Sometimes there is a fine line between being stubborn and knowing when a goal or dream isn’t going to be a reality.
Many of you know that I have started a 50 mile race 2 different times and 2 different times I ended up not finishing.
(October 2013, May 2014)
This past week I tried a different approach to running a 50 mile race. I entered a timed race with the goal of running 50 miles in the time. (9 hours 11 minutes)
I loved the idea behind the race – it was all about remembering and honoring those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
I started this race full of big plans – 50 miles was definitely part of the plan!!!
The first 13-14 miles were great!! I think I came through the half marathon right around 1:46 or 1:47 and I felt good.
Ummm….I don’t think that was a good pace for running 9+ hours but it felt good. My legs were ready to run (I guess resting does that) and my breathing was great. I felt good running – smooth and easy the way running should be.
Around mile 14 I stopped for a minute to eat some grapes and let Chris use the stick to try and work a cramp out of my right hip. That ended up being a bad plan because it was only 55 degrees and cloudy (very cold in my world!!!) and stopping gave my muscles a chance to realize how cold it was.
When I started back up there was a lot of running/walking going on. I still did OK through about mile 20 and then it went way downhill.
I took advantage of the free mini massages they were offering during mile 21 and didn’t know if I was going to be able to start running again.
Thankfully Hunter did a couple slow laps with me (he skipped school to come be part of my crew with Chris and I loved having both of them there!!).
I made it through mile 25 but I was miserable. My hips did not want to keep turning over, my feet were cramping (I tried peanuts for salt but….), I was freezing and getting crankier by the minute!!!
Chris finally dragged my ass out of the tent we had and made me finish a couple more laps so that at least I finished marathon distance.
Chris asked me if I wanted to keep going and get to 30 (and then 40 and then….). All I wanted was to find a hot tub and get in it so that I could be warm.
I know Chris just wanted to make sure that I didn’t regret my decision (he’s been through this a couple times, too!!).
Here’s what I told him – my head says “YOU CAN RUN 50 MILES.” But my body say “NO!!!!”
Cardio-wise I don’t have any problems running and running and running. My joints and bones and muscles are a completely different story.
And, the biggest thing – I have attempted 50 miles in a race 3 times and not once have I loved the experience. In fact, it is usually the opposite – I hate it with almost every fiber of my being!!!
So, I don’t know that I will ever run a true 50 mile race and I’m completely OK with that. I just want to run and love it. I don’t like having to take over a week off to rest my legs before or after a race.
I just want to run when I want to for however long I feel like going and enjoy it!!! 
That being said, I will do the race again next year but I will just sign up for the marathon. I loved the set-up, the support and the reason behind this race and will definitely go back and run again!!!
I think Kenny Rogers summed it up –
“You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run…”
Have you ever had a dream/goal that you ultimately realized wasn’t going to happen and let it go? Were you OK with your decision?
A huge thanks to all y’all who tweeted, face booked and sent happy thoughts in other ways. Big shout out to Kristina (Blog about Running) for the hourly tweets of motivation all day Thursday!!!
Happy Monday!!
Kim