4/9/11 Breakout

Long Run Day--but had to breakout.  Riley's first soccer game was today.  I thought about leaving for my run, but realized that there was no way my kids and husband would be able to get ready for this first game without me.  I make the world go round here.  So I figured I could always do it later.  When a long run isn't done in the morning, it is near impossible to make it happen--it's too much time!!  So I did go to the gym to try.  I told Steve it would take me an hour and a half to do 8 miles.  And so I started.

I felt so good I started pushing my time up.  The fastest I have ever gone is an 8:30 (7.2 on the treadmill) pace for more than a mile.  I've gone faster for shorter time but not for  more than 800 meters.  Up I went to 7.4 on the treadmill just for fun.  An 8 min mile!  I stayed there for almost 6 miles.  A major breakthrough for me!  I was not physically able to do that 2 months ago.  I have passed through a milestone thanks to Carrie...I'm not afraid to push myself.  One of the things that she said to me has really made a difference.  She said that I need to be comfortable being uncomfortable.  Going at a faster pace is uncomfortable.  It's supposed to be!  Then the next week, a faster pace than you ran before will feel uncomfortable and the pace you ran before will feel more comfortable.  And so up you go!  This is why long distance running is 80% mental.  When you think that feeling uncomfortable means you can't do it, that is where the mental toughness comes in.  You can do it, even if it is NOT comfortable--you can do WAY more than you think!  You push through and you open up the doors to improvement.  Bingo.  Less pain, more joy...it gets better and easier and more fulfilling.  

I figured instead of a long run I will settle for a fast run to get it over with so I could get back to my family.  I left the gym literally on cloud 9.  Smiling to myself, I thought, it's amazing to feel like I have kicked that treadmill's butt today!