On February 26, I will be running a half marathon. I have chosen to run 13.1 miles because my amazing RA and a few of my fellow dorm mates wanted to join in on the fun. I've never ran a race that was more than a 5K, but there's a first time for everything, right? Let's just hope that it isn't too cold in Funky Town (Fort Worth) at 7 am that morning because cold and I don't get along well.
What I've learned from training for this half marathon:
1) Life is not a sprint. It's a long distance journey.
2) Pacing myself is important. Starting out too fast is a recipe for disaster.
3) It's all mental. Being fit mentally is just as important as being fit physically. Your body will always be tired, but your mind will determine whether you will keep pushing and eventually accomplish your goal.
4) Finishing what I start. I mean, I paid about $100 to run this event, right?
5) Successful people wake up early and go to bed late. They start their journey before the sun comes up and end their journey sometimes in the wee hours of the morning.
6) If you wait for perfect conditions to happen, you'll never get anything done. If that means working out in the cold, the rain, the snow, the wind... do it!
7) The only things that I will regret are the things I didn't do. So missing a workout=never a good idea.
8) Taking a break. Rest days are extremely important. Your body needs to recover and rebuild on those days.
9) Hard work reaps rewards. Yes, I will look and feel like I'm dying during a workout (my face shows everything unfortunately... I get beet red, extremely sweaty, and my facial muscles tense up), but I will feel satisfied (and exhausted) after my workout. The satisfaction that I feel at the end is well worth it.
10) Most of all, I have learned to believe in myself. The human body can handle so much. I can do it and I will do it!
