I am going to challenge myself to run 200 miles in May 2020. So the natural question would be, why? Coronavirus has completely turned the world upside down; for everyone. While I have kept training for the past 7 weeks of “stay at home”, I have no idea what I am training for. No idea when I will be able to do a triathlon again. So, rather then feeling sorry for myself, I am going to run 200 miles.
If you’ve read this blog from the beginning, you know that I started this IRONMAN journey out of desperation for a situation I couldn’t control. At the time I could never have guessed how triathlon would change my life and bring me so much joy; but something amazing came out of something truly awful. Maybe that’s what is happening again. Sometimes, that’s how life works. You just don’t know so you just have to keep the faith.
So let’s be clear. My triathlon coach thinks this is a terrible idea. Not just bad, terrible. Typically I would listen to my coach; but this is really not about triathlon. I am not running 200 miles to get faster or better at triathlon. I am not running 200 miles to lose weight. I am running 200 miles because I am having one of those Forest Gump moments. I just want to run. I love running. I love that I can think and fight through the tough miles and get to the amazing ones. I love running and smelling people’s laundry drying and bacon cooking and yeah, sometimes someone smoking weed on their patio…….. I love running in the rain. I just love to run.
I’m not sure I can fully describe why I think this will help me and why I think it’s a good idea for me, but I do. So I’m going to document these 31 days here and share what I discover along the way.
DAY 1 – 5/1/20
Today, I woke up and got out the door by 5:35 for 6 miles. I felt the spider webs on my skin, knowledge that I was the first to run on that sidewalk for the day and broke that night’s web work. It was a beautiful morning; crisp 60 degrees and low humidity – so refreshing for SE Texas. Thought about how hot is would be by May 31 and quickly moved on to other thoughts.
Today was pretty slow pace, but felt strong and was just an easy run down to Branch Crossing and back. I’m going to try to vary my routes and do some fun and different things since I’ll be running every day.
Nothing too spectacular to report today but the first 3% of the 200 miles is done. Excited for this journey.
ironcheryl2018 