A Truly Bubbly Post

So today I would like to talk a little bit about bumps.

Er, no.

Not bumps.

Like walls.

You know how people will be like, “UGH! I hit a wall in my training!” Or their school, or their job, or whatever they are having issues with.

Kinda like, a hill that they can’t get over?

Everything seems to be getting harder, or just staying the same.

Well, I can relate to that.

Because you see, this is exactly, and I mean, EXACTLY, what running is.

You start out and you stink.

So obviously from there you can only get better and better. But then, after awhile, you hit a wall, so to speak, and you don’t seem to be  improving and it’s kinda disheartening.

You see, after my half marathon, I REALLY declined. I mean I hurt my knee so I had to take a break. So, I went from thirteen miles to three miles. And then, winter came. And unlike last year, I did run through this winter. But I hate running in the winter. And I never really get better at running during that time…

So this spring has come as a serious surprise to me.

I was expecting it to be the time to get serious, maybe shave a couple seconds off my PR, add a couple miles.

But not get fast.

I mean, YES I WANT to be fast, but I didn’t really think it would happen like this.

I guess I figured that over the years I would eventually get down to a faster pace and maybe be able to snag a scholarship for college. But, I still had three years for that.

But nope! Here I am, running fast. Running hard. Being in better shape than ever. Am I gloating? Am I glowing? I’m sorry. I just had a fantastic running day.

Okay, so here’s how it all started. Last night. I’m laying in my bed, drifting off to sleep, making plans of grandeur for my running tomorrow (which would be today). See, this is what I was thinking: “I should run nine miles tomorrow!” I kid you not. Where did I come up with the idea that I would be able to run nine miles? I have no idea. I get these weird energy spurts at night time. I am going to do one of those midnight runs some time cause I would rule.

Anyways. This morning I dragged my sugar-stupored (go away, red squiggly lines, that is TOO a word), tired self out of my comfortable, warm bed. And I did not have one single molecule inside of me that wanted to run even one mile, much less six (or nine).  But, by the time I got to biology class, I had convinced myself that I was going to run today. Whether or not I truly wanted to. So, at two-ish I figured I might as well get it over with. So, I went.

It was a beautiful day for running. The wind was a bit strong but other than that it was great.

I knew I was running too fast but I couldn’t stop.

I even felt like I was going slow but I was running a 7 minute pace. Then I slowed to a 7:18 pace for the rest of my run. I PR’d at three miles and told myself that I could slow down now. If I had run a 9-minute pace I still would have an overall average pace of 8 minute miles. So, I “slowed down”. But I didn’t. I kept running a 7:18 pace. At one point, I was running into the wind and it picked me up and blew me BACKWARDS, but other than that the wind wasn’t that bad.

It felt awesome.

Well, I was doing it a horrible-awesome. After I finished, a satisfying-awesome. And now? An awesome-awesome.

So what are the results?

My 5K is 21:39 and my 8K is 37:36.

And this goes to show that all you need to do is get over the hill. And then, you’re home free! 🙂

Rock on!

 

 

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