I had run a 5K a couple of weeks ago, but haven't run since then due to sickness, kids, rain, schedules, and excuses. I wasn't sure how out of shape I was going to be, so I decided when I started the race that I was going to run at a comfortable pace. I wasn't going to try and push myself too hard or set any new records. I joked with some friends I saw at the starting line that I would be bringing up the rear.
The race started like any other. I chose my pace, started jogging, and tried to ignore the hoard of people passing me by. Usually it doesn't bother me that I'm a slow jogger. I usually take pride in the fact that I can run a 5K without stopping. Today I was getting a little frustrated though. I've been running off and on for a few years and although I have gotten faster, I still end up in the back with those who are walk/running the race.
Today there was a particular mother/daughter pair who was alternating between walking and running, causing me to engage in a game of leap frog with them. We stayed in about the same relative area for most of the race. They would run ahead of me, get tired, then start walking until they fell behind me. Then they would take off running again.
About half way through the race I managed to get ahead of them while they were walking. I increased my speed to try and get a little distance from them.
A bit later the daughter caught up to me.
We passed someone walking. There were people ahead of us who were walking that I hadn't caught up to yet. All my positive thinking was starting to go out the window. I usually take pride in the fact that I'm a chubby jogger, but today it was starting to get to me. I started to wish that one day I'd be able to pass people who were actually jogging. The only people I was able to pass now were people walking.
A little while later the mother part of the duo caught up. We ran at the same pace for a bit with them just behind me. As we were turning a corner she unexpectedly called out to me.
"You are our motivation." She said, "Our goal is to try and keep up with you."
I laughed. No wonder I couldn't get ahead of them. Here I was feeling sorry for myself, thinking that I couldn't get ahead of these people. I didn't even consider the possibility that I might be bringing them with me. I laughed and told them that I was glad I could be of help.
My mood instantly lightened and I got a good dose of motivation. The effect was probably not what the mother was going for, but when I realized that they were trying to stay with me, it inspired me to go faster. I engaged in a little bit of healthy motivational silent self talk. "So you think you can keep up with my fat butt, do you? Let's just see." It didn't hurt that we were now running downhill. I lengthened my stride and really started enjoying my run. Ira Glass was speaking in my ear, the sun was shining, and I was running. What could be better?
I finished the race just before the mother/daughter pair. I went over to congratulate them on the race. The mother again expressed the fact that I was her motivation and thanked me. The daughter added, "We were just trying to keep up. We kept thinking, 'Is she ever going to slow down?'"
I was proud of them and proud of myself. I felt energized and happy after the run. Somehow even without even being focused on the goal, I beat my fastest 5K time. I know most people would be embarrassed by a time of 38 minutes something seconds. But despite the fact that I'm in a race with hundreds of people, I'm only really racing for myself.
A bit later the daughter caught up to me.
We passed someone walking. There were people ahead of us who were walking that I hadn't caught up to yet. All my positive thinking was starting to go out the window. I usually take pride in the fact that I'm a chubby jogger, but today it was starting to get to me. I started to wish that one day I'd be able to pass people who were actually jogging. The only people I was able to pass now were people walking.
A little while later the mother part of the duo caught up. We ran at the same pace for a bit with them just behind me. As we were turning a corner she unexpectedly called out to me.
"You are our motivation." She said, "Our goal is to try and keep up with you."
I laughed. No wonder I couldn't get ahead of them. Here I was feeling sorry for myself, thinking that I couldn't get ahead of these people. I didn't even consider the possibility that I might be bringing them with me. I laughed and told them that I was glad I could be of help.
My mood instantly lightened and I got a good dose of motivation. The effect was probably not what the mother was going for, but when I realized that they were trying to stay with me, it inspired me to go faster. I engaged in a little bit of healthy motivational silent self talk. "So you think you can keep up with my fat butt, do you? Let's just see." It didn't hurt that we were now running downhill. I lengthened my stride and really started enjoying my run. Ira Glass was speaking in my ear, the sun was shining, and I was running. What could be better?
I finished the race just before the mother/daughter pair. I went over to congratulate them on the race. The mother again expressed the fact that I was her motivation and thanked me. The daughter added, "We were just trying to keep up. We kept thinking, 'Is she ever going to slow down?'"
I was proud of them and proud of myself. I felt energized and happy after the run. Somehow even without even being focused on the goal, I beat my fastest 5K time. I know most people would be embarrassed by a time of 38 minutes something seconds. But despite the fact that I'm in a race with hundreds of people, I'm only really racing for myself.
