The mind is a strange thing…

I’ve been told by a number of people ‘If you can run 10miles you’ll manage to run 13.1miles’.

I hope they are right.  Yesterday I ran 10miles…for the first time in my life!!  In all honesty I probably should have done this before yesterday (1 week before my first half marathon) however if you have been reading my blog you’ll know that my ‘training’ has not been hugely consistent.

I have been struggling with distance for the last few weeks and before today the most I’d ran was 7.5miles, at a push…which was starting to worry me.

Kevin and my Brother-in-law Gary, had planned to do a 10mile route on Sunday and  when I woke at 7.30am on the morning of, I decided I should probably join them, even though my gut feeling was that I couldn’t do it. I had to try.

Although it’s still quite cold here, the sun was shining and we had the clearest sky I’d seen in a while (perfect running weather in my opinion).

We set off together at 9.00am. Mile 1 was good,  the boys were trying to pace themselves so that meant I could keep up with them, we chatted. I felt good, even though I hadn’t ran for 3 days. ..Mile 2 I started to fall back while the boys added some speed and I lost them to the bends and hills.

Miles 3 to 5 I struggled, a lot. fighting with myself to not walk.  I’m not sure why I wanted to, I wasn’t tired, I didn’t hurt, I wasn’t thirsty. Was I bored? The mind is a strange thing.

Around the 5 mile mark I spotted Kevin and Gary in the distance, Gary was wearing the brightest lumo orange trainers I’ve ever seen and Kev was wearing a bright yellow top, so I knew it was them.  That was the push I needed, I felt as though I’d passed through some sort of mental barrier and was full steam ahead.

Miles 6-10 I was in the zone I kept thinking that the boys weren’t too far ahead although I hadn’t seen them since mile 5 and didn’t see them again until I was done.

During those last 4 miles I had stopped focusing on the fact that I was running, my mind wandered and I had lots of random thoughts, everything from planning an outfit for my friends 30th birthday party to ‘If Kevin and I have kids, will they be short or tall!?!'( I’m short, he’s tall and we have no plans to have babies any time soon!!!!) I also remember wondering  ‘how much faster I’d run if there was a shark chasing me?’. What the …. The mind is a strange thing.

At 10 miles and almost complete, I thought I’d be a bit cheeky and take a short cut to our finishing destination however Karma bit me in the butt and I actually ended up running almost half a mile further. What an idiot! Ha! That’s just typical of me!

When I finished I felt great AMAZING, there was no ‘breathing out my ass’ like I have experienced during and after a short 3mile run in the past. I felt strong. I felt like I could do more. I felt happy, proud and a huge sense of accomplishment.

Turns out Sunday was also International Women’s Day.

Ladies, you are all amazing! #girlpower

This run has given me a confidence boost, which I really needed for the Half Marathon.

I’m still ignoring the pace and focusing,  solely on reaching the finish line.  Here’s hoping the weather plays its part, today we’ve been sent thundery, grey skies gale force winds and torrential rain! One does love the Great British weather! Eeek!

Thanks for reading 🙂

Have a great week ❤

Angela XO