Little Bold Victories

This marathon training cycle hasn't been about typical milestones.  I'm steadily building my mileage; increasing my weekly volume and long run distance.  The runs themselves haven't been overwhelming; however, I feel that each one has presented a new challenge to overcome that has left me feeling bolder and stronger.

Due to some crappy weather this week, I ran on the treadmill one day.  Treadmill runs are hard for me because my stride is different, putting strain on my hamstring.  The faster I go the worse it is.  The solution?  Run slower, which means more time on the treadmill.  Better safe than in pain.  About halfway in at a slower pace I felt good and was able to increase my speed to my aerobic pace.  Getting to that point was my bold victory.

Another day this week I had a 12-mile tempo run.  My plan was to warm up 2 miles, run 3x3 tempo intervals (2 minute jog between), then cool down for the rest.  As soon as I started I could feel my legs were not up for the task.  My first set was faster than aerobic but hardly tempo pace. There was no way I could run out my miles as planned.  When I hit my turn-around point at mile 6, however, I decided to give it another try.  I knew I had 3 miles of open road stretching out ahead of me so I ran as fast as I could - my own private 5K time trial.  It was the fastest I'd run in months!  Making that choice to run those 3 tempo miles when I was ready to give up was my bold victory.

Yesterday I ran 18 miles.  That was not my bold victory.  It was the little moments within the run - introducing myself to a girl I didn't know so we could run together and talk for 7 miles, running through my favorite parts of Detroit by myself, sloshing through the slushiest snow with a smile - those were the bold victories.  

Don't lose sight of the small moments, the little victories.