Today’s guest post is by Tanya, a new runner based in Halifax, N.S. She is an account executive and a married mother of two.
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I turned 40 in 2013. It was a bit of an eye opener! Forty seems to have been that age that kicked my butt and said “SMARTEN UP! YOU AREN’T GETTING ANY YOUNGER (or healthier)!” So, in January and February, I made all kinds of changes and was really surprised at how much I was enjoying the changes I was making. I felt great. I was working out and taking classes at the gym. I wasn’t getting sick; I was eating a TON of food (but the right stuff) and had tons of energy! So much energy I decided I needed to do more!
But what was that “more” going to be?
Running was one of these things that I thought I would NEVER EVER want to do – for a whole lot of silly reasons! I always fell back on the “I have bad knees” excuse. And I always thought that runners certainly didn’t look like they were enjoying their run. Why would I want to put myself through the agony that they look like they are in? And failing those, there was always the excuse that I just don’t have the time! But seeing as I’d made so many changes, I decided to suck it up and give it a shot!
In early March, I downloaded Run to 5K on my iPhone and took my first run. I was only doing small intervals of running for 30 and 45 seconds at the very first, broken up by periods of walking but, I could handle it. I loved this approach to starting to run! Every day I ran was a little victory – I ran a little longer, ran a little faster, covered more distance and before I knew it, I was literally craving the time when I could get out again! I’ve been running now for 9 full months and my longest run (using 4 – 1 intervals) is 17 km, and 10 kms straight running and I’ve learned a few lessons along the way!
Lesson #1 RUNNING IS AS MUCH MENTAL AS IT IS PHYSICAL – a blog writer I know wrote that pretty early on in my running journey and it is something that I’ve clutched onto; desperately at times! Those hills can be pretty tough, especially at the end of a run. Those words have gotten me through when I was ready to give up.
Lesson #2 There is ALWAYS time for running, you just have to make the time! I gave up and reduced some things and plan other things more efficiently, but it is worth it as running has been good for me mentally and physically! That said, I am also lucky enough to have a fabulous husband who supports all of the changes I’ve been making in every way, so that makes “making the time” a lot easier.
Lesson #3 Running allows for excellent “Me” time! There is no pressure, no one calling your name, no one making demands, no one but you! It’s all about you! I never would have thought that running would facilitate such clear thinking! Issues that seem complex when talking them out with someone else just kind of seem to boil down to their very essence when I’m running. What was complex becomes very simple because there isn’t any “noise” to distract my thinking. And if I’m not solving the worlds problems, I’m simply listening to my tunes, keeping pace with the music and letting my mind drift where it might!
Lesson #4 Don’t push myself too hard! I was getting so excited about the progress I was making, I was pushing myself too hard – going further than my body was ready to take me, and trying to do it too fast! I ended up injuring myself and was out of commission for 3 weeks. I took that time to read up on IT Band injuries, breathing strategies to reduce injury and increase performance, stretching exercises, strength training to prevent further injury to my knees and hips…. Getting injured was a blessing in disguise! I’ve been injury free since if you don’t count road rash from falling!
Lesson #5 It’s not how I feel when I run that matters – some days I am in absolute agony! It’s how I feel when I’m all done! 2 days ago, I ran 17 km for the first time and can honestly say that I probably looked like hell between km 12 – 17. I was cold, I was tired, it was Saturdayand I was thinking that I was crazy to have ventured out to do this. BUT when I got back home, I felt AMAZING! There is no better high than knowing you’ve conquered your doubts and have taken that one additional step forward! My legs were jello, but I was ecstatic that I had done it!
Lesson #6 Don’t compare myself to any other runner and don’t let anyone judge my running! I figured, at first, that to be a good runner, you needed to reach a speed benchmark, a cadence benchmark, and a distance benchmark. Perhaps you do, but my thinking is this. I’m off the couch and running. Enough said. Nothing else matters! Personally, I think I’m a good runner because I’ve learned some lessons, and have improved speed and distance, but I would never think that because someone else isn’t as fast, or someone else runs differently that they are less of a runner. That person is out there running, and that is what matters.
