Getting Stronger

Tuesday night the four of us (me, Dear Hubby and the two kids in a double jogging stroller) hit a local trail for an evening run.  I think it was the first time since I started running that the weather was actually pleasant--not the stifling steam room of the past month where you feel like you're running while trapped in the middle of a freshly baked muffin.

I wish I could claim credit for the muffin metaphor.  I actually plagiarized it from Christopher McDougall's book Born to Run, and it made me laugh because I could clearly imagine what it felt like to be trapped in the middle of a freshly baked muffin with all of the heat and humidity we've had.  I started reading this book this week, and I can't wait for breaks in my day to continue reading.  When I started my running odeyssey on June 1, the thought of running 26.2 miles was HUGE.  I didn't know about the world of ultra-marathons, 100-mile races, or the Tarahumara Indians. 

On the left we have USA Ultra-Runner Scott Jurek and on the right we have Arnolfo Quimare, a Tarahuma Indian native of Mexico's remote copper canyons.



I was pretty proud of myself for my run on Tuesday night.  I started at an easy jog, and continued jogging steadily for 2.25 miles without stopping and then walked/ran to complete 3.75 miles.  This was the first time I surpassed the two mile mark, and I didn't die!  Heck, I wasn't even breathing hard.  My husband kept commenting, "Dear Wife hit a stride!"  The thing is, he wasn't really amazed at my feat.  He has absolutely no doubt that I'm strong enough, and doesn't really understand why I doubt myself.

That's something to ponder.  Why do I doubt myself when I know full well that I'm capable of doing more than I am?  Why am I shocked that I can now run more than two miles at a time when there are people alive who run for days at a time without a break, indeed running is their main mode of transportation over the rugged terrain of the Copper Canyon? 

It was interesting to read about Lance Armstrong's first marathon.  At the end of his race, he texted his then wife, "Oh my God.  Hurts.  Terrible."  This from the greatest known endurance athlete--at least the one greatest known to me.  Just this morning, I read that Apollo Anton Ohno (the Olympic speed skating gold medalist) is retraining himself for his first marathon. 

What is it about running that is so appealing?  So addictive?  I'm still trying to figure that out. 

In any case, as I continue on I do indeed know that I'm getting stronger, and as I'm getting stronger the more I enjoy running.

Wabasha 5K--Race Re-cap

"But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31

This Scripture took on new meaning for me. 

Dear Hubby and I planned on running in the Wabasha, Minnesota 5K race on Saturday, July 30, 2011.  It is also fitting as Wabasha is the location of the National Eagle Center.  We scheduled our baby sitter to arrive at 6:00 a.m. as it was an hour drive (and we had to stop at Caribou Coffee on the way!).  I was really tired on Friday night and looking forward to getting some sleep as it was Dear Hubby's turn to be on-call with baby Naomi during the night.  She woke up at 2:00 a.m., and Aaron got up at the same time looking for Daddy.  So, Daddy got Aaron back to bed, and I was up until close to 3:00 a.m. getting Naomi back to sleep.  I finally got back to sleep around 4:00 a.m., and 5:00 a.m. comes really fast. Needless to say, I was not in the best of moods as I was concerned about trying to run a 5K with so little sleep. 

We arrived in Wabasha, and we couldn't have asked for a better day.  For those reading this who live outside Minnesota, Wabasha is a beautiful little town along the Mississippi river notably famous as the location of the filming of the "Grumpy Old Men" movies.  The race was run along the river on a flat, straight trail.  Here's a picture:

I've discovered that the atmosphere in races is really fun.  There are the "serious" runners who are all business, but most are people who are there just for the fun of it.  People were at all different fitness levels.  There was one woman we chatted with who was in the same boat as me...just started running a couple of months ago, and this was also her second race.  She was working at getting in shape for her friend's beach wedding in Fiji at the end of the year.  Another woman was wearing a World Vision racing shirt and using this race as a warm-up for the Twin Cities half-marathon.  She is running to raise money for fresh water supplies for needy children world wide.  There was another woman running who was significantly obese and trudging along the best she could, and there were some kids running.  One boy was running at my pace, and I was pretty impressed with his focus and determination as he couldn't have been more than six.

All of these things served as inspiration to me, and my spirit was revived.  We were lined up at the starting line and the gun wouldn't go off, so the starter just shouted "GO!"  I was pleasantly surprised at my strength and stamina.  Even Dear Hubby commented during the race, "You're running stronger."  I did need to stop for a couple of walk breaks as I had pain in my shins (didn't want to risk shin splints), so I walked until the tension released and then ran some more.  We rounded the final corner and I saw the clock.  I was just under my goal time!  I kicked it up and crossed the finish line at 40 minutes, which is 3 minutes less than my last race. 

Could I have done better?  Maybe, but I feel good about what I did as it was a personal record for me.  So, as there is no rest for the weary, today begins training for my first 10K race on September 10.