Ask anyone who knows me even just a little bit and they'll tell you that I'm a sprinter and hate running with a passion. Anything longer than 100 meters is no bueno. Why did I join the Marine Corps? I ask myself every time I go for a "motivational jog". But in this last week I've forced myself to get out and run and I've managed to cut almost three full minutes off my three mile run time, with tonight's finishing time of 22 minutes and twelve seconds, which in my book is excellent for my first week running since high school track, which ended five months ago in case you were wondering. I wonder what I can do after three months of the hardest training in the world.
I surprised myself tonight when I finished in that time cause last night it took me 23:30 and I felt great. Tonight I went to a football game where the only warm thing they were serving was a big, greasy hamburger. Throw all the Halloween treats on top of that and 3 miles seems like an eternity with that "everything on my insides wants to be on my outside" feeling that sits in your stomach. With all that I wasn't surprised when tonight's first one and a half of three miles took 30 seconds longer than last night's 11:06, but when I finished my three miles, I was very surprised to see the clock under last night's 23:30. I realized I had actually pushed myself hard enough and ran the second half of my three mile run in 10:36; exactly a minute faster than the first. I was stoked! The best I expected was to match my time from last night, but I didn't even think that was going to happen.
I find myself more and more motivated after cutting minutes off my time every night, and my goal of a 20 minute three mile by the end of boot camp suddenly doesn't seem so far out of reach anymore. Who knows, maybe I can push myself hard enough to get that perfect 18 minutes.
Lesson Learned: Running at boot camp, or any PT anytime for that matter, is gonna be more about motivation and how hard I am willing to push myself than actually being in shape. The term "in shape" is kinda silly to me now, cause you're only in shape if you plan on doing that same thing you're "in shape" for over and over again, but never for the next step up that might take just an ounce more, but that's where the motivation and drive comes in. I can't wait.
De Papa and De Mama
4 comments:
Wow! Good job starting ahead of time. I bet every little bit will help when you finally get there. Keep up the good work!
wow wow wow i think it takes me 20 min to do a mile. good job keep it up.
22.12
Sounds Like you been drinkin some weak sauce...
19.50 is what I'm talkin about...
Just think if your fat older bro can do it, 18 should be no sweat for you.
Motivation is the Key. It's what seperates the Few and the Proud from the rest of them.
OOH-RAH little brother do awesome and check your E-mail.
Good Job Jared! I am glad that you were able to motivate yourself to get out there and work before you actually had to at boot camp. You'll do fine and I bet you'll break your 3 miles in 20 minute goal!
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