"Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts." ~ Steve PrefontaineThis one I blame my sister-in-law for. She started running last year and we batted around the idea of doing a 10K together. We had both run 5Ks before (she this past summer, me a few years ago), but she wanted to up the ante. Unfortunately a bad chest cold and injuries thwarted our plans.
But the other day, while I was at my nephew’s birthday party (and while she was waving a cheesie in front of my face), my SIL suggested we both sign up for the Bluenose Marathon 10K. The early bird sign up ended the next day, so if we wanted to get the cheaper rate, we had to act fast.
Now this suggestion was made on Feb 27th. The race is on May 22nd. And unless I’ve lost my ability to count properly, that means I have a whopping 2.5 months to go from not running for about a year, to running 10K.
I blame the mesmerizing power of the cheesie that made me nod and mumble something that sounded like, ‘sure…sounds like a plan…you gonna eat that cheesie?’
So here I am, in training mode. My friend, Christine, took me out running on my lunch hour the other day indicating she had a great route in mind. Christine is a runner. That should have been my first clue that this was not going to be an easy little jaunt. By the 4K mark I was starting to feel it. By the 5K mark I wasn’t sure I could lift my legs much longer. Thankfully, the route ended at 5.13K.
I hobbled back to the office wondering what the criteria for a lung transplant was.
Still, I had done it. After not running, I managed to live through a 5K run. Sure I felt it the next day (or three), but I was already half way to my goal, and still had a little over two months to build on that.
Am I crazy? Maybe. But every time I think I’ve completely lost my mind, I remind myself that summer is right around the corner. The time of shorts and skirts and bathing suits, and suddenly, running 10K seems like a really good idea…
Vanity. The world’s greatest motivator.
8 comments:
Ooh, good luck, Kelly! And way to go on running 5K after not running for a whole year (amazing how able our bodies are even if our minds think otherwise).
I'm training for a half marathon in Saskatoon the last weekend in May so I'm hoping the weather stays somewhat decent as I take my training outside (hate running in crappy weather). And I'm thinking I should try the half in Halifax next May (maybe by then you'll be signed up for that - or does that take a whole bag of cheesies and perhaps some cheesecake?).
That takes a whole bag of cheesies, cheesecake and a level of insanity I haven't yet reached. :) Good luck on yours - let me know how it goes.
All I have to say is 'ouch'
Kelly - I thought the same thing you did when I read about you doing the 10k - Wow, she'll be in great shape for the summer :)
Good luck!! And have fun!
Love that quote, Kelly. I would need more than guts to run that far but best of luck and good luck training!
Hmm, yesterday I was mulling running the 10k as well. Today I'm wondering about my sanity.
LOL Look what you started, Kelly. I'm like Anne and was thinking about entering the 10K too. On second thought, though, I think I'll just live vicariously through you.
Anyway, good luck with the training. I know you'll do awesome! :)
I wish I liked to run. I really do. But I don't. I loathe it. Now I do love to walk, and I usually keep a good pace when I do it. But jogging/running? Nope. But I really admire those who do!
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