One mile at a time

I signed up for the Army Ten-Miler back in April, an event that takes place in less than 4 weeks from now. I've made some strides, so to speak, in my running endurance, where my previous 2-mile comfort range is now up to approximately 4 to 5 miles. I'm quite impressed with myself, a consistent behind-the-pack finisher in my gym class days. The unfortunate part, however, is the race is twice as long as my comfort zone, so these next 4 weeks are crucial in both physically and mentally preparing for the ATM. This introduction leads into two items that come to mind: 1) my childhood was one of major un-athleticism, and 2) running in DC is really enjoyable.

The first item speaks on my inability to play sports as a youngster. I think kickball was the only thing I felt comfortable with, mostly due to its lax requirement of skill. Running an entire mile was a recipe for respiratory and digestive disaster. Basketball was absolutely out of the question, as my early age lack of height came into major play there. It's not like I was obese as a child, I just wasn't good at sports.

Things have changed drastically since this pitiful time I just described. I have embraced athletics as a primary form of leisure. I became quite adept at basketball, a sport I am fascinated with. In fact, it's very possible that I spent more time on a hardwood court than in a college classroom. I've dabbled in a variety of sports, collecting a heap of random equipment and specialized footwear along the way. I can't pinpoint how or when things changed for me. Something in my mind just wanted things to change. Gone are the days of being picked last.

Something I detested was the 1-mile run. This was still an issue until the last 5 years of my life. Lack of cardiovascular endurance was something I mistook as a genetic disadvantage, rather than unadulterated laziness. I never could understand why anyone could or would want to run long distances. With a 5K run sounding like utter hell, marathon running completely baffled me.

Fast forward to now, I'm signed up to run 10 miles, and I think I can do it, and enjoy it. I did a six mile run yesterday to the Washington Monument, passing by the Lincoln Memorial and a couple war memorials on the way home. Almost every time I run, I pass by the White House and a dozen embassies. This is typical for a DC route, since to get anything longer than 4 miles, you will end up jogging past some building of political or historical importance. Add in a couple terrain changes, and you've got an interesting, but exhausting, tour of the nation's capital.

My experiences with both basketball and running have taught me that I can rise above things I am ordinarily fearful of, to the point that I enjoy them. Moreover, the more apprehensive I am at something, the more enjoyment I have in working and excelling at it.