It’s all mental

So I have been running for 5 years. When I started, I couldn’t run to save my life. I remember that first attempt to run lol! After 10 meters, I started hyperventilating, my knees and chest were burning and I doubled over to recover, thinking there was something seriously wrong with me. I went to see doctors who told me I was physically OK, just grossly unfit and I needed to step up and correct that situation. With the help of friends, I did. I slowly progressed from 10 meters to 10km and participated in the StanChart 10km race a year later. Again, I met friends on this race who helped me go further for the first time running.

After this, a friend encouraged me to do a half marathon (21km!). My first response was that only crazy people [of which I was not one] did this. He then told me that running was a mental game. If I thought I could it, I would. If I thought I couldn’t do it, I wouldn’t. I mulled on this info for a while, and finally decided to do it. Again, with his and 2 other friends’ help, I participated in the Lewa Half Marathon a year later.

A month ago I set out to do an easy 8km run. I had done this route once, and knew that it was relatively level. I didn’t want to push myself on that day though I needed to do a run. Unfortunately, I mis-remembered the route, missed a turn and ended up on a 12km hilly route. The stretch was longer and way hilly than I remembered. As I tried to figure it all out in my mind, it became harder to keep running. I got so disillusioned that I started walking. The only thing that kept me going was that I needed to get me back home, and seeing that I didn’t have bus fare, my feet had to do it LOL! On Monday I returned to this route, this time correctly remembering the distance and terrain. Although it started raining along the way and I got thoroughly drenched, I ran well, had fun and finished the run strong. I was mentally prepared to do a 12km-hilly run :). #ItsAllMental