It was not an official 10K event, but this morning I accomplished another goal in my return to health and fitness training. I completed a 10K run (6.2 miles) in 01:19:33. The actual distance based on my iPhone GPS and Pedometer Ultimate App was actually 6.365 miles, which is slightly over a 10K, but I wanted to ensure I had a full workout. Average pace for the run was 12:25 minutes per mile.
I have been training, mostly walking and running at first, for about 5 months. For the first few weeks I did about 30% or less running and about 70% of walking. My initial distances were generally 2 miles or less. Through persistence and listening to my body, over the next few months I worked up to first about a 50%-50% split of running to walking.
Once I reached this point, it slowly became easier to run more than walk. A major goal for me was to run without stopping or walking, for two miles. I accomplished this and then determined that I could possibly complete a 5K (3.1 miles) run, based on my performance improvement. Over several weeks my distance and pace gradually increased to where in February 2012 I ran in the Cowtown Marathon - 5K event. It was an incredible experience and provided a sense of accomplishment, and pride.
During the months since that 5K I have added weight training, body weight/resistance training, and more recently bicycling, to augment the running program. Today's performance has been the focus of training now for a couple of months since I learned of a 10K Wounded Warrior running event in the Irving/ Los Colinas area. It supports our wounded fighting people and reservists called to active duty since 9-11. With today's run I have reached a point in my training where I am seriously considering running in the Wounded Warrior event.
It was physically impossible for me to run 10 kilometers at a pace of 12:25 per mile, or any pace for that matter, the first time I took on the "runner" moniker and laced up the running shoes. I have learned from this experience that success and reaching goals requires a couple of crucial intangibles. The first is setting a realistic goal that provides a great opportunity for success, if one applies himself or herself. Once goals are set or defined, it is necessary to have patience and diligently work toward their being accomplished. For someone like myself, who has little patience, the process involved setting mini-goals or milestones. As each of these were accomplished, it built incentive to continue, and motivation to further success.
The one other necessity for success, is getting started. If I had never taken that first step, there would be no success. Each day I had to make a decision to run, and then I had to start. While I cannot say it was always easy or fun, it became a simple matter of placing one foot ahead of the other, once I made the first step. While I may have changed my plan for the run, because of the message my body was sending, it did not stop the run once I had started.
Please remember dear reader/friends, that what I have said here is not offered as medical advice or personal training direction, but simply my story at this time in my life. Before beginning any exercise program get professional direction from your health care provider and if necessary a qualified trainer.
