When I first started running, almost every step took me outside my comfort zone; from opening the front door for Week 1 of Couch to 5k in March 2011 all the way to my first half marathon in Stafford about a year later. I was a new runner then and everything was a new experience. I was learning how to run faster and further, how to run on different terrains and in different conditions and temperatures. I got scared but fear turned into exhilaration when I completed a new challenge. I was brave.
Over time, though, my running habits have changed and there are fewer moments of fear; fewer occasions where I am pushing the boundaries or trying new things. I'm not chasing personal bests all the time. I don't run in new places that often.
This doesn't mean running is easy all the time or that I don't struggle with big challenges - I definitely do. It just means that my comfort zone has shifted; long distances at a slower place - training and completing ultramarathons - have become my comfort zone; the chatty long runs in training, walking the hills, slowing my pace, stopping for biscuits, ice lollies or pork pies. This is my new normal. I rarely run as fast as I can so I'm not even sure how fast I can run anymore. And for some of the challenges that I want to tackle in the future, I need to be able to run faster to complete them.
Time to shake things up a bit.
This week, I've taken a couple of steps outside my comfort zone.
On Wednesday, I took part in a 2-hour Zumba challenge. Considering how much I struggle with left and right, I'm really not sure what I was thinking but when Jackie from Potters Trotters invited me along, I said yes without too much thought and no time for regret! I was probably out of time more often than in time, but I gave it a go. I twisted, turned, shimmied, jumped, spun and waved my arms in the air as best I could. I sang along when I knew the songs. I laughed and I kept going. It was a brilliant workout. I had fun.
And this morning I completed the Marchington 10k - that might not sound like much of a challenge but I can't remember the last time I "raced" over 10k in a road race. I've done trail runs or run with other people. But just me? Trying to run as fast as I can over a shorter distance?
That seemed a long way out of my current comfort zone.
But this morning I decided to step outside.
From the moment the race started, I pushed myself. I didn't chat on the way round, apart from saying thank you to the marshals; I didn't walk on the hills, and there were a few of them. I actually took notice of my pace and running form, completely ignoring my surroundings. I couldn't tell you anything about the views, although I know we started/finished on a cricket field and ran on country lanes.
The first three miles were mostly uphill and then it was a lot of downhill to finish. The third mile was the toughest; I really had to push myself not to go back to my comfort zone and slow down or walk.
And I enjoyed it... although compared to most of my recent races, it was all over very quickly. A last loop of the cricket field and I crossed the line in just under an hour. I think I smiled but I knew I'd worked as hard as I could on the day (especially with Zumba-legs). I gratefully accepted water and a medal.
For the first time in a long time, I looked at split times and was really pleased with a 31/29 negative split (31 minutes for the first 5k, 29 minutes for the second 5k). There was a sprint finish too.
It was worth the effort. It was a really enjoyable and well-organised race.
I might take a few more tentative steps outside my comfort zone again next week. There's a whole new world out there.
This doesn't mean running is easy all the time or that I don't struggle with big challenges - I definitely do. It just means that my comfort zone has shifted; long distances at a slower place - training and completing ultramarathons - have become my comfort zone; the chatty long runs in training, walking the hills, slowing my pace, stopping for biscuits, ice lollies or pork pies. This is my new normal. I rarely run as fast as I can so I'm not even sure how fast I can run anymore. And for some of the challenges that I want to tackle in the future, I need to be able to run faster to complete them.
Time to shake things up a bit.
This week, I've taken a couple of steps outside my comfort zone.
On Wednesday, I took part in a 2-hour Zumba challenge. Considering how much I struggle with left and right, I'm really not sure what I was thinking but when Jackie from Potters Trotters invited me along, I said yes without too much thought and no time for regret! I was probably out of time more often than in time, but I gave it a go. I twisted, turned, shimmied, jumped, spun and waved my arms in the air as best I could. I sang along when I knew the songs. I laughed and I kept going. It was a brilliant workout. I had fun.
And this morning I completed the Marchington 10k - that might not sound like much of a challenge but I can't remember the last time I "raced" over 10k in a road race. I've done trail runs or run with other people. But just me? Trying to run as fast as I can over a shorter distance?
That seemed a long way out of my current comfort zone.
But this morning I decided to step outside.
From the moment the race started, I pushed myself. I didn't chat on the way round, apart from saying thank you to the marshals; I didn't walk on the hills, and there were a few of them. I actually took notice of my pace and running form, completely ignoring my surroundings. I couldn't tell you anything about the views, although I know we started/finished on a cricket field and ran on country lanes.
The first three miles were mostly uphill and then it was a lot of downhill to finish. The third mile was the toughest; I really had to push myself not to go back to my comfort zone and slow down or walk.
And I enjoyed it... although compared to most of my recent races, it was all over very quickly. A last loop of the cricket field and I crossed the line in just under an hour. I think I smiled but I knew I'd worked as hard as I could on the day (especially with Zumba-legs). I gratefully accepted water and a medal.
For the first time in a long time, I looked at split times and was really pleased with a 31/29 negative split (31 minutes for the first 5k, 29 minutes for the second 5k). There was a sprint finish too.
It was worth the effort. It was a really enjoyable and well-organised race.
I might take a few more tentative steps outside my comfort zone again next week. There's a whole new world out there.
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