I am finally on the run. And that's a good thing, not a bad one. After years of failed attempts, I am a runner!
I started running in October and I've been lacing up my running shoes to hit the pavement (or the treadmill) ever since.
Running is something that I've wanted to do for years, but despite several attempts, I never could do it. I've always admired runners. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe because I'm not athletic and running is something anyone can do at whatever pace they want. And it just always looked so freeing. Plus, running is something you can do pretty much anywhere--at home, on the road, in a gym, not in a gym, etc. and its fairly inexpensive. Get a good pair of running shoes and replace them as needed and that is basically all that's required (although as with anything, there are some nice nonessential accessories).
I work with a lot of runners. Some of whom are marathon runners. They're a great source of encouragement. Before I started running, every time I said I wanted to run, they urged me to do it and expressed confidence that I could. Now that I've started running, they praise my progress and encourage me to keep it up.
In fact, I can honestly say that I wouldn't be running right now if it wasn't for one of my co-workers: Mary C.
Mary is a fellow producer whose desk is adjacent to mine. Mary is a fast, strong marathon runner (she's even completed an ultra marathon--50 miles!) who has won some large, popular races. She's a great producer and strong person who has had to deal with more than her fair share of hardships. Mary's beaten cancer twice and she's working on doing it a third time.
When Mary told everyone that the glioblastoma she had beaten twice had returned -- stronger than before -- I wanted to do something-- anything -- to help. But I knew that other than praying for her and encouraging and supporting her, there is nothing that I can do. I can't make the cancer go away or make the battle any easier for her. It's a vulnerable, helpless feeling.
Shortly after her e-mail announcement, our marketing director mentioned that she was trying to form a WBIR team for the Buddy's Race Against Cancer 5K in support of Mary. Then it dawned on me that one of the best ways I could show my support for Mary was to start running. Running is her life and she had been the one to encourage me the most to start running and express confidence in my ability to do it. I couldn't ask for more motivation to get started than to do it for Mary. In fact, in that moment, I instinctively knew and I firmly believe, even though I certainly can't prove this, that if I couldn't have success with running now, I would never do it. This was my window of opportunity.
And for the first week or so, it was a little rough going like it had been in the past. I kept at it, but I couldn't help but think, "I'm not going to be ready for this." Then one evening at work, one of our anchors heard me mention my training and the struggle to keep it up and she encouraged me to take my time and slow my pace down until I could comfortably maintain it.
I tried it and it worked like magic. Running suddenly "clicked" for me. All of the times I had tried to run and failed, I was simply committing the common newbie runner error of trying to run too hard, too fast. I was trying to start out where I wanted to be, instead of allowing myself the time and training to get there.
After that epiphany, I took off. Not in speed, but distance. I ran a mile. Then a mile and a half. Next thing I knew, only a few weeks into my training, I ran 3.25 miles on the Sequoyah Hills Greenway, farther than the distance of a 5K. I wanted to throw my hands up in the air in an expression of victory as I ended that run -- and I should have. It was a big moment.
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| Race day! Mary C., and fellow first-time 5Kers Kevin, Hillary and I before the race |
I continued to train and I ran the 5K on November 13 with many of co-workers, including some other first-timers like me. And I was genuinely surprised at my finish time: 35:15. That's an average mile of 11:34, about 45 seconds faster than I had gotten on the treadmill during my training. I give all the glory of that accomplishment, and all I've achieved since then, to God. He may have used Mary to inspire me, but I know He is the one responsible for enabling me to run and finish the race.
After that race, I was hooked. I thought I would keep running shorter distances and try to get faster. And I still want to do that. But only one month after the race, I found myself running farther. On Christmas Eve, I hit a milestone and surpassed 6 miles.
The next thing I knew, less than a week later, I found myself registering for the Strawberry Plains 10K in February and the Covenant Health Knoxville Half-Marathon on April 1. It sounded and felt insane, but I was just crazy enough to try it.
I almost gave up on the half-marathon training though a few weeks later, after I had a few difficult long runs for a variety of reasons. I backed off my training almost completely for a couple of weeks and that did the trick. I even felt excited to get back to it after a couple of weeks. I think I was just exhausted after the holidays and needed a break. I'm glad I listened to my body and took a couple of weeks off instead of risking overtraining or burnout.
Fast forward to last weekend, when I ran the Strawberry Plains 10K. We've had a mild winter in East Tennessee, but as I registered for that race in late December, my gut instinct said it would get cold by the time that race came around. The mild temperatures continued, but sure enough, not only did it turn cold last weekend, it was really cold -- and snowing!
But I got up and went out there anyway. Since it was my first race in really cold weather, I figured I would mess up the proper layering somehow, but I actually managed to hit it just right. I was comfortable -- not too warm, not to cold -- the entire race.
I enjoyed running through the countryside in Strawberry Plains. It's a scenic route and although the organizers said it was a record turnout, it wasn't that crowded. For the last mile, one of the other runners struck up a conversation with me and we kept it up for the rest of the race. It was great inspiration to keep up the pace! I didn't want to lag behind and drop the conversation, so I pushed ahead to stick with her. It was kind and I don't know if I'll ever see her again or not, but I'll keep an eye out for her at future races in the hopes of getting the chance to say hello.
Mary was supposed to run the race and I was looking forward to seeing her there (she's on a medical leave of absence at work while she seeks treatment through a clinical trial in North Carolina). But she continues to receive treatment for cancer and she wasn't well enough to make it. And for Mary, that's saying a lot. But she gave me several shoutouts of encouragement on Twitter, which made my day.
I finished the race in 1:07:16, a time with which I'm pleased. That's an average of a 10:50 mile, 44 seconds faster than my 5K pace. I'm still a slow runner, but I'm pleased to be making progress. That's really all that matters at this point.
Next ahead... the half-marathon!
I've been training, but I know that it will still definitely be a very real test of my ability. It's not going to be easy (13.1 miles isn't easy period, but especially not on a hilly downtown/west Knoxville course), but I'm determined to face the challenge head-on. It will be a great feeling to cross the 50-yard line in Neyland Stadium and receive my medal for completing the course.
If you think about it over the next several weeks, please pray that my training will go well and I'll have the strength to complete the race.
Also, please pray for Mary's complete healing, as well as strength and encouragement as she undergoes her treatments. She's fighting back, but her battle is an intense one.
And if you haven't tried running, give it a chance!
1 comment:
I love this, Liz! Running is something that I have always wanted to do too. And your joy of it is contagious! Keep up the good work!
Will continue to pray for Mary....
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