Guyyyysssssss! I need help deciding something! So, I thought I’d bring it to you all, the people who know me the best and love me the most random strangers who have almost no investment in my real life. Neutrality is a blessing, right?
Here’s the situation (or sitch, as kids these days totally say): my husband and dear friend have agreed to run/walk a 5k with me in the spring. I’m really excited about it, and not just because I’ve come to love running races; I’m also pumped that my husband has come to enjoy walking and that my friend has set an awesome lifestyle goal. (In my most private moments, I indulge in the idea that I was the driving force in both of their fitness revolutions… but please don’t encourage that sort of megalomaniacal thinking.)
Anycrap, I’m totally down with the clown to run this with them. But… and here’s the problem!… the race we’ve chosen also features a 10k. More specifically, “the largest 10k in Minnesota.” And though I’m still in shock that I finished the 10k last fall –nonetheless at such a great (first-timer) pace– I’m tempted to sign up for the 10k instead of the 5k. My husband and friend surely wouldn’t mind, as the races are run nearly simultaneously (and I wouldn’t have actually run with them, anyway, because our paces are all wildly different), but I’m scared I won’t be able to do it. I’m scared that indoor training on a treadmill will not prepare me for the realities of a 6.2-mile road race. I’m scared that I won’t find the proper time to devote to such an endeavor.
Mostly, I’m terrified that I won’t be able to meet or exceed my 2011 10k time. And that would absolutely deflate me. I am most competitive with myself and losing is the worst feeling in the world.
Ah, but winning… winning is the best feeling in the world. Running is one of the only aspects my life that I allow myself to be proud of; I still choke up sometimes when talking about that 10k last fall. I think about how I felt to cross the finish line, and about how race training got me into the best shape of my entire life (which did not go unnoticed by my husband, FYI. TMI. Yep.) and I think about how good it would feel to kick another 10k’s ass this spring… and I sort of want to do it.
But I’m weak and scared and indecisive.
That’s where you come in.
Do you have a running group that you can join? We have a group like this in the city I live in that you can train with to run, jog or walk to build up stamina and train for marathons. Might be worth checking into to get out of the gym every so often and hit the road with a group or form a buddy type running relationship. If not, see if your gym will let you post and start your own running group. Good Luck:)
I voted for the 10K, but I’d like to amend my vote to say, only if you think you’ll be able to get in at least some runs outside…I can’t imagine training 100% on a treadmill for that length of race. Good luck with your decision!
See, that’s my worry! Treadmill running is nice in moderation because it helps me keep a constant pace. But in all other aspects, it blows. Aiyeeee!
Life is hard, and junk.
I didn’t run for two week and threw down a 5K in 34 mins the other night indoors. Not bragging or anything, but the point is, once you’re in shape, you can do it. You were obviously in good enough shape to nail the 10K a while back. It shouldn’t take much to do it again.
That said, I’m waffling about a 10K in Fargo in May. Really want to … but a full hour of just running? There better be a soccer ball involved.
You’re such a jerk! “You can and should totally do it. But I’m not sure if I will…” Hehehe.
34 minutes, man?! Hot damn, I was feeling all good about myself until YOU came along. Although I suppose you are a boy with more muscle tone than me. Plus, much of my internal energy goes to fuel my simmering rage, so there’s THAT.
No brainer Heather. My goal is to be able to RUN an entire 5K at some time in my life. Currently I walk 1/2 mile run 1/2 mile walk 1/2 mile run 1/2 mile. Very sometimes I will almost run a whole mile. If I could do what you can do I would run ‘em all. I’m 41 but I know one day I’ll be there. GO. FOR. IT.
A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. – William Shedd
Go for it.
Wow. That was the nicest way I’ve ever been “served.”
I really can’t argue with such poetic logic… as much as I’d like to.
Run it. Anything worth doing involves a risk. Risk add excitement. Excitement adds to a fun life. Why else are we here?
DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!
This coming from the friend who is TERRIFIED to run the 5K…
I say KICK BUTT and TAKE NAMES. Go for it! You’ll be proud of yourself for making the attempt, conversely, I suspect if you stick with the 5K you’ll wind up always wondering “what if”. I love running (despite repeated shin splints) and the high of that experience makes pulling off longer distances easier than we think. 5K is nuthin! You go girl!
Honestly Heather I wasn’t sure where I would go with my vote until I got near the end. You had me at: “I still choke up sometimes when talking about that 10k last fall. I think about how I felt to cross the finish line.”
I think you have your answer there, girl. It isn’t about HOW WELL you do it or what your final time is. It’s that you DO IT AT ALL. Go for it because otherwise you will never know how great it feels to cross THAT finish line.
Good luck to you!
I desperately wanted to vote for 90210 reruns…. can you watch while you train? You are going to nail this – and kudos to you for even being able to run, something I still can’t do!