The elusive sub 60 5km had been my target for lots of races in the early days but I never quite got there. There were tears and tantrums about it. Then it got further and further away until I saw it as something I just didn't have in me. And I was fine with that, I thought.
Then came a global pandemic which turned everything we all thought we knew on its head.
In a year that's been anything but, running had been a well needed consistency for me. I honestly don't know if I'd have completely fallen back in love with running the way I have, if this year had been more 'normal'.
I've enjoyed running so I've done more of it so I've got better at it, so I've enjoyed it so I've done more of it...the cycle goes on!
From the fantastic DOrunning Solidarity Sessions to pushing myself in the Wednesday Challenges and of course the weekly run and chat with Rachel, it's been a great year for running.
And as that year went on, I started to think maybe, just maybe I did have that sub 60 in me. After being so delighted with my half marathon PB in September, I knew the next job was to concentrate on the shorter distances.
By the end of November, I was determined it would be happening before 2020 was out.
I wasn't particularly expecting much from today's run in all honesty. This weekend has definitely kicked off the Christmas food and drink so I'd felt a bit groggy all day and even contemplated not going. But my weekly mileage target lingered in the back of my mind so I had a word with myself and off I went.
The first mile felt good, my legs were nice and loose from a couple of days off and the slightly warmer weather made breathing a bit easier than it has been recently.
When the first mile and then the second clocked in at low 9min mile pace, I decided I'd go for it.
Just after mile three ticked over, I got an awful attack of stitch which took some serious determination to get through, but at this point I just stayed focused on how happy I'd be to hit that target.
By the fourth mile I felt decent again and by the time mile five flashed on the screen I knew it was all but in the bag.
That's not to say I wasn't shattered. I've never ran at that pace for that long and I could seriously feel it. I pushed on through the last mile doing my normal countdown each 0.1 of a mile.
Finally I was in to that last bit where you've done 6 miles and "just" have 0.2 to go, time to push and get it done!
I couldn't quite believe it when I pressed the stop button and checked the time...00:58:37!!! Done with plenty of time to spare!
In true Kay Knowles style I had tears in my eyes as I shouted "yes" and punched the air...even the two chaps sat on a wall drinking cans of cheap larger looked at me strangely!
This has been a huge target of mine for so long and I'm so so happy to have done it!
So heading in to 2021 I need a new set of targets, which I'll be thinking about over the next week or two. One of those targets will definitely be to write entries into this blog more frequently!!
No comments:
Post a Comment