My Ultimate Challenge: 13.1 Here I Come!

Finishing 2 miles - a victory in 2016.

13.1 miles...

That's 68,640 feet - a little over two 10K (6.1 miles) races combined and - for me - an estimated two hours of running. I've not yet trekked for more than an hour and half on the pavement - but the essence of challenging one's self is setting out to accomplish a goal that once seemed impossible or impassible.

Every time the cat gets out of the bag and people find out that I'm a runner, they automatically ask if I run marathons, assuming that anyone who runs any distance pines to cover TWICE the half marathon mileage for a total of 26.2 miles. That would take the average runner 4-5 hours if they've had intense and regular training for several months before the big race, as "professionals" finish within a little over 2 hours.

When I began my running journey in April/May 2015, I had no long-term goals or interests to invest so much time in the sport. Four years later, with dozens of races and long treks under my belt, I questioned my ability to successfully train for a half marathon. I finally asked myself "Well, if you CAN physically do it, why not!!!"

There are a slew of relaxing hobbies and recreational activities to engage in - like gardening, reading, sewing, photography, golf, building cars, fishing (to name a few),  which don't really require a competitive level of enjoyment. Most hobbies simply serve as a means to "zone out" and be creative to feel relaxed in one's environment and something to take them away from the real world. We all need that!

For me, running is all of the above - a place to zone out, feel relaxed, unleashed, liberated and free of the day-to-day stress in life. As with any other "hobby" I enjoy growing with the sport and learning new things, taking on new paths and discovering ways that enable me to run longer distances and not "hit the wall" as us runners say.

A prime example - I used to challenge myself with books. An avid reader, I would try to tackle genres I'd never been interested in, such as memoirs or biographies. I tried to read different styles of writing and get through HUGE books that took me a few months to finish (it was quite an accomplishment when I was finally on the last page!). My goal was simply to expose myself to as many different types of literature as possible, including magazines and newspapers with complex language I wasn't accustomed to mentally processing.

The difference between running and reading is that so many people have witnessed me running and "challenging" myself, as opposed to reading, which I do mostly in a private space.
When I shared my running ventures with others years ago, they would ask, "Why haven't you ran a half marathon yet? You're totally ready!" (only fellow readers ask if I've thumbed through an amazing best seller or highly acclaimed piece of work, of course).

I didn't know how to respond because I simply didn't have an answer. Running was just a chill way to zone out, achieve mental therapy and challenge myself on my own terms. In a real race, you have to worry about start times, "waves" and checking in.
After I shared my first 7 and 8 mile run with my friends on social media (which I'd only accomplished in the past year), it became clear to me - slowly - that I was meant to challenge myself even harder because...well, why not!!!

Soon, I realized how I would be able to train for a half marathon and there's one word that makes ANYONE good at what they do: Commitment!!!

Without commitment, dedication and consistency, you can't carry out and achieve your goals - no matter what part of your life you're executing this value and no matter how big or small your dream may be.
I'm a complete believer that the only way to get better at anything is to keep doing it and to continue making progress until you've reach your destination. Running has taught me that in life - whether it's getting a better job, finding a better relationship and making better health choices - you have to stay committed to your progress.

Running has been one of the biggest commitments of my life. The activity hasn't gone through "phases" and it hasn't been something I just picked up when I'm bored. I've gone from being a subtle 5K warm-weather runner to banging out 6 miles in 30 degrees on a windy day (more passionate runners will have conquered rougher terrain for sure!). 

Over the past couple of years however, running - as an activity and an outlet - had transformed into something else for me. It wasn't just about getting fresh air, exercise and seeing how far I could run just "for the hell of it." The sport became the epicenter of being committed, driven and getting better results...

On one of my most recent runs - my first 9 miler ever - I was face to face with my abilities. Some of the questions I'd asked myself for years were subsequently answered.

Can I keep the same pace for over an hour?..Check... Can I concentrate on my momentum/endurance and not get bored?...Check...Can my body handle more than I've been training it to do for last four years?... Double check..

