Never Give Up!

Wed, April 6
5:30am
50 min - running for 30 and walking for 20 at the indoor track at LifeCenter
Distance: 4 miles; Average Pace: 12'32"

Well, I was not sure what today would bring with my leg/calve situation. My training schedule said 50 minutes of running, but I just wasn't sure I'd be able to do it after Monday's experience. But, I went. I ran 10 minutes and gave up and started walking. It just hurt too much to keep going. I felt really defeated, but decided I would at least walk for the rest of the time. Hey, I was already there - I had gotten up to do this, I was doing it! I didn't cry, but I felt close to it. So, I walked. I told myself that I wanted to try to run a bit more...maybe with 10 minutes left to go or something. After 20 minutes more minutes went by and I only had 20 minutes to go I decided that I had had enough and I was going to run. I just kept thinking to myself. "I refuse to accept this", "I refuse to accept this", "I refuse to accept this". I was saying this mantra to the pain, the feeling of defeat, whatever. I just refused to give up and walk. Not that walking is bad, but for me at this point it would mean giving up. I have worked too hard to not give this training 110% of my effort. And guess what?! It didn't hurt as bad as the first mile! I mean I was sore, but I worked it out. Maybe there is something "mental" about this after all.

Then on the way to work I heard this inspiring story on the radio of a 92-year-old woman who completed a marathon in just over 9 hours. 92. Seriously? Wow. She lost her husband of 69 years in 2008 and had to quit training, had health issues in 2009 and had to quit, but completed it in 2010. I can totally do this.