Race for the Goal
Believe it or not, I was a tomboy as a kid. I’m sure this comes as a shock for those of you who know how ridiculously girly I am these days. But growing up most of my friends were boys so I had to climb fences and trees with the best of them.
In spite of this I was never much of an athlete. I was the person always picked last for kick ball (and with good reason). And I hated those physical fitness tests we had to do in school because I could never finish the 1-mile run in 12 minutes. Never!
Adrenaline rushing through my body, I started the race strong. When I hit the 1-mile mark I checked my stop watch: I’d finished in 11 minutes. I smiled and kept going. But before reaching the 2-mile mark I had to take a short walk break and by the time I did reach that sign I was loosing steam. Later when I looked at my watch and saw 33 minutes had passed my heart sank. I wasn’t going to reach my goal.
Then I heard one of the cheerleaders on the sideline say, “Good job! Look you’re almost there.” I looked ahead and realized she was right. The finish line was in sight! Overjoyed, I turned into Flo Jo for a minute and blasted out the rest of the run.
So this summer when I decided to get serious about running one of the first goals I set for myself was to run for one mile without stopping and to complete that mile in 12 minutes or less. I accomplished said aim this fall, running a mile in 11 minutes. But I wondered if I would be able to maintain such a pace for a long period of time. Therefore, the goal I set for myself for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K I participated in this weekend was to finish the race in 37 minutes or less (since 3.1 – the number of miles in a 5K – times 12 would equal 37.2 minutes).
Adrenaline rushing through my body, I started the race strong. When I hit the 1-mile mark I checked my stop watch: I’d finished in 11 minutes. I smiled and kept going. But before reaching the 2-mile mark I had to take a short walk break and by the time I did reach that sign I was loosing steam. Later when I looked at my watch and saw 33 minutes had passed my heart sank. I wasn’t going to reach my goal.
Then I heard one of the cheerleaders on the sideline say, “Good job! Look you’re almost there.” I looked ahead and realized she was right. The finish line was in sight! Overjoyed, I turned into Flo Jo for a minute and blasted out the rest of the run.
I am very happy to report that I finished the course in 34 minutes and 58 seconds! And I only took three 1-minute walk breaks.
It’s so crazy to think that there was a time when I thought I couldn’t run at all and then thought I could only run for a minute at a time. Now I can run more than a mile without stopping and I can do so in less than 12 minutes.
I wonder if I can still climb trees?
If you enjoyed this post check out Running Away From Can’t, my post on how running a 5K has made me a bolder writer.
If you enjoyed this post check out Running Away From Can’t, my post on how running a 5K has made me a bolder writer.
This is amazing!! Good job!! You blew right by me! Running is such a great feeling and meeting any goal we set for ourselves is such an achievement. Congrats!!
You are truly an inspiration to me. I plan on running more. I have always wanted to run and I am getting stronger and stronger
Thanks so much, Jennifer. It’s been great to meet fellow runners like yourself who understand why this is so important.
Denescia, I am so proud of you and I can’t wait to run with you again and see you get stronger.
You ladies, rock!
Congrats! My goal this past summer was to swim a mile so I know how you feel! Race for the Cure is the only 5K I particpate in and I am so glad you reached a personal goal and helped a cause!
Great job, Jane. I feel a triathlon coming on…
i know this is about running but i would light a pair of those shoes. not for running of course. just to wear.