It’s Time To Get Serious!

Running has been an off-and-on pursuit ever since high school. In high school, this non-athletic kid decided to take the plunge into a sport. Since I knew a couple of runners who were in cross-country, I decided to give it a go.

Not sure how long it took for me to develop shin splints, but before I had a chance to run a single meet, I was out. For the season. Nevertheless, somehow, I had the bug. The desire to run. The desire to improve.

I’ve never been a particularly fast runner, but that doesn’t change the fact that I want to challenge myself. And I think that is one of the things that is attractive about running. My definition of a competitive runner is one that wants to put effort into getting better.

Somewhere along the way, I got this idea. I want to run a 10K in under my age. I’ve probably had this idea for a decade. But gaining over 40 pounds during the pandemic, something finally clicked and made me want a real change. I found a dietitian, signed up for weight watchers, and started training. This time with purpose.

The last 10K I ran was the 2022 Boulder Bolder. 1:21:55. 13:10 pace. To run under my age, I need to run at a 9:20 pace. I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader to figure out my age. But, it’s a pretty big jump. I have run 10Ks in under 55 minutes and even under 50, but that was a younger me. So I’ve set up a schedule, and so far, I’ve been much more consistent in my execution.

And so far, I’ve loved the journey. I’ve still got a ways to go. I’m faster, but not fast enough to sustain a 9:20 mile for 10K. But I have already lost over 30 pounds. And while my training runs don’t always feel fast, they do feel respectable.

My first attempt will be at the Cap10K in Austin. Then possibly the 10K at the Colorado Marathon. Then the Bolder Boulder. If you are planning to run one of these events, let me know. And maybe we can either celebrate or commiserate at the finish line! Either way, I’m glad I decided to take the challenge.