Week 2 of my half marathon fitness training went much better than last week. I walked 2 days and then ran a 5k on Sunday. It wasn’t an official 5k, but I wanted to get a benchmark starting point.

I’m not sure what came over me, but I woke up on Sunday morning with this urge to just go run. I knew that if I went alone, I may not run far, so I volunteered my oldest son to go with me. Fortunately he agreed. I couldn’t wait to get out there.

The 5k

I laced up my Nike shoes, turned on my Nike+ and we just started running. We talked and ran until the Nike+ said we had gone 2.5k. Then we turned around and ran back home. We walked about .5k and ran the rest. It wasn’t a fast run, just a slow steady run. We finished in 37 minutes averaging about 12 minute miles. I was happy with that time. I have not run consistently in the last few months and the last 5k I ran was on October 17, 2009.

When I was done, I felt so good. Running makes me happy. It makes me feel like anything is possible because for me, running wasn’t always possible. Well, physically it was, but mentally it wasn’t. But somehow I got past that and now I’m a runner.

The Empowered Mile

That first mile of my first 5k was the longest and most difficult mile I have ever run. It felt endless. It felt impossible. I managed to get past that first mile and I don’t know where the energy came from, but I was able to finish the 5k.

I was the kid in gym class who finished last, not real great at any sports. I always told myself I’m not an athlete. So maybe I’m not good at the sports where you need to use an object and hit another object, but damn…I’m good at the sports where you need to use your body. My body doesn’t fail me when I treat it right.

Fitness Mental Block

This week was more of a mental hurdle than anything. I needed to get past the thought that I can’t run a half marathon. I know it’s possible, but I haven’t been able to envision myself actually completing it. As I was running the 5k, all I thought about was “I really can do this.” That run somehow helped me push past the fitness mental block.

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, Here I Come!