Fitness is not a 26.2 mile journey. MUCH Longer.

     Four years ago this month, I ran my first race beyond a 5k.  It was the Twin Cities 10-mile run in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  I remember it was a great cold October morning.  By the time I arrived at the Metrodome for the start, the temperature was just above 40 degrees.  I didn't layer, knowing I'd warm up from running, and wore just shorts and a regular running shirt.  No hat, gloves, sleeves, nothing else except my Polar chest strap and watch.  My goal was an 8:30/mile pace with a secondary goal of finishing under 85 minutes, just a tad faster.  I was way in the back of the pack at the start and still chilly after a very brief warm-up, still a greenhorn to the running world, having only seriously attempting to take up the sport a few months prior.  Throughout the race I kept a constant eye on my heart rate which seemed to hold steady at 180.  But I didn't feel like I was maxing out, so I decided (yes, probably against better judgment) to hold my pace as long as I could.  I ended up crossing the finish line in 1:20:35 (faster if I hadn't taken that ONE restroom break!), euphoric that not only did I shatter both goals but nearly averaged eight minutes a mile, an unheard of pace for me at the time.  

     Fast forward to October 2010, warming up for a track workout on a similarly cool day in San Antonio.  My workout began with a 2-mile warm-up run.  As I jogged around the track, three older women were walking around it together.  One of them yelled as I approached, "You make it look so easy!"

     I replied, "Well it sure isn't!"

As I continued to run, I checked my Garmin for my pace and heart rate.  My pace was 7:40 and my heart rate was just over 150.  I had to smile a little.  Four years ago, that pace may have literally killed me.  Now, it's a warm-up for a planned track workout of six 800-meter runs as close to 3:00 as possible.  

     I know my pace is far from world class, or even city class.  And I haven't run non-stop consistently over the last four years, because I may have been able to get even faster.  But if you told me four years ago that I'd be training for a sub-7 pace in 2010, I may have looked at you with optimistic excitement but thinking you're a bit crazy.  I understand not everybody starts running to see how fast they can go.  A lot of people do it just to get in a little better shape.  But whatever type of runner you are, I hope you take away from this blog entry that you just have to stick with it.  

     

     There really is no quick fix.  No magic pill to get you in better shape without putting in the hard work.  But it is such a gratifying feeling, not only to know that you've stuck with it, but that you know you're reaping the rewards.  Who knows?  I may have reached my peak already.  I don't think I have, so I'm going to continue pushing.  But I'm not going to try to run 5-minute miles tomorrow.  It's a long, slow progression.  One that I've finally learned to appreciate.  

Keep on runnin!