On Thursday, the day that I could not run as usual in the morning due to work requirements, I was nervous and worried most of the day about how and when to fit in my run.
Well, I ended up finally getting to run very late in the day. When I got too the track, I decided that I damn well was going to try to strive for something "new". As I said previously, I have been contemplating in a "pipe dream" sort of fashion, the idea of running a 1/2 marathon race sometime this coming Summer if I can get up enough psychological courage and physical stamina to do so. A half marathon is 13.1 miles (~21 km) in length.
The "psychological courage" part is the idea of actually running in an official race and overcoming the obstacles I have in terms of self image. See, the reality is that even though I do run (jog), and I do have a healthy BMI now (~23 @ 172lb).... from a psychological perspective I still see myself inside as the chubby, "fat-kid" who at one time weighed almost 300 pounds (~130 kg or 20.5 stone). It takes a lot of psychological energy for me to push through that.... because innately I tend to see myself as not being "athletic".
But also, in terms of the "physical stamina" part, running 13.1 miles in one setting, continuously... IS a helluva lot of work! I am not sure of my previous longest single time running distance.... but I believe it was either 8 or 9 miles (~13-14km).
Well, Thursday evening.... I screwed up enough damn, dogged determination, and decided to give it a try. And.... I *DID* complete all 13.1 miles in one setting. It took me about 121 minutes. The last three miles were very tough... and I ended up slowing considerably during those last three miles.... but I completed all 13.1 without stopping once!!!!
Now... this was big accomplishment for me, and with further work and further practice each month... it may be possible for me to enter a real 1/2 marathon race and also work through the psychological crap.... and maybe, actually do it!
When March rolls around, I will try to do another 13.1 to see if I can replicate it.
PipeTobacco
............................................ ............................................ A blog devoted to the ramblings of a small town, middle aged college professor as he experiences life and all its strange variances.
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Saturday, February 08, 2020
2 comments:
I appreciate all forms of comments on my writings. I find that I miss the sponteneity of coming to read them here when they were unmoderated. I believe I wrote less due to the moderation. I have decided to adopt limited moderation. Hopefully the prior problems with unfettered comments will not arise again. Please feel free to comment as you wish about the essays I write. I will maintain those comments that offer kind-hearted and gentle opinion... be it positive or negative. The opinions of your comments will, of course, need to have relevance to the post as well.
That is quite an achievement, whether you enter the formal race or not.
ReplyDeleteI admire anyone who even contemplates running a half marathon!
ReplyDelete