24:29

So, there I was.  I was tired.  I didn't want to run hard.  A relaxing run would be nice, something that pushed me a little, but not too much.  But sometimes, it's hard not to try a little harder, go a little faster, especially when I see my time and mileage constantly.  I try not to look, I don't want to feel the minutes and inches go by, but somehow I'm still transfixed by the numbers.  .6 miles, 5:45 minutes, 60 calories burned...maybe running at 6.5 rotations per minute is not fast enough.  I know it's not fast enough to beat my goal.  I'm running around a 9 minute mile, which means I'll probably finish the run around 25-27 minutes.  I thought I was doing better than that.  I feel irritated, but I keep on running.  I try running even faster.  My muscles ache, especially my quads and my calves, but I remind myself to ignore it, take your mind out of the pain, enjoy the movement, enjoy the adrenaline and the endorphins, enjoy the battle between mind and body... it creates tension, but when you win, it makes you feel powerful.  Now I'm at a 1.5 miles, somewhere around 14:00 minutes, and 150 calories burned... I know I'm not going to make it... I'm running so much slower than what I had calculated, what I thought I was doing... I was so sure that at 7-7.5 rotations per minute I would be able to run this baby faster then ever before.  I did a quick calculation, I didn't think I could do it... I wouldn't be able to reach my goal of 3 miles under 25 minutes.  Why push myself more, when I already hurt.  The pain wouldn't lead me to victory :) .  In Spanish I would say, "No vale la pena."  The pain is not worth it.  Why not just enjoy the run at a more leisurely pace?  I wavered.  A small voice, or gut feeling told me, "Don't let your mind push you out of the battle.  Listen to your body.  It wants to run.  Don't slow down.  Just keep the pace.  Just keep going.  Miracles happen."  So, I did.  I kept running at 7-7.5 rotations... sometimes 8.0.  Finally, I was at 2.6 miles.  I had so much more time left, before I reached 24 minutes... more time than I have ever had before.  If I could have, I would have jumped up and clicked my heels in the air, I could do this.  I was like a toddler chasing after a freshly opened bag of candy.  I got it.  I can do this.  I ran faster.  My lungs were sucking in the air, but still not getting quite enough.  Don't give up, don't give up you're almost there.  2.9 miles... just .1 miles left almost at 24:00 minutes.  I ran even faster.  I have to make this.  I have to.  I watch the seconds slip by... each one not bringing the barometer to 3.0.  I'm not sure I'm going to make it.  I have to.  24:25... only half a minute left... the last time I was here... it didn't change until 25:00 minutes on the dot. I'm all out at 8.5 and above rotations per minute.  I can't lose again.  Faster!  And then, the miracle happened.  24:29 seconds, 3 miles and 300 calories.  I finally PRd.  PHS.  Buckaroos.  Fellow Cross Country runners.  Past running partners.  I did it.  All along, I was fast enough.  I just didn't believe it when I was younger.   Now, I know that I do have some fast twitch muscles in my body after all and that a little extra weight won't necessarily slow you down.  Those were my two main excuses in High School.  Body Weight and no fast twitch muscle (the muscles that give you speed for sprinting). All Conquered now.

Technically, I know I need a picture on this blog.  It's so hard to take pictures of me exercising, something about the logistics of it all... running and taking a picture of myself.  I'm brainstorming for what sorts of pictures I should be putting on here.  Me caressing the squeaky elliptical.  Me dripping sweat with my face burning a sweet cherry red (remember that?, I try not to)...  I guess it's supposed to be real, not perfect.  Gotta think of something.