My Unexpected Unbelievable Unicorn Run

My Unexpected Unbelievable Unicorn Run

Last Saturday I had one of the best runs I’ve ever had in my life. Sometimes when it’s been a long time since you have done something you convince yourself that it can never happen again. Well this time it did, and it was simply magical.

Backstory

When I got engaged way back in 2005, I set my eye on the prize. I had two years to plan the wedding of my dreams and two whole entire years to get down to my desired weight (150lbs) and my desired dress size (size 8).

I diligently set forward on a path that would include trying spinning for the first time, jumping on a elliptical sometimes twice daily. Then one day I decided to run on a treadmill after work. I started the couch to 5k program and dipped my very scared toe into running.

It was magical. Following the program I was able to run 10 minutes at a time. It wasn’t until the plan called for 20 minutes straight did the doubts rush in. I repeated that week over and over. The one day it happened. I ran for 30 minutes.

After that day I was unstoppable.

I ran for 60 minutes every single day. I’d wait on the treadmill line after work and run for the maximum allowed hour time frame during peak hours. Every night I didn’t think I could–then I did!

I injured myself about a month later (looking back it was runners knee and I should not have been running so long, so often, with NO crosstraining or rest). Turned my back on running until I decided to take running seriously again in 2014.

Fast forward to Saturday

I didn’t want to go to the gym because the Saturday crowd is usually a bit too aggressive for my taste. I was so sore from Row House on Friday.  I told myself to suck it up, buttercup and proceeded anyway. The NYC Half is quickly approaching, after all.

That’s when the magic started to happen.

Usually I warm up for five minutes, I felt warmed up by 3. I started running. I found an incredible Spotify 90s r&b playlist. I’m lip syncing. I’m banging air drums. I’m feeling really good. An entire mile passes by. Song after song that I grew up with pushing me forward. No one around me on the treadmills. Not caring at all about nothing else but the music and the adrenaline. Another mile goes by.

When I passed mile four I almost burst into tears. I quickly did a body scan to see if I had anything left. I did.

I ran a total of 5.79 miles. It’s the longest I’ve run straight–no breaks–since 2005. I don’t know where it came from, I don’t know if concentrating exclusively on Strength Training for the past 2 months had improved my stamina, or if this was actually a once in a blue occurrence. I’m just happy it happened. Really happy. It’s a confidence boost that I desperately needed and wanted.

The moral of the story is that even when you think things will never happen again, that you can never reach that height of fitness from your yesteryears–you can.

Have you ever don that you thought you would never do again?

Nellie

Hi! I’m Nellie. I am a busy mama of three, wife to my high school sweetheart who loves to cook, workout and stay organized! I love to share helpful printables, the best recipes and fitness tips for the modern mom. I strongly believe that every mom can feed their family well, take proper care of themselves and have fun along the way! Read my story.

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