My sister and I are signed up to walk a half marathon the middle of this month. We trained a little this summer but neither of us is a fan of sweating so needless to say we did not train as much as we should have. But, since the weather has cooled a bit this fall we have been meeting at the local park to walk in the wee morning hours in the cooler air. We have a ball walking around the park and just catching up on life events and solving the world's problems, and breathing the cool fall air while we take in the beauty!
This Saturday we met at 10:00am and accomplished the second trip around pretty quick, about 6 miles, but she had to go due to the weekend plans she had. I on the other hand had no plans except to work a few hours on Sunday. The whole day was mine and I decided to spend it doing what ever I wanted. Usually this meant sewing....but not today, not with all the beauty of fall around me. Not with live squirrels darting across the path in front of me hiding their winters food. Not, with the crunch of freshly fallen leaves under my feet...it was just too perfect a day! I felt like I had too much energy left in me to just go home and sew.
We said our good bye's and I made plans to go around just one more time to make it 9 miles. But, when I got to my nine mile point I still felt pretty good..a little feet pain...leg burn but not bad. It was about 1:30 pm and I decided to go around again for a fourth trip for a total of about 12 miles.
I was beginning to really feel the burn in my legs as I neared the end of the fourth lap and pain in my feet at this point..but I kept on walking, only I avoided my car this pass around and turned to go back the other way where the shadow meets the sun. I knew if I passed my car I would get in it and go home. But, I was in a mood of accomplishment like the "Little Engine That Could"...I think I can...I think I can...I CAN do this...over and over with he goal of 13 miles in my mind keeping me moving forward.
As I turned around and got nearly half way back to my car I was really feeling the miles. I figured I had gone at least the 13 miles and I knew at this point my sister and I could finish the walk in less than 6 hours two weeks from now. My goal accomplished and wishing it was only steps to my car....it was more like almost 2 miles to my car. This is when I felt every bit my 55 years of age!! I just kept telling myself I COULD do it and to keep going forward. Only in my mind I was ready to shed the shoes and take my chances with bare feet. Oh, this has to be the worst shoes in the world!!! I promised myself to go back to my OLD shoes! My old shoes are worn and comfortable.
I was dragging by the time I got back to my car at about 3:30 pm but I was feeling victorious and happy. My feet and legs were in some serious pain but I didn't care. I had just walked almost 15 miles by shear will power and I knew something I didn't know this moring...I could do it! I could finish the half marathon too.
No comments:
Post a Comment