A week and a half ago I ran over 13 miles and completed the Royal Parks Half marathon in London. It was a fantastic feeling to cross the finish line; to have achieved what you've been working towards in such a measurable way. The atmosphere on the day and the complete strangers cheering their support really does push you on. I had visions of literally collapsing in a heap once it was over but despite my legs turning to jelly once they stopped moving I was bursting with energy inside.
It was probably nearly 10 years ago that I first attempted running outdoors. I remember a friend and I rocking up to the Sweaty Betty running club in Kensington and struggling to breath after the first ten minutes jogging round Hyde park. I remember 5k feeling like a really long way when I completed my first race and I was probably just as proud of myself back then for what was at the time a huge personal achievement.
Anyone that knows me knows I certainly haven't spent the last 10 years running. After a few 5k's here and there I pretty much left it that. That felt like my limit. Even just last year running a half marathon was definitely one of those things other people did. Yet somehow, chatting to my 2 friends in our holiday cottage by the sea after the 3 mile run we'd just done together, running over 4 times that distance seemed perfectly achievable! And it was that simple really. The decision had been made and just like the supporters on race day we pushed each other on. We started the training and didn't look back.
It seems I sometimes don't know my limits at all.
I think I often have a habit of underestimating how far I can push myself, of what I'm able to to if I really want to. I'd get so far, push myself slightly out of my comfort zone and then take that initial accomplishment and stop there. You could say that's still more than a lot of people do. I definitely try new things, dabble in new hobbies, try out a different approach. It's keeping going that's harder for me; taking that next jump and leaping out of that new found comfort zone. Perhaps's it's the difference between stretching your limits and not thinking of them as limits at all.
This year has certainly got me closer to that. Things that once seemed like nice ideas or daydreams are feeling more and more real; more concrete; more reachable. In the same way that the 3 of us definitively deciding to sign up for the half marathon suddenly had me standing at a start line I never thought I'd be at, truly deciding to make changes in my life has opened up so many new options. I'm suddenly at the start line of a path so far away from the one I was on a year ago. Perhaps I'm learning to leap after all?
Oh and in case you think I'm getting lazy or falling into those old habits we've signed up for the full 26 miles and will be taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon next May. Stay tuned for training progress :)
