Slow Motion

Slow Motion

I am a runner; however,  I have never been an athlete.  I did not start on my running journey until my late 30's, and once I started, I haven't stopped.  Running is addictive, and it's my therapy.  It makes me feel sane when life is crazy, and it makes me feel strong when in other areas I am weak.  Although I run, I am not light on my feet.  More often than not, I deal with injuries.  Running does not come natural for me, and I'm only fast when I train hard to be.  Otherwise, I am content to run/walk my intervals and just finish the race.  I say that with a grain of salt though.  I am very competitive, especially with myself.  I have an overall pace that I really need to be around in order to feel good about my performance.

This past winter/spring, I set 2 goals for myself.  One was a sub 30 minute 5k race, and the other was a sub hour 10k race.  I achieved my 5k goal my first time trying.  My 10K goal proved to be more difficult.  It took me 4 races before I finally finished in 55 minutes, and it was down a mountain...LOL!  I did it though, and I was able to put a check mark in that imaginary box.  However, it all came with a price.  I ended up injuring my back/hip.   Recently, my doctor put me on running restriction, with a home exercise program.  I did no physical activity, other than light walking, for almost 2 months.  My back still hurts on occastion, but it did get considerably better.  He cleared me to run at the beginning of October.

Rewind to this past July.  My running club friends and I decided to do a diet/fitness challenge.  Our goal was to "weigh-in" and celebrate our successes by completing the "Dalton Red Carpet Half Marathon" together.  I was not able to train, but I also couldn't let my friends go to this race without me.  I hate being left out of the fun.  So, I registered for the race, without running a single mile to train for it!  I figured I had run so many half marathons that it couldn't possibly be THAT hard.

Boy was I wrong!  The race was HARD!  It was the slowest half marathon time I have ever had!  It was even slower than my very first one over 5 years ago!

It started off good. Once I got past mile 7, things started to go south.   My running friends were right behind me at this point, and  I decided to run with them.  I needed the comradare in a major way!  I was only was able to run with them for about 2 more miles when I decided to fall back.  Mile 9-13 were the looooongest and most difficult of my running career.  I was HOT, I was HURTING, and I was ALONE!  I hated every step and just wanted to be finished!  If I could have called an Uber to come and get me, I would have!  At mile 12, I knew I wasn't going to finish in any decent amount of time.  My back was on fire, I couldn't get my stupid long sleeves to push up! I was so HOT!  I wore a ridiculuous tutu and I couln't breathe, much less run.  So, I walked the last mile.  I didn't even walk with a purpose y'all!  I flat out strolled to the finish line!   How could this be?  I'm a runner!  I am not supposed to walk the last mile of a race!  I was embarrased and mad at myself!

A member of our running group was aiming for a Personal Record at this race, and she DID it!   It was amazing to see everyone pull together for her to help her make her goal, but it added sadness that I was not able to be a part of it because I was TOO SLOW!  I was so proud of her, and of my friends for pushing her to her goal! The running community is like no other.  There is a coach in all of us, and it's amazing to see the help others selflessly pour out on friends, and strangers, to help them finish a race!  I'm sure you have seen pictures of people carrying others across the finish line on social media.  It's no joke, people are so kind, especially runners, if I do say so myself!

 Reflecting back on the day, I have come to realize some important lessons.  I made progress.  It was sloooooow progress, but it was HUGE progress!  My back is doing just fine!  I actually went out to run another 3 miles last night.  I learned that I don't have to go fast, as long as I can go.  Later in the summer, it was miserable for me NOT to be able to run.   Being hurt was horrible!  The fact that I can get out there at all is a gift!  It was not a good idea for me to go from 0 miles to 13.1.  It is important to respect the distance.  Train for the race you want to run.  It was silly for me to think that I was going to be able to keep up, when I put no effort into the preparation.  I didn't do the hard work.  Race day IS supposed to be a celebration of the work you put into your training.  Not being able to train, put me at a huge disadvantage.  I completed the miles, but it was ugly and painful. As it should have been.

The same can be said for the hard work of life.  We can't expect to get the promotion, or find our dream job, experience an awesome marriage, or have respectful and successful children if we don't do the hard work to make it happen. There is no reward in lazy.  Respect the "race."   Put in the work.  Only then will you feel proud of a job well done.  Anything worth having in life is HARD!  Set goals for yourselves and then go after them with all you have!

On Thanksgiving morning, I will be doing another half marathon.  I would like to think of it as my redeption race.  I do NOT plan to beat any records that day.  I do plan to train for the race and feel better about my performance than I did this past weekend. I plan to earn my proverbial "pie!"  I will run the "race," as long as my body will let me!  I thank God every day for the health and the ability to do so!  It could be gone in the blink of an eye. 

So, today I will "keep running the race that is set before me with endurance." - Hebrews 12:1

What races are you facing in your life?  Are you putting in the work?  Make a plan and tackle those obstacles and dreams today!  You have to START before you can reach the finish line!  On your marks, get set, GO!  I'm cheering for you!


- Tracie