Week Eleven: a Breakthrough!!

3-12-12: Back on the treadmill. Feeling a little down since the race, like the excitement is over.  Ran 1.76 miles, the hardest training yet, 5 minutes, 8 minutes, then 5 minutes running.

3-14-12: There's no way I can do this: run ten minutes TWICE, with a three minute break in the middle. But guess what? I did it. 1.76 miles.

3-18-12: THE BIG DAY. I mean it. Today, according to my program, I should run for 22 minutes straight. No breaks. I have serious doubts that this will happen, but I am going to give it my best. I am excited, because if I finish, I will run (more than) a complete mile, and I'll be able, finally, to get my new running shoes. I am also happy to say that I bought earphones so I have a runners mix to listen to and maybe that will help me keep it up.

I watched the minutes go by. Five. Eight. TEN! FIFTEEN! There's no way I can make it to twenty; maybe everyone will be fine with just 18 and I'll try for 22 another day? No, keep running. Eighteen. Nineteen! TWENTY! 

I JUST RAN FOR TWENTY MINUTES! 

The last two minutes, I cried. Tears mixed with sweat as I pushed through, not tired now, only giddy with pride and joy, as I finally felt like I accomplished the impossible. I ran the twenty-two impossible minutes. I can't believe it. Remember my first blog entry where I said I wanted to punch impossible in the face and then have a good cry? That happened today. 

That. happened. today.

1.96 miles