20 minute run

Run 22: Friday 5/22/09
Weather: high 60's and sunny

Today was day 3 of the week 5 plan, and the one that I've been most anxious about. Whoever wrote this plan seemed to be under the impression that I could pull a full 20 minute run (no walking) out of nowhere. Okay, well, not exactly nowhere, but it seemed like a big jump from my 3 and 5 minute runs last week.

I was nervous, most especially the night before and all day leading up to my planned run. How silly to feel nervous about running at the park. No pressure, no demands, just me and the trail. And yet, I so wanted to meet and pass this challenge, that I feared letting myself down if I couldn't muster the strength to continue for so long.

Let me just say that I DID IT!!!
Yes folks, I successfully ran for 20 minutes straight without stopping. It was a slow run, mostly affected the heat! Being in full sun, it really was too warm for such a challenging undertaking. I was tired, hungry, and doing my best not to overheat. I moved to the outside of the path, in partially shaded areas, whenever possible.

I wanted to stop by the time 5 minutes had passed. I kept going.
I wanted to stop after 17 minutes, when the heat really started getting to me and my ears were pounding and dizziness was setting in. I kept going. I took it one step at a time, one section at a time. I can make to just past that bend. I can make it past the steps. I can make it a little further.

I was so hot and tired at the end of this, that I think it smothered some of my excitement. But let there be no doubt, I am exceedingly proud of myself. My confidence as a runner grows with every new milestone. I have tackled frightening prospects of duration and repetition, and I have stuck with it. I am not only a runner in the making, I am a runner now.