Race Update: Twelve Months, Twelve Races (and a Speed Bump)
At the beginning of the year, I set a goal for myself to run twelve races in twelve months. The plan was to run one race a month, which seemed pretty attainable.
You can read all about it here.
Now that we’re in October and I’ve run 10 out of 12 races, I wanted to give y’all an update.
So far this year, I’ve run:
January: 5K Trail Race at U.S. National Whitewater Center
February: Carolinas HealthCare Cupid's Cup 5K
March: BB&T Corporate Cup 5K
April: 5K for Junior Achievement
June: Warrior Dash
Read all about my experience here.
August: Yiasou Greek Festival 5k
September: Blue Ridge Relay
Which brings us to October.
I started having hip issues this spring, and the only thing that seems to make it feel better is resting it (which meant not running…at all). Work got really busy all around, and it was hard to find the time to run. I was burnt out on running. Whatever reason you could think of to not get in a run or a workout, I’ve probably said it over these last few months.
I continued to change my mind about what distances I planned to run. From a full marathon to a half marathon to a 5k. The distances kept getting shorter and shorter.
Until one day, I finally realized why running seemed to be such a struggle for me. It wasn’t a priority for me anymore. While I love running, other things had come up and I decided to put running on the back burner. And I was okay with that.
But I’m stubborn.
I set a goal for myself at the beginning of the year to run twelve races and I was nine months in, I couldn’t give up now.
But when October’s race came around, I didn’t want to go. My hip was bothering me, I’m not in optimal racing shape, and running a 5k was the last thing I wanted to wake up and do on a Sunday morning.
I had made up my mind the night before and decided I wasn’t going to go. But I woke up on a chilly Sunday morning and went to run the race anyway.
Why you might ask?
I owe it to my husband. He reminded me that I set a goal in January and how crucial it is to meet the goals we set for ourselves. He gave me that push to stick to the plan so I could achieve my goals by the end of the year. I hated the persuasion at the time, but come Sunday morning when I was crossing the finish line, I knew he was right.
We set goals for a reason, and more often than not, they require getting out of our comfort zones and getting out of our own ways. I’ve definitely been challenged these past ten months, but I can finally see the finish line.
October: Hit the Brixx 5k
If you’re looking to run a race next month, check out the Charlotte Marathon. They have a distance for everyone from full marathon down to a kids fun run. When you register, make sure you tell him Charlotte Marathon Ambassador, Danielle Doolen, sent you.