I’ve only been distance running for about a year and a half now. So by no means am I an expert on the subject. I definitely still have a lot to learn.
Since I started half-marathon training back in February 2009, I pushed myself from the beginning. If my training schedule said to run 5 miles, I ran 5 miles. If it said to run 11, you bet I ran 11. Sometimes I ran more than the training schedule indicated. And I never ran less.
One thing I firmly believed is that 11 miles of running meant just that: 11 miles of running. No walking. No stopping. I would start and keep going until I hit my goal. Only then could I stop.
My mindset has since changed. Today, I set out to do 11 miles. I’m not training for anything at the moment, but that distance sounded good to me. I’ve mostly been running flat routes, so this morning in Central Park the hills took a quick toll on my legs. I felt tight and not as limber as I’d hoped.
So, at the top of a few hills, I stopped. And I stretched. And once I even re-tied my shoes. And then when I started back up again, I felt so much better. Totally refreshed, renewed, re-energized and in a sense, re-liberated. (Is that a word? It is now.) I can still say I ran 11 miles (in an hour and 35 minutes—that’s well under a 9-minute mile pace!) and I probably saved my body just a bit in the process.
On that note, happy long weekend! I’m off to shower, walk around a bit (it’s gorgeous in NYC today!) then head to New Jersey for a work thing.
In other news, Comic-Con is happening at the Jacob Javits Center this weekend, which just happens to be right down the street from my apartment. The people watching is hysterical and awesome!
