It’s hard to believe, especially after a run like this morning. What am I talking about you ask? Today marks the fourth anniversary of a life changing day in my life.
Four years ago, on a sunny weekday afternoon, Pastor Barry and I hit the track at Robert E. Lee High School. We ran 200 meters and walked the second 200 meters for 400 meters or one lap. We did that three more times. In the space of twenty minutes, I completed 1 mile of run and walking. Not very inspiring at the time.
Today I was able to get out on my running anniversary and turn in a 7.35 mile run in just over 68 minutes – quite the improvement. Over the last year, I have maintained my weight. I probably weigh about the same tonight as I did a year ago. As I continue training for Richmond, I’m sure some more pounds will come off. They seem to start melting away as the miles increase.
It’s been an amazing transformation. Those of you who didn’t know me four years ago would find it hard to believe that I weighed 265 pounds – and that I would start running when I hated it. At least I thought I hated it. Now I hate when I can’t get out or run too slow.
I actually believe that everyone could run. That’s a pretty bold statement. The main problem is that most won’t run slow or long enough to see that it’s really true. All of us have a runner, deep down inside of us.
In the running department this week, it has been a very good week. A strong 13.5 mile effort on Monday, followed up by a 5-1/2 mile run at an 8:30 pace Tuesday, followed by two strong 7 + milers (an 8:36 pace on Thursday and today’s quick 8:26.) I’m hoping to build on these strong runs. On Monday, I’m scheduled to do a 15 miler – again I’m shooting for a 9:00/mile for the entire distance. Which is the pace that I want to run Richmond, if not a bit faster.
In other running news, I set a new personal distance mark for running/walking in one month – I completed 152 miles breaking the former record of 149 that was set last September. If my training goes well this next month, I have a chance to break it again, because there will be some long distance runs by the end of the month – probably somewhere in the 18 to 19 to 20 mile range. That feels weird even typing that. I still can’t get my mind around running that distance and yet 12 weeks from now I will do 26.2. And to thing 4 years ago I wouldn’t have even dreamed of running 5. I remember thinking, what crazy person would ever run further than 5 miles? (Yep, you’re looking at him!)
Well, that’s about enough rambling for the night. Time to get to bed and get ready to lead worship and preach in the morning.
Pressing On!