The Thrill of Running a Race
Running for fun is a hard concept for some people to grasp. I myself had a hard time understanding why people would pay money to run a half marathon. This was my thoughts for the first 23 years of my life. It was not until I really tried it out when I gained a true appreciation for runners and why they do it.
About a year ago my sister asked me if I wanted to train for a half marathon with her. My instinctive response was "heck no, why would I want to pay to run 13.1 miles?". This thought continued in my head for the months to come until about one and a half weeks before the race. Prior to this I had hated running, I had since I was a little kid. I had recently gotten on the exercise band wagon and decided to try out the treadmill to see what the rave was all about. It wasn't until then when I realized what running really does for you.
After I had ran a couple of miles the first day, a few miles the next day and then 6 miles on the fourth day, I decided to run the half marathon with my sister. This was not a smart plan and I do not recommend following my workout schedule when preparing for a 13.1 mile race. I was naïve and never knew the consequences of not preparing for such a trial. The big day finally came and my goal was to run the entire race.
My first thoughts upon arrival were that I apparently was not the only crazy one to pay 50 bucks to run 13 miles. I got into my little group and waited for the time to start. The buzzer went off and away we went. I had initially told my sister that I would run by her side but after about 100 yards I realized that her pace was much slower than mine. I just decided to let my body run with what it felt comfortable doing. The first six miles was great! I was truly enjoying the run. There is a different feeling when you are with thousands of other people that all have the same goal in mind, to finish the race. After about 8 miles I was still feeling good but started to slow down. After 10 miles I was feeling the inadequate training that I had. By the time 12 miles came up, I could've walked fast than I was running. The finish line finally came up and I crossed it even though my jog had diminished to about 3 mph.
This is where I really started to feel the pain from running for two hours straight. Needless to say I was sore for the next 2 weeks and hated life. But, If you were to ask me if I would do it again my response would be an emphatic yes. The feeling of accomplishing something so big is truly remarkable. Running is great for your health and weight issues. Running gives you confidence throughout the day. By committing to your exercise programs you are saying to the world that I can do it and that this is one thing important to me in my life.
Running a race truly is a great feeling. After your first race, you will come home and starting searching for other local races that are coming up. My advice to you is take your time and train properly. Buy a pair of quality running shoes that won't hurt your feet. Etonics, Brooks and Propet are just a few quality brands to consider. There are plenty of men's and women's running shoes on the market. Try them on and make sure they fit right. Once you have the right shoes, starting enjoying the benefits of a daily running program.
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