Never Giving Up From A Runner’s Perspective

 

In 6 weeks I will be running my first half marathon, I am ecstatic about finishing the race and having another running accomplishment to look back it. By far this year has been the year of running for me as I have signed up and finished several races from 3 to 20 kilometers. After taking a year off of running last year for personal reasons, I would never have imagined that this year would be my most successful year when it comes to personal bests for times and distances completed. If someone would of told me two years ago that I would be preparing for a half marathon, I literally would have laughed out loud and told them that the best I can do is a 10K race. However, we are all in control of our own destiny and as I once heard dreams only end when you stop dreaming, so I made a pact with myself in January that I would make 2013 my running year, so I made my running play list, laced up the sneakers and just started running trying emulate Forest Gump and keep on running until I could not run anymore!

I was so eager to sign up for my first race that I did a 3K tune up race in the middle of winter! I woke up all energized in January and drove across town, however Google maps took me the wrong way for a portion of the drive. I made it to the start line seconds before they started the race! Imagine me starting the run pinning my number on and getting my Ipod ready for this very short race, but even though the beginning was hectic I got my groove back and was flying through the course. Although I did not drink any water or stretch I was still do just fine, until I got a cramp in my leg with 1K left and I had to hobble to the finish line while trying to maintain a smile on my face at the finish. After that run I thought to myself that maybe I was not cut out for running and should be happy that at least I was able to finish one run for the season, then I had to internally slap myself and get my mind right again to keep motivated.

Well for me I needed something to put in my sights in order to dust myself off from what I felt was a failure and get my Nikes back on the road to improve. There was no way that I was going to sit back and let the season pass me without getting at least one 10K completed for the 2013 year. With that said I signed up for one in April and began finding free time to train both physically and mentally. Honestly it is more mental than physical, because if you start thinking of reasons to stop, then there is huge possibility that you will no longer think you are the little engine that could and stop! If I was to tell you all the Jedi mind tricks or lies that I have told myself to push further, I might need to write another blog entry. For example, for any runner reading this, have you ever told yourself that you were only going to go to the next hydrant or light post, but really knew that once you got there that you were just going to say just another one? I actually got to a point where I knew the exact amount of hydrants that were on my route! Sorry for the quick sidetrack, yet I just wanted to re-enforce how important getting your mind right is or running any race.

The day of my 10K in April, I knew what I did wrong for my initial race, so this time I fixed all the no nos by arriving to the race early and stretching. This was my first race at this distance in quite some time, but told myself to run my own race and everything will be fine. You know when you have trained correctly when you feel like you are on autopilot and just enjoying the sites until the race is over. I was in that grove that when finished the race I knew that I should of put on the after burners and finished the race by sprinting it out…okay maybe not sprint, but at least finish with a quicker pace! Once I saw my time I knew that I was right to think that I could do several runs this year, so I signed up for other races. I am not going to lie that I had doubts that I could ever sign up for the elusive half marathon, but when the competitive side of me comes out, the personal challenge had been triggered. Before I would decide to do a half I saw that there was a 20K tune up race and it was going to be the race that would determine if this year was the year for Danion (Yes I am talking in the third person) to conquer his goal. Funny thing is that the 20K is only like 1 and a bit kilometers off from the half! I drove my car and designed a route that was close and spent many weekends and nights training to accomplish it. There were many practice runs that I made it far in the route, but I was having difficulty completing the entire course. I got a bigger water bottle to help me beat this distance, since it felt like I was trying to run up Mt. Everest. One morning I kissed my wife and told myself that this was the day I did not let this distance beat me, so I went off on my journey and when I could see the finish line I was beaming! My legs were saying something different, but damn it I knew that I was capable of finishing that distance. With the 20K in my rearview mirror, I got home and signed up for the half!

Last year I became more of a cheerleader to my friends that racked up some major foot mileage and I vowed to get my running bucket list completed. The half has always been a dream of mine to conquer, so I have updated the play list, made sure the shoes feel comfy and keep practicing even when I feel like just planting myself in front of the TV!

On October 20, 2013 I will be able to say that I finished 21.1 kilometers and will feel mighty fine! Wish me luck and I hope you never start dreaming! Running was my thing, but I would like to hear of things that you have done to impress yourself.