thesnotrocket

[thesnotrocket]

Running thoughts: week 10

Today I ran a one-mile time trial.

By the time I was done, I felt like I’d been hit in the face with a brick.

You know that feeling? When you run so hard your face actually hurts? It probably comes from clenching my jaw while trying not. to. think. about how my lungs might explode out of my chest and my legs might melt into puddles of lactic acid.

But I did it nonetheless, and I did a fairly good job. I got a few new personal records, including the fastest mile I’ve ever run (7:28) and the fastest 1k I’ve run (4:33).

Both of these are numbers I’m exceptionally proud of.

I’ve been working my way through a running training plan. It’s the first time I’ve ever actually stuck to the training plan (or at least, mostly stuck to the training plan). And while it might not seem surprising...I’m amazed at how much faster I’ve gotten over the last 8 weeks. I’m faster now than ever before.

I know this isn’t rocket science. Consistency and commitment is what makes you better over time. I get better at running because I’m doing a bunch of speed work a few times a week, not just running 5k three times a week and calling it good enough.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot in my life recently, especially since the last three months I feel like the only thing I’ve done consistently is mess up. To be totally honest, I haven’t been doing that well. The last three months have been a hole without a ladder; I’ve been stuck at the bottom, the soft earthen walls making it impossible to climb out into daylight and normalcy. Winter is always hard for me emotionally, but this one was especially bad for a few reasons, including injuring myself, a car accident in the family, and other dramas.

I’ve been lacking consistency in my life lately. The only thing that has been consistent is my running. And the results are obvious: I’ve PR’d multiple times this week.

Frankly, the only person who can make me more consistent is me. I’m an adult. I’m the one who is ultimately responsible for me. So if I need consistency, or if I need structure, or if I need anything for that matter, I have to figure out how to get it. Nobody is going to deliver what I need on a silver platter.

The last three months have been a struggle, yes. But I’ve learned my lessons, and I need to move on from them.

The good news though is that as the days are getting longer (and as I finish some projects for work), I can feel myself lurching my way awkwardly out of this stupid hole. As I’m rebuilding myself and pulling myself out, I’m going to go back to focusing on consistency in everything I do.