What's stopping you from going out and achieving? I have been asking myself this for sometime now. Just because I'm married finished my degree and have a beautiful baby/toddler doesn't mean I'm done, I still need to keep moving forward working on me, bettering myself.
Sometimes the only one getting in your way is you! So I decided to challenge myself.
My friend suggested we run a 5km race. So my sister husband and I started training for that a few months ago but we soon realised yes it was a little tough but we needed a bigger challenge so decided to go for the 10km race. I haven't run ( in a race) really since aged 12 so fast forward that many years and training to run 10km hmmm. I'd been practicing on the treadmill every chance that I got but hadn't completed more than 7k all in one go. We hadn't told anyone that we were doing the race but a few days before a family member laughed when we said we were doing it they didn't think I could do it!! This made me even more determined to finish that dang race even if I had to crawl, hobble or be dragged across that finish line. Race day came and I was a bundle of nerves it was a beautiful day but couldn't stop thinking have I bitten off more than I could chew? 2.5 km in I got really bad shin splints and had to start walking. At that point every step I took was painful bearable but painful. My husband was nice enough to stick with me the whole way round the 10k course. At 8km I finally felt exhausted. All the upbeat songs on my playlist did little or nothing to boost my morale. I was tired, sweaty in pain and I just wanted to quit. I slowed to a snails pace and my husband was encouraging me on I think I told him to shut up or some words to that effect but he still kept telling me to push on. We got to the 9k mark and what faced us was the mother of all hills (Avenham Park hill) It felt like it went on up into the heavens at this point. I walked nearly crawled halfway and I groaned and yelled "I can't do it" I was done my legs hurt like hell and I didn't want to walk another step. I had 2 choices quit and try again maybe or finish and never have to do it again. That last 900 meters was the longest of my life and I hobbled my way to the Finish line with a time of 1 hour 25 mins and 59 seconds. I had aimed to do it in under an hour. To say I'm proud is an understatement I pushed my body to the limit and was able to Finish that race. I love that saying "Be stronger than you ever imagined"
We never know what we are capable of until we try and even though it took my legs a week to recover and I absolutely hate running outdoors with a passion I think I'm going to do it again but try beat my time!!
