I realized something today while I was in the shower. That's where we all do our best thinking, right? I realized my running goals I set for myself in 2018 aren't as impossible as I want them to be. But, let me back up...
A couple of years ago, I was introduced to an amazing runner/blogger/vlogger/pod caster/tell it like it is woman named Kelly Roberts (Thank you, Emilyanne). If you have not heard of her, you should really check her out. She has changed my life. One of the most important things that she has taught me is to go for your impossible. When I set my 2018 goals, I was keeping that in mind. Now, looking at my specific running goals, I realize they're not impossible enough.
Let me explain. My three big goals for this year are: to run half marathon under 3 hours, to run a mile under 10 minutes, and to run 500 miles.
Now, running 500 miles in one year, that to me is impossible. I don't think I can do it. Which is why it is one of my goals.
Running a mile in under ten minutes is a goal I know I can reach. It's not my impossible but it is a goal that is important to me and I am going to strive to reach.
The goal that I realized is not at all my impossible is running a half marathon in under three hours. I realized this morning that I truly believe that I can accomplish that goal. And that tells me it is not my impossible. Right now, my personal record is 3:02 when I ran the Richmond Half Marathon in November. My first half was completed in February of 2017 during the Disney Princess Half Marathon; my time was 3:29.
This is where the shower thinking comes in. Kelly Roberts has started an amazing group of women known as the #BadAssLadyGang. These are the women you want by your side, through thick and thin that will push you to do your best and help you through on your worst days. There is a Facebook group for all of the amazing runners that are a part of the #BadAssLadyGang. Over the past several days, everyone has been posting a piece of their story and what their impossible running goal is going to be this year. I've wanted to post for several days but I just haven't done it yet. This morning, I realized why. My impossible isn't my impossible. But with that, I realized very quickly what my impossible was.
In May of 2016, I registered for my first half marathon. This was before I would have really called myself a "runner." It seemed like a good idea. I was going to run the Pittsburgh Half Marathon with my cousin and my best friend. Then, in April, life happened. I got the flu (type B). It was the sickest I have ever been. I missed nearly two weeks of school (I'm a teacher) and was down and out, eating next to nothing and laying on the couch for two weeks. When I did finally start feeling better, I quickly realized there was no way I would be able to run the half. I got winded and tired by walking up a flight of stairs. I made the decision to cheer on my cousin and my best friend instead of running.
That brings us to today.
To my new impossible.
I know I can run a half marathon in under 3 hours.
However, I truly do not believe I can run the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in under three hours. There's my impossible. I found it.
Pittsburgh is very hilly. And that is the part of this half that terrifies me and makes me think that I would never be able to run it in under three hours.
But that's the whole point of setting impossible goals, right?
So there it is.
My impossible is running the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in under three hours.