I think I almost forgot what a runners high feels like, that is until yesterday when I ran my first 5k of the season. There’s nothing better than that moment when you finish a race and feel amazing inside and out. The energy buzzing through my body, the pure sense of accomplishment and feeling empowered.
I’ve written about running several times, and how in high school I couldn’t even run around a track once without seeing stars and gasping for air while draped over the wire gait that surrounded the field, no joke. I’ll never forget attempting to run track my sophomore year, the coach told me after one week not to come back without a doctors note and an inhaler. So I said screw it. I gave it up and stuck to the only thing I really knew and loved at the time, music.
It wasn’t until college that I truly found my love for fitness, and running was soon to follow. I remember being at the gym one day and stepping on the treadmill and I started running. 30 minutes later I was still going at a solid pace and I felt great. I was amazed. All the aerobics classes and hard hours spent at the gym were paying off.
In late August 2010 I decided I needed something to train for. I was constantly “training” but had no goals set in place. I needed something to work towards, I thrive on goals and achievements. So on a whim I signed up for my very first road race, a half marathon. Most people start with a 5k, I jumped right to 13.1 miles, and to boot I only had eight weeks to train. The longest run I had ever accomplished at that time was 6 miles, so I thought, “What’s another 7.1?”
When I crossed the finish line of my first half marathon I remember saying, “Never again!” I was sick the entire week leading up to the race and by mile 10 I wanted to die. The last 3.1 miles I spent playing mind games with myself and I blasted the song, “I’m a Survivor”, by Destiny’s Child through my headphones. I had to tell myself and convince myself that I was in fact a survivor, and that I was going to make it. Shortly after finishing, when I was refueled and I started recovering, the runners high hit me. Holy shit?! I just ran a half marathon! It was at that moment that I forgot about the pain, the suffering and the push that it took to get me to the finish. I had never felt so accomplished in the realm of fitness in my entire life; a goal I never thought possible or imaginable had just turned into a reality and achievement. I couldn’t wait to keep signing up for races, and that’s exactly what I did. I started running 5ks, 10ks, mud runs and I ran two more half marathons the following year.
Once I got pregnant running wasn’t something I felt comfortable continuing. I’m not sure why, but it just didn’t feel right, physically or mentally. I did everything else, but I didn’t run. So trying to regain my pace and distance has been a challenge, especially seeing as almost all my runs consist of pushing a stroller with an over 24lb kid! I started running again last spring, but I didn’t truly feel ready to race again until the fall when I did two 5ks. It felt so good to be back at the starting line, only this time with my daughter in tow.
This winter was tough to run. While I’ll usually run in cold and snow, I wasn’t about to take any chances running with my baby girl with the 100+ inches of snow that covered the ground – literally! We did a lot of hikes, but no runs. (I’m not a fan of the treadmill.) As much as I love winter, snow and the sports that come along with it, by March 1st I was feeling ready to see winter melt into spring so I could hit the pavement again.
Last week I finally threw on my running sneaks and headed outside. I did one 3 mile run, I felt great and decided to sign up for a 5k a friend of mine was doing. The two 5k’s I ran last fall were both pushing my daughter in her stroller, but this time, I just wanted to get out there by myself. I didn’t want to think about anything else other than my feet hitting the pavement, my heart pounding in my chest and getting lost in my love for running. I finished with a time of 31:05, exactly 10 minute miles. I thought to myself, “If only I didn’t take 30 seconds at the water stop I would have broken 10 minute miles.”
Because I didn’t run all winter, I was really happy with my time, even if it wasn’t nearly as fast I once was a couple of years ago. I know I can get back to where I was before. Maybe even stronger and faster, who knows. I’m so happy that my first 5k of the season was a successful one, and that it left me on the same runners high that I remember so fondly from past races. In fact, I felt so awesome for the entire day yesterday there was pretty much nothing that could have taken me down, and I can’t wait for the my next race!
Pictures compliments of my hubby & our Nikon. It was like having my own professional photographer along the course! 🙂
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