Seven Miles Started With One Step

Last Friday morning I went for the longest run on my 10K training plan - 7 miles.   I was able to complete it in my neighborhood by adding lots of jogs in and out of cul de sacs to the route.  :)  Everything went pretty smoothly, but I did have to stop for a two minute walk break around mile 5.  I just had to and I reminded myself that Jeff Galloway (whose plan I'm following) encourages walking to finish strong.  Plus, this was 7 miles...a whole mile more than my race and than I'd ever run before.  

There were a few moments that I noticed I was slowing down to over a  12:00 minute mile pace and I made myself pick things up a bit.  For the most part I settled around an 11:30 pace, which, for this distance, was fine with me.

The weather was warmer, about 65-70 degrees, but there was a nice breeze blowing.  I remember hating the wind in Oklahoma and nowadays I'm loving it because it cools me off nicely.  You would think it was 100 degrees out by how red my face gets.  *grin*

As I was stretching after my run I suddenly starting crying.  It was a light, still catching my breath, I-can't-believe-I-did-it cry.  For a few moments I just let out the emotion, right there on my porch.

I just ran 7 miles.  I only walked 2 minutes of the whole thing.  I wasn't the fastest one, but I was steady and I endured.

Then I gathered myself, finished stretching, messaged my friend with my long-run results and got myself ready in record time for a doctor's visit...where my weight was 4 pounds lower than my scale that morning and my BP was 102/58.  Thank you running.  :)

To sum it up, this is a day I will not forget.

If you're reading this and you think you can't do something, well ...give it a try.  I never would've dreamed I could run for one hour and twenty minutes, but I did.  It all started with a few 30-minute walks a week three years ago.  So, take that first step, because you never know how far it will take you.