Sharing a challenge
As much as I love researching articles and reviewing books and products for Silver & Grace, my greatest pleasure comes from sharing other women’s stories. I do this through the Graceful Women’s stories.
This is where all the joys and challenges I talk about in my posts are examined in the light of real lives of real women. So, I thought it was time I walked my own talk, and wrote about my life from the Silver & Grace focus of physical and spiritual growth.
To that end, each Friday I will posting about a physical and spiritual challenge I have committed myself to. Training for and running a half-marathon race on Sunday, May 30, 2010.
To date I have run a 5k race and two 10k races. In the second 10K, I beat my first race by a full 4 minutes. My brother, who got me racing in the first place, announced it was now time to up the ante and run a half marathon. That was in May 2008 and my goal was to run the half in May 2009.
I signed up for the race and I did train, but I didn’t allow for how much training distance you have to put in before the race. And, therefore, how far in advance you need to start.
In the end, I pushed myself too hard in training, lost motivation, and stood on the sidelines to cheer my brother on in his race.
This year, however, I ran all Winter on a treadmill. The maximum distance I have done in a single run is only 4 miles, but at least I’m not starting from scratch.
Still, it’s a big challenge I set for myself, and will require physical and spiritual discipline. But, it’s a done deal. I’m all signed up.
And just to help me stay on track, I publically posted my training schedule on the outside of my Dilbert cube office at work. I work with a tough and unforgiving crowd of wonderful hooligans. Failure means public razzing.
Sadly for them, they shall not be given the chance!
Victory, as they say, is mine.
Have your say:
Are you undertaking a particular physical, mental, or spiritual challenge this year? If so, please feel free to share your journey. We can all support each other.
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Training for a marathon is HARD! I did it back in ’98 and I started training, from scratch as you put it, in February for a marathon in June. I had a coach (I was running for Team in Training) who helped me get to a point where I successfully finished the race in 6 1/2 hours.
I clearly didn’t break any records but I can check that off my bucket list, so to speak. I wish you the best in your training – it’ll be a great accomplishment for you!
@Kool Aid – wow, a full marathon. Good for you! I’m doing the half. Not sure if I want to do a full marathon, but then again, I never envisioned me doing a half. So who knows!
Hi Eliza,
That’s quite a goal. Pretty gusty putting it on your cubicle! Best wishes!
My recent goal has been to make it more gracefully through the day. I’m taking it one day at a time.
@Lori – I love your goal. So mine is physical and yours is spiritual. Next Friday I talk about motivation. I’d love for you to share your motivation next week.