Not too long ago (well, about 10 years ago), I noticed a few things about myself. I was in my early 20s, I was trying to be active with youth through teaching and at church, but I could not keep up for very long. Fortunately, there were some other things going on. My wife was losing weight, she was getting active, and we had friends who were trying to encourage us to run a 5k. Well, 215 pounds did not fit me well, and it surely did not bode well with a running career. But our friends kept encouraging us to run the upcoming, non-competitive 5k with them. So I agreed to start training myself. I strapped on my shoes, pulled on shorts and a shirt, and hit the pavement. My goal: Make it around the block.
Um, yeah, that didn't go so well. I made it around, but not in championship fashion (picture Rocky in Philly). That was a sign to me...I need to train. Build up to it! It was in those building moments that I began to lose weight and make goals for myself. 5ks, 10ks, running into my 40s, dare I even say marathons.
Five years later, with some 5ks under my belt, I was curious to see how fast I could run a mile. I hadn't timed a mile since high school gym class where I tried to keep up with my buddy who was an in-shape tennis and soccer player. He was kind enough to pace slowly so that I could keep up with him until after the third lap. That's when he took off, and I just hoofed it around the track with whatever I had left in my tank. I vaguely remember that high school time being about 8 minutes, 30 seconds-ish. So how would I do now after having run for 5 years and run distances longer than 1 mile.
That went better than that first trip around the block. I never actually recorded my time but I remember it being about 7 minutes, 40 seconds-ish. Not bad! Not world-record time, but decent.
So that brings us to today. Under my belt are numerous 5ks, few 10ks, 2 half-marathons, 3 marathons, and now more than 1 year of CrossFit training. In fact, I have begun CrossFit Endurance training for those of you who read sporadically and haven't heard me mention it yet. CFE is a training system for individuals interested in "endurance" racing including marathons, ultra-marathons, triathlons, etc. Part of CFE includes "time trials" which is an all out effort. As their webpage states, "There should be nothing entertaining or fun about it... Until it is over of course, and if you are PRing it!" Well, I am glad to say that this one was "entertaining" after I glanced at my watch when I was finished.
Workout: 1 Mile TT
Warm-up
Dynamic Stretches
1 Mile TT
(Time: 6:59.89)
*PR!!! 7 minute mark broken! 'Nough said!
3 comments:
Hooah! Atta boy, atta boy. Keep it up. :)
Sounds like you're talking to me! I like it!
Soon, I will run around my block.
you'll be there before you know it brad. set a goal, train, and bust down that "wall" that stares you down. oh, and i'm going to do my best to stay clear of katie and any body of water.
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