So I think I now feel comfortable calling myself a runner? After starting this journey last year, it's been incredibly slow going. Had to stop a number of different times last year (heat, injury, covid). But towards the end I picked it back up to prepare for my first running 5K at Disney World in January. It went incredibly well. I mean, it was hard (didn't properly train myself for it), but it was so much fun. Part of that is just how well organized and electric the whole layout and atmosphere is, but honestly just the act of doing it felt amazing.
So I did another 5K in February. I bought some new Hokas, tried pushing myself a little bit more, but stalled out with some bad weather. The race though... I improved my time little bit, but it felt significantly harder to finish. It went okay, but I felt worse. Yet still the experience itself was nice. After that, I really started running as much as possible. Since last year, I've relied on an app called None To Run - where the idea is week by week it'll take reduce your walking intervals and increase your running ones. I haven't been totally on track with that, but I have been trying to increase my runs as much as possible.
Which led me to last Saturday. My third 5K. This time I was going at it alone and I wanted to push myself even harder. I had my best time yet, but didn't meet my goal. I won't say it as I know it's still pretty slow compared to most runners. I placed almost halfway in the entire roster of runners - maybe a little worse than halfway. But I wasn't near the very end! The amount of effort I put into it just made me so ready to start truly running for real. Again...I am still very much new at this compared to many many many other people.
After resting for too many days (had pretty sore calves after the race), I ran my first full run -no walking- today. And it didn't feel that bad. I ditched None To Run and tried out the Nike Run Club app (which is free). The first run was an easy run, just 20 minutes of slow paced running. Once I finished that with a pretty horrible mile pace, I decided to just keep going for another 10 minutes or so. I found a good pace, which was still pretty slow, and just pushed. And now as I sit here, I feel pretty great. I think now today I feel like somewhat of a runner. The issue, though, that I was having pre and post recent 5K was comparing myself to everyone else. I got down into that, realizing just how not great I am. But I tried hard to push it all away and just run for fun and to get back to it. And it feels good. I finally feel like maybe I am actually getting better at this. And it only took 14 months.
I do see that my time keeps decreasing, so the goal now is to run a virtual 5K this weekend (proceeds going to the Georgia Aquarium) and then just keep going week by week, increasing as much as I can. The next full on, in person 5K for me will be early May. By that point I should hopefully have at least the time I want down - or close to it. And after this? I don't know yet. I'd like to go up to a 10K by the fall, if I can find some in the area. I'd say eventually the longer term goal is a half marathon, but I am nowhere close to that yet. I don't see myself ever wanting to do a full though.
So, runners, what do you usually do on your runs? I am just curious to know. Do you use an app? Do you run long distances, or do you run for time? How frequently?
Jeez this post wound up being incredibly too long. TLDR, I guess I feel like a runner now.