Four years later, 9 miles under my belt!

It may seem obvious that when you set the bar higher with your goals, it forces you to do things you may not want to do - to get out of your comfort zone and work harder to get results. You can no longer do the minimum or "just get by" with your routine. Maybe the reason I personally never wanted to test myself or train for a half marathon was because I didn't feel the need to challenge myself physically and I was comfortable with my mediocre mileage as a minimal runner. 

Another lesson running has taught me is that graduating to better and stronger version of yourself takes a lot of patience, tolerance and discipline. The old saying is true -- that "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day."  Come on - I don't know ANYTHING of monstrous proportions that's built in one day - let alone one week or one month!

When I first conquered a 7 mile run in June 2018, I truly felt like I'd collapse if I had to push myself one more mile. My New Year's resolution in January 2019 was to run 8 miles by the summer. One thing I didn't count on was getting to my destination -- albeit SLOWLY!!!  Again, like anything you strive to accomplish in life, you can't force or rush your goals.
In between working out the mechanics and attempting different methods to achieve your goals, there are so many baby steps along the way(if you're looking for a new job, for example, you may have to tweak each resume you send out, approach each interview with a slightly different attitude, or apply to work at different industries than you originally planned).

It's those very baby steps that literally make a runner better and stronger each time. The only way I was able to conquer a 7 miler and then an 8 miler - and then subsequently a 9 miler - was to SLOW DOWN! Mechanically, running a slower pace and taking my time prevented me from burning out because suddenly, I wasn't worried about timing.
When you stop worrying about how much time it takes to accomplish something, as long as you get to the end, it enhances your experience and you harness an amazing amount of energy to keep going! Even though it took me an hour and a half to complete 9 miles - and I ran at a 10 to 11-minute mile pace instead of my usual 9-minute mile - I had no doubt about my next move.

When I learned my lesson in the running world, that it's more valuable to take your time working on getting to the goal then rushing to complete it, I made the decision -- that I am HALF MARATHON READY!

I've recently connected with a couple of women who ran half marathons - and spoke to dozens of people on social media platforms who agreed that pace saves grace! 

I've also had a few humble moments where I reflected on the beginning of my running journey when I had no real "goals." Then I think about my current mentality - an eagerness to test everything I've done to be a better runner, including my strength training, changing my diet and daily routines. I thought about all of the running and even non-running injuries and illnesses that have set me back and I thought about how much time I would need to train for something of such epic athletic proportions. 

But something will always hold you back...

There will always be a factor in the back of your mind that says: "What if I'm not ready to move forward? What if it takes everything out of me? What if I don't make it? What if I collapse in the middle of the race?"

Instead of questioning myself, I simply suffocated that voice and stopped asking "what if."

After I ran my first 9 miler on May 17th - and I didn't lose energy, stamina, endurance, wind or hit the wall - I stopped looking at half marathons taking place all over the city that I'd been researching. I stopped obsessing over training days and running schedules. I stopped looking back at the runs that disappointed me - even though they played a key role in getting better and stronger.

I started looking at half marathon routes and dates that I could commit to and I made the transition...

As of now, I am signed up to compete - against myself and my own stamina- in the NYCRuns Brooklyn Half Marathon in October. For me, it will be the ultimate testament to everything I've been accomplishing, building, pushing and struggling to succeed at over the past 4 years. The mental discipline will - in the long run - strengthen the building blocks of my future, not matter what area I'm plugging my skills into. 

With the support of so many people in my life, the anticipated discipline to run 13.1 miles of Brooklyn's tough streets, each stepping stone on the way to my first half marathon is a history-making moment. I want it to be a moment when I realize that I can do anything - and that ANYONE can do anything - with perseverance, determination and hard core commitment.

What will YOU do to make YOUR history? Whatever it is, the sweet success of achieving your goals, no matter how big or small, should be a moment embraced forever!