A Hilly Route | The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans LLC

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I am a runner. I also like to spin, lift weights and Zumba!

But in my heart, I am a runner.

However, there are things in running that I avoid because it hurts, it’s out of my comfort zone, it makes me breathe harder blah blah blah. Mainly speedwork and running hills. Yeah, I could do without both of those because eh, it doesn’t feel so good on the body and it is so HARD. Which is exactly why I should do it, right?

Anyhoo, I avoid speedwork and running hills as much as possible.

Until yesterday.

Let me back up. My next half marathon that I am registered for is the Zooma Austin Half Marathon on April 16th.   I finally took a look at the race course map and the elevation map and boy, was I in for a shocker.  The first 2.5 miles of the half marathon are ALL UPHILL.

Be still my beating heart.

The first few miles of every single run for me is HARD, whether I am doing a short distance or a long distance.  It takes my body a few miles to fully warm up and for me to feel like I am truly running.  Does this happen to anyone else?  To learn that my *hard* miles are now going to be uphill, too?  It was like someone had stabbed me in both legs.  Ouch.

I knew right then and there that I would have to change my game plan, my strategy, if you will.  I was going to have to step out of my comfort zone and challenge my body physically during training (even though I don’t want to, lol) so that I can ensure that I am prepared for race day and not DIE on the course, at mile 3. 

In all reality, I have never had a true *strategy* for any race, except to FINISH IT without passing out.

Yesterday, I purposely planned my running route to go uphill as much as it pained me possible.  I did 2.9 miles but a lot of it uphill.  Early in the morning, without a coffee boost.  There is one hill in my neighborhood that is 0.4 miles long.  The first time I ran UP it yesterday, I really thought I might die, or that my heart would leap out of my chest. 

I didn’t die and my heart didn’t leap out of my chest, just so you know.

The second time I ran up that hill was a tiny bit easier because I knew what to expect, I adjusted my breathing and I knew that it would end eventually and that my legs would stop screaming at me as soon as I got to the top. 

I continue to evolve with this running thing and much against my will, I am stepping out of my comfort zone.

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone and did something physically that mentally you really didn’t want to do?

P.S. Be on the lookout for an awesome Zooma giveaway later today/early tomorrow- you don’t want to miss it!

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