What Happens When Heart Takes Over.

The last 2 Saturdays have taught me a lot about what lies deep down within me. Last week I had a plan...run 8+ miles with 25/35 intervals in 2:09:14 (16:00/mi) or better. But, could I do it? Today, I also had a plan...run a 5k under 45:00 using 30/30 intervals.

Last week...beat my goal by over 3 minutes.
Today...43:42. Not only sub 45, but sub 44! And, 9:30 better than my previous best 5k time!

Now, that's all great and everything, but what I think is more important is what won't show up in the numbers or in what I did. It's more in what I didn't do. I didn't quit!

Last week...Pain/discomfort in my right big toe after just 1 mi. A little voice said stop, but my heart said NO WAY!

Today...dead legs. Then, tightness in my left shin/foot and a hot spot on the right foot. A little voice said stop, but the heart said NO WAY!

I feel that I've finally experienced what I've heard so many talk about. An ability for the "heart" to take over and push through what would (and has) normally stopped you. Its the thing you hope to never need, but glad to know its there. I just don't want to rely on it for every race.

All in all, this morning turned out to be a great day for a race. It rained all night but stopped about 15 minutes before the start of the race and never rained again and the temp was in the low 50s. As I said earlier, my legs felt dead. I'm not sure if its still from last Saturday or from the new interval I started on Wednesday. Either way, it was somewhat of an uncomfortable run, but was able to block it out and do what I wanted to do. I also got a chance to meet Eric Patterson of Rocket City Marathon Training. He is currently training for the Rocket City Marathon in December and has been running for less than two years. Go check out his blog. It is worth it!

Tell Next Time...Keep Moving Forward!!!