Surprise...

I've learned so much about myself since becoming a runner. I know I've talked about this before. I started running because my brother told me I should try a half marathon. I'd been doing sprint distance triathlons so moving into half marathons was a new challenge. I was hooked, right from that first half. It was hard and I had to dig deeper than I'd had to to finish any triathlon, but the finish line felt amazing. Tris were my entrance into being active but with the swim distance only about 400 meters, the bike ride about 10 miles and the run a 5K, it wasn't my limit. Now, I don't want to down-play anyone finishing any race, no matter the distance. I had my experience with my first race. It was short and I was slow. But, if I was being honest, sprint distance tris were not my greatest challenge and I was starting to want to push myself. The year of my first half, I watched the finish line at the St. George Marathon. I remember thinking, "I could do this." And, the next year I did.

Anyway, since I transitioned from triathlete to runner, I have learned so much about me. I didn't know I was physically strong. I think I had an idea that I was mentally strong. Up until that point, I had had some experiences with mental toughness, just not on the level I have since I've been a runner. I remember first running and my only goal was to finish my run, whatever the distance, or the race. Remember, I didn't start as a 5 or 10K runner. I jumped right into distance running. As I started to get better and stronger, I started to push myself more and more. It became about finishing better than last time, being a stronger me. With that drive came new challenges. I have been to the brink of exhaustion, to the point where I honestly didn't know if I could go one step further, let alone finish those last miles. Every time I've been to that point, to the place I'm sure was "the end," I have discovered I can dig deeper.

You'd think that after running for as long as I have been, that I have found my limits. Still no. And I discovered that I still haven't last Saturday. We were running 21 miles on a tough course. Lots of hills, some short and steep, some long and grueling. I really should have been dying, my husband was. I had subbed TRX the day before and it was a great class. We had both worked really hard but it's been weeks since my husband has been to a TRX class on Friday and then done a long run on Saturday. He just wasn't used to it. I just kept pushing along. Time after time I found myself slowing pulling ahead of him, putting more and more distance between us. When I'd realize it, I'd slow down and run with him again. I really did keep thinking I was going to finally feel the distance, that the work was going to catch up to me. It just never did. I felt great when we were done and I had a lot left in the tank when we got home. That depth just amazes me. Not because I'm amazing but because the human body is. Just wow!

Now, I'm not sharing this with you to "toot my own horn". I'm sharing this so that you can see that if someone who has been running for years can continue to find depth not limitations, you can too. Dig a little deeper. Strive a little farther. Push a little harder. There is power in you yet that you haven't uncovered. Stay the course. Carry on!

I'm really looking forward to the marathon that is only four and a half weeks away! From what I hear, it tends to be faster than the St. George Marathon so I'm really hoping for a PR. What I really want is a Boston Qualifying finish. Utah Valley is kind of cool. If you have a Boston Qualifier when you register, you get a discount. If you get a Boston Qualifier at Utah Valley, they have a shirt for you. All of that is cool but I really want one for me. I know I have one in me and I'm really hoping this is it.

Thanks for checking back in with me. I hope you are moving toward your goals. If you have questions or comments, let me know. Come back soon!