I did it.
I did it, I did it, I DID it, I. DID. IT.
I started running when I was 35. I did a “Couch to 5K” program. . .about 4 times before I ever ran a full 5k. While paying attention to that running schedule that later morphed into a running app, I was introduced to the idea that one should be able to run 5 kilometers in 30 minutes. Needless to say, my previous unfit-ish self did not complete 5k in 30 minutes. I was happy that it took me 39 minutes.
I have done exactly 15 minutes of internet research trying to find out why this is some sort of magic number. Here is a link suggesting running speed as a predictor of heart health. The rest of my 15 minutes unearthed only assumptions, how to achieve it and a couple of “please to back off holding all us older folks to a younger standard” articles.
Regardless of why, it is certainly a nice round milestone and I think I shall celebrate it.
One of the really interesting things about the accomplishment is I didn’t try to get there. It just happened.
I won’t say that I wasn’t trying to go faster, that would be lying. However, I didn’t set a goal, make a plan, get pissed off for not following the plan, fail at the goal, stop running, feel guilty and try again. . .my previous pattern. I just ran. I ran as much as I could. I tried to vary the distances based on time and inclination. I was also cross training with the bike and getting care from an awesome Osteopath. I’m not sure what made the difference but I do know that suddenly this fall, every run was 5 or 10 seconds faster on the kilometer than the last.
So, HOORAY! I feel very fast now. I may get faster. I may not. That all depends on what my knees have to say about all this speed. But for now, I’m enjoying it very much.
