If you need to be humbled, run long!

You might know that I’ve been training for a relay race coming up in August. I was feeling rather pleased with my efforts. In fact, on July 4^th I ran a 5K and finished with my best time yet! I’m almost 57 and I’ve been running for 10 years. I’ve been thinking, “I’m faster! I’m faster!”

As the summer wore on, four miles became a “good run.” Four miles with hills was a little more challenging, but not exhausting. I’ve been thinking, “I’m stronger. I’m stronger!”

My training partner and I jumped from four to six miles a couple weeks ago for our long runs. Still, we held a steady pace and did not die at the end. I’ve been thinking, “I’m prepared. I’m prepared.”

Then I remembered that my longest run on the relay is 6.6 miles. I’ve been thinking, “I need to run longer. I need to run longer!”

Enter the seven-mile long run. Perhaps I wasn’t hydrated and fueled enough. It’s hard to fuel before a morning run. I like to get as many minutes of sleep as I can! It had to be a morning run because, well – it’s hot out there! Water? Why didn’t I plant a water bottle somewhere along the route? Yes, I bonked! I couldn’t make it up a hill at mile 5.5 without taking a walk break. We finished the seven miles, but it wasn’t pretty on my part. I wandered home, drank some water, stretched, drank some electrolytes, ate breakfast, puttered around, ate some lunch and downed more fluids, puttered some more, and complained about my aching muscles. By evening, I finally felt like myself again.

What’s my take away? I know how to prepare, but I was feeling confident enough that I didn’t prepare properly. I paid a price today for my pride. I am humbled. I’ve got a few long runs prior to relay weekend and you can bet I will anticipate them more carefully by fueling and hydrating better the day and hours before.  I might even plant a water bottle along the route.

That’s why we train – so we can learn about our weaknesses. When we know where the weak spots are, we can reinforce them and make them strong.

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” – Ether 12:27 

What weak things have you changed into strengths?

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green

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