Where to begin? I think I will start on a good note because, as any teacher knows, it's always best to lead with the positive. I am so happy to be back! As beautiful as Charleston is, it is still not my home. Now that I am here I feel so surrounded by love :) As cheesy as that sounds, it is true. I have been welcomed back with open arms by my family and friends! While I was in Charleston, I may have made more friends back here than I did there. Ha! I am so glad that I have this time to spend with my family and my friends, old and new.
I have been accepted by the group of Foot Rx like crazy! Let me tell you something, runners are some of the nicest and most supportive people I know. (It could be all the "feel-good" endorphins) I honestly don't really feel worthy of being in their group considering how fast most of them are...but they have NEVER made me feel this way. That is just my own insecurities.
The race today was not my best...but I suppose they can't all be or a "PR" wouldn't be special, huh? I ran 30 seconds slower than the 5k 2 weeks ago. I could sit here and make excuses for myself all day long, but I'm not going to. The truth is I was just not feeling it and could not get going. I am disappointed in myself and mad at my body for not being faster. I want to go fast!(Thanks, Ricky Bobby) Is it my VO2 Max? Am I just not cut out to be a fast runner? I don't know. I would like to blame it on my physical make-up but I don't think that is the problem. I really don't want to continue at this hard-racing, speed-workouting, competitive pace if I'm not going to get any better. If this as good as it gets then I just need to go back to recreational running. Although, I do enjoy a good half-marathon. I think I like those much better than 5Ks, as odd as it sounds.
I will give it some time. As some awesome people reminded me today, I just got back and have started training hard, which is hard on the muscles. I need to let my legs adjust to what I'm putting them through. In the words of marathoner Kara Goucher from her fifth-place finish at Boston, Today was "Not my day, but that's okay". Sometimes we all just need to learn how to let certain things go and I'm working on that for today. As for the future, I'm looking forward to running my first 4-mile race next weekend. It is THE HOPE 4 to benefit the American Cancer Society at Tusculum College. I love running for a good cause and at this point I can't think of a better one.
“Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal—a commitment to excellence—that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”
— Mario Andretti
