Just Believe

I haven’t posted about running for a while. Last time I spoke to you about it I was frustrated with my pace* and the fact that I wasn’t going to smash my 2018 goal (sub 2hr half marathon) in my first try at it. Sometimes I forget I’m just a below average runner not an elite, haha, I’m not breaking any records, I just like to have a goal.

I received a comment on that last running post from Iain at runningbugweb

Has there ever been truer, simpler, effective advice? Not just for running but every aspect of life. Just Believe.

I’ve always had a hard time believing in myself, I’m typically pretty down on myself I don’t take compliments very well and I am almost always assuming failure before I’ve even tried anything, running has helped me drastically with confidence and this comment reminded me of that.

It stuck with me every time I put my running shoes on, instead of a whining and dreading ‘wonder how long this will take?’ I said in my head ‘I’m going to break my Local Parkrun PB’ and I did..everytime I’ve ran it since!

I was still not back to my pre marathon pace but I was definitely FINALLY improving.

Unfortunately, I didn’t break 2 hours at Alloa Half Marathon like I’d hoped… as the race was cancelled due to heavy snow making my first race of 2018 my hometown race the inaugural Stirling Half Marathon just 5 weeks later.

On Thursday, the sun was shining (first time this year), I had Iain’s comment in my head and was listening to the podcast Oprah’s SuperSoul conversation with Amy Schumer which ironically turned out to be about how ‘you become what you believe’ as I pounded the pavement for a last easy 5k before the race on Sunday.

Something clicked.

When I got home I realised I hadn’t looked at my Garmin the whole run and was surprised to see I’d ran my fastest 5k in a very long time and it was easy.

On Sunday though I was still a bit dubious. Ok I can maintain the pace over 3.1 miles but 13.1 is a whole other ball game. I was stronger and fitter last year and just didn’t get there. However, as I crossed the START line I kept Iain’s comment in my head, I kept Oprah and Amy Schumer there too and Kevin who had been telling me for weeks I could do it!

Guys I ran my flipping thighs off** and claimed a Shiny New SUB 2 PB of 1hr58 minutes and 28 seconds that’s 11minutes off my last PB!!

Thank You so much Iain! You were running in the opposite direction on Sunday and probably passed me at my mile 10 but you helped me cross that finish line and smash a goal I feel like I’ve been chasing since I started running in 2015!

*Ive been stuck at 10min mile pace since pre marathon LAST YEAR and gradually was getting slower instead of faster.

**I’ll explain in my race report..coming soon..

Thanks for reading 😊

Have a great day ❤️

Angela xo