What I learned training for my first 10k
I DID IT. I trained for 6 months and I’m proud to say I successfully finished my first 10k. I’ve never considered myself a runner — and still wouldn’t. But it felt so good to accomplish my goal for this year. In the past, I’ve done a few 5k races and those were extremely challenging for me, but my friend Deanna convinced me that, with training, I could do 6.2 miles. Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot and I’d like to share more about it in case it may encourage you.
Consistency is better than perfection. I’ve said this so many times, but it’s really true. Good runners are always training. I wouldn’t have been able to run 6.2 miles without running on a consistent basis, slowly increasing my distance. Remember that your goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely). For me, it was realistic to commit to running 1x per week. Each run wasn’t perfect. In fact, some of them were terrible. There were a few instances when my husband had to work on my running day, so that meant I had to bring my kids. Do you know how hard it is to answer a million questions while pushing a toddler in a jogging stroller with another kid on a bike next to you in the Florida heat? Those runs may not have been my best, but I stayed consistent.
Walking isn’t cheating. I used to think that if I didn’t run the entire race, that it didn’t really count. I believed I even needed to run in place while grabbing water. For someone who will never be fast enough to actually win a race, that’s a pretty silly mindset. Who says you have to finish in a certain amount of time? Who says you can’t walk? The only person putting that pressure on you is YOU. Deanna introduced me to the concept of interval running and it changed the game for me. If I didn’t walk for some of the race, I would have never been able to complete it. I trained with a :45/:30 split. That’s 45 seconds of running and 30 seconds of walking on repeat until you finish. The entire 10k took me about 1:20 and somehow I ended up finishing 7th for women in my age group.
Don’t skip the fuel. Since I’m a non-runner, I didn’t really grasp the importance of fuel when you’re running such a long distance. A few weeks before the 10k, I was able to complete the full 6.2 miles, but I made a huge mistake. I didn’t drink enough water ahead of time and I didn’t eat enough before/during the run. When I got home, I felt like I had the flu. I was nauseous for most of the day and I had the chills. Deanna told me I was likely severely dehydrated and didn’t give my body the energy it really needed. I made sure I was more prepared on race day. I stayed extremely hydrated in the days leading up to it, I ate half a bagel and a banana the morning of the race, drank a pre-workout and snacked on one of these Honey Stinger energy waffles at the halfway point (3.1 miles). It gave me the boost I need to finish the race and I felt fine for the rest of the day.
Having a running partner makes it more enjoyable. You may be a solo exerciser, but running with a buddy makes a huge difference. I like to lift weights alone, but running by myself (especially for such a long distance) can get boring. Having someone next to you helps to take your mind off the challenging task at hand and they can provide some extra motivation and encouragement. I absolutely couldn’t have run that far without Deanna by my side.
It’s ok to brag on yourself. I told everyone to prepare to be sick of me when I finished the race. I’m sure some people are annoyed that I keep talking about it, but I don’t care. You should celebrate your accomplishments. I did something that I never thought I’d do, so of course I’m going to tell the world about it.
Get outside your comfort zone. As an Enneagram 3 (“The Achiever”), I tend to shy away from activities that I’m not good at. And because I’ve never been good at running, I didn’t do it much. But let me tell you: reaching a goal that’s outside of your comfort zone feels SO much sweeter! Sure, you can achieve something you’re already good at. But what about something that’s not in your wheelhouse?
I’m not going to lie, it was extremely emotional for me finishing that 6.2 miles. I’m currently at a heavier weight than I’ve been in a long time and I’ve been battling with that in my own mind. But this proved that my weight/size has absolutely nothing to do with my physical fitness. I accomplished something that I wasn’t able to achieve in a smaller body or in a younger body. And I’m so freakin’ proud of myself.
