miles!
I pressed stop on the treadmill, because I had burst into tears!!!
Who was this person who had just ran THREE MILES?!?!?!
Three point two miles.
A 5K.
At 6 in the morning!
Obviously, not the person that I thought I was when I walked into the gym 40 minutes prior.
Anyone who saw me burst into tears probably thought I was losing my mind.
I collected myself a bit.
Got off the treadmill.
Grabbed a paper towel to clean the handles that I barely touched (twice, to check my pulse).
As I walked out of the gym, to my car, I could NOT stop crying.
I don't even know why.
I went in, hoping to get to .5 miles.
We are SO much stronger than we think we are!
We are capable of SO much more than we believe!
I don't run.
I am not a runner.
I can't run.
I ran a 5K for the very first time today, in 37:48. That averages to LESS than 12 minutes a mile!
Proud doesn't even begin to describe what I'm feeling.
P.S. if you wanna experience THE moment, check out my video..
Prepare to cry!
You've been warned..
