Happy Global Running Day! This year to date I have recorded a total of 231 miles. Seeing this number amazes me. In the past four years I have gone from no type exercise to running hundreds of miles in a matter of months. I am incredibly proud of how far I have come.
I am a week and a half into my marathon training. The heat is definitely playing a role in how my running is going. It elevates my heart rate and with that brings slower times. Getting to know my body and how it reacts over the past several months has been helpful. I can pretty accurately guess where my heart rate is by how I feel. I know when to walk a minute to bring it back down. I know when to push my body when it is just my head whining. I also know when to rest when the strain is real. I understand hydration and its importance and a good night’s rest is essential to recovery.
Another thing I have noticed is my first 2 miles are my slowest miles. My head is constantly telling me to quit and my body feels like it weighs a 1000 pounds. Part of this is not adequately warming up which I plan to focus on the next few weeks. And the other part is it takes me those two miles to relax, find my pace, and not think about every step I take. My splits reveal after my first 2 miles my pace increases around a minute faster. Another trend I see is my last mile is always my fastest. I subconsciously reserve as I run. When I know I only have a mile left, I let loose. What if I gave a little more on the previous miles? I need to trust my body and not hold back.
This past weekend I ran 6 miles at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL. It’s a shaded trail that winds through tall trees and overlooks. There is a specific section that has moss covered trees that is just beautiful.
I am grateful for running. Being able to have these moments to focus on myself and see the beauty in the quiet isolated places only running can provide is important to me.
I also signed up for the BHM26.2, Birmingham marathon. It was definitely a scary moment when I clicked “sign up” but excited to have that coming up in October.
Today I will celebrate with the world by running 3 miles on Global Running Day. As I run I will think about how far I have come in the past year. Last May, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. This May, I have no evidence of disease, ran 231 miles so far this year, and signed up for a marathon.
32-MILES 