If I Could Do That, I Can Do This
Yesterday I did my very first three-mile run. I’m informed that three miles is the breakover point–once you reach three miles, you can pretty much train for any distance effectively, or something like that. Everyone was cheering me on–funny, running is so solitary, and yet my Twitter and Facebook blew up with “Go Lili!” “You can do it!” “Those miles don’t stand a chance!”
I was so grateful for the cheering, you guys. It was like I had a whole crowd urging me for the finish line.
I did finish. I stood there, sweating and victorious, and actually yelled, “HA! I GOT THE KNIFE! NOW TURN ON THE GODDAMN LIGHTS!” (That is one of my favorite movies…)
Since I was doing this at home, the only thing I accomplished was scaring two cats and laughing like a loon while I folded up the treadmill. The cats eventually forgave me once I’d taken a shower and refilled their food bowls. (They’re like that.)
So. Three miles. When I started this a long time ago, I would walk for six minutes and run for one minute, and I dreaded those single minutes with a passion. I did that for two solid months. I took everything else in similar baby steps–walking for five and running for two, walking for four and running for three, all in two or three week (or even month-long) increments. Then came twenty-minute runs. Twenty-two minute runs. Adding a couple minutes every couple weeks. Then two-mile runs, upping speed; two and a half, two and three quarters.
And now, here I am. Running three miles. I did it again this morning.
There’s this list that I keep in my head. It’s a List Of Things I Never Thought I Could Do, But I’ve Done And Actually Kicked Ass At. I think everyone needs this sort of list. Most of the time, it’s filled with things that I never thought I could do and I did only because I bloody well had to, it was That Kind of situation. I do very well thrown into the snakepit, apparently.
Every time I think something’s going to knock me down or out, I mentally get out that list. “If I can _____,” I say grimly, “then I can do this.” It’s amazingly effective, at least for me.
Anyway. Also today I got a bunch of spiderwebs tattooed on my back, bringing together all the pieces I had before. The web are about three-quarters done. Soon I’ll be going in to get them finished. Grayscale work hurts, and the long lines the webs depend on, ouchie! So I spent a significant part of today clutching my hands together, breathing through it, and thinking if I can run three miles at a time, I can get through this.
It worked like a charm.
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Tags: about me, exercise, slight pause for station identification, what we know is true
March 4th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
go you, indeed! 3 miles is a definite demarcation point.
(I find no joy in running, but my normal walking pace is closer to a jog. One-two miles is a nice stroll. Three+ miles, I’ve worked out.)
March 4th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Yay on the three miles!
And I do the same thing with the “If I can do x, then I can get through Y”. It definitely helps!
March 4th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
thats a great milestone… shows focus and determination. Plus perserverance.
March 4th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
I’m a little late to the party, but go, Lili! That’s fabulous! I’m so happy for you. Big hugs,
March 4th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
wow way too go lili! i’ve been reading this blog for a while but never commented cause i tend to go on and on and on …. you get my drift. Any ways 3 miles is totally AWESOME! Keep it up!!!
March 5th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Yay! You did it!
Just a random comment. I was listening to “Not Good Enough for Truth in Cliche” by Escape the Fate. It reminded me of Christophe for some reason. Check it out!
Over and out.
March 6th, 2010 at 2:38 am
WOO! that’s awesome. 3 miles is a great achievement. Its definitely true that you can train for further distances from this point. And then it jumps again, when you get to 10kms you can easily do 15kms etc etc.