Milestones and Benchmarks

I started running in March of 2011 because my husband asked me to do a 5K with him as a birthday gift.  Originally I had two thoughts. First, score the race entry is only $30.00 bucks this is an affordable gift!  Second thought was if I don't actually die running 3 miles I will never have to do this again.  Ha,ha,ha!  Since most of the folks who read this are runners or want to be runners or used to be runners, you know what happened.  I crossed the finish line at that first race, admittedly an affordable birthday present, but not the last time I would do that.  Spoiler alert: I also did not die.  This blog is not written from beyond the grave.  Instead I felt proud.  Proud that I made it 3 miles, proud I wasn't last (though nothing wrong with being last, you are running circles around the person on the couch watching the countdown clock for the return of Twinkies to the market place), I did not end the race in an ambulance, most surprisingly, I ran almost all of it.  Only walked the hills.  For this bookworm, former 20 minute miler on the Presidential Fitness test the biggest revelation is I loved it.  I loved, dare I say it...running.  When the heck did that happen? 

Yesterday Atlanta Track Club announced that due to a venue scheduling problem they were cancelling the last race of the season the Fall Distance on November 2, 2013, the week before my half.  This meant that the Grand Prix season was over and they would be finalizing standings.  I can say this, probably only here, but I was excited because I finished 3rd in my age group for the season.  I knew I had been running well.  Set PRs for distance and courses pretty consistently this year.  I am 44 and supposed to be above all of this; I mean running is about being your best self that day and I believe that.  It also did not stop me from being excited about the hard work I put in building up my endurance and speed and how happy I was to see it pay off.  Also I move to a new AG next season and a couple of girls would need to quit ATC or running all together for this to happen again, so I will enjoy it. 

Looking back over where I was in 2011 and where I am now I can see the hard work and effort paying off.  Not just in the very self-congratulatory way I just announced, but in the way I feel when I run, the way my body responds, etc.  It really has been a rewarding experience even without any actual rewards.  I also can see the difference in my body.  After work today I am heading to have a bunch of my work clothes altered because they are too big.  I never thought that would be the case, but I am now at the point where I have to decide between small and extra-small.  That is another example of where I have been and how far I have come.  Sometimes when you are in the middle of something it is hard to evaluate how far you have come.  Reflecting back can be a good motivator to continue on the journey.  A great way to look back is to visit Athlinks website.  They have the whole history of your races.  It is kind of cool to look back and remember where you were and see your improvement.