I recently stumbled across something that I couldn’t keep to myself. It was just too good.
It was 2005.
I was in college.
I knew I liked running, but wasn’t “serious” about it.
So I signed up for a half marathon. The Nike Women’s Half Marathon, to be exact.
Being that this race was over seven years ago, I had promptly forgotten all about it. I don’t recall my race goals or training, in fact I don’t even think I had any, and I think I had to stop, borrow a stranger’s phone and go back to find Chicken Face during the race. But the one thing that I was recently reminded of (thank you, Athlinks) was my time:
Yup. 2:29:11.
When I found this today, I smiled.
I continued to dig and found my half marathon results to look a little like this: 2:29, 1:56, 2:01, 1:45, 1:41, etc. More smiling.
I smiled because it reminded me that we all have to start somewhere and it takes time to progress. This summer, my goal is to break 1:30 and when I didn’t do it at the Oakland half, I was upset. Boo-freaking-hoo.
What happened to that girl from 2005? I’m pretty sure my goal back then was just to finish. And you know what the funny thing is? I know that I finished and was grinning ear to ear because I did it! I didn’t care about my time, didn’t put added pressure on myself to perform, wasn’t throwing a freaking tantrum because I missed a goal and I wore that Tiffany’s necklace with pride.
Finding this gem today reminds me that not only do we all start somewhere, but we should all be proud of that start, because it is…a start!
I’m going to take this with me as I continue on my triathlon training. I’m dipping my toe into these new waters and instead of fretting over the results or being fast enough, I need to pump my fist in the air because I’m trying something new. And heck, there’s nowhere to go but up!
Happy Running!
I completely agree! This is why I want to do a new event this year, whether it’s a trail half or a full marathon, just so I can revel in the feeling that I’ve accomplished a new goal.
I’ve been convincing myself that there’s no way I could ever reach certain goals (BQ, achieve a sub-1:40 half time, to name a few)–that I’m just not wired that way. I ran my first half in 1:55, so maybe I can get into those 1:30s someday, too. 🙂 This came at the perfect time and was exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you for the reminder that we’ve all come so far and can go even farther!
It is terribly inspiring to see someone go from a 2:29 to a 1:30. My current PR is 2:27 and I would give anything to someday break 2. Sometimes reading blogs can be a little discouraging because it seems everyone is super speedy. But it is encouraging to know that a talented athlete like you had to start somewhere. Thank you for this.
Thank you so much for posting this! I am in my second year of running and I did my first half in about that same time and I know I can improve and it takes time and hard work. Like many others I read lots of running/fitness blogs and find myself comparing myself when it’s just not fair to me because I’m still relatively new at this. What is fast for me is a recovery run for someone else and that’s ok! Anyway, I think this is a great perspective to have as you begin a new adventure in the world of triathlons.
Very cool post 🙂 I was thinking the other day that the A+ goal should always be to finish and enjoy.
Wow!!! That is such a huge improvement!!! It really amazes me how much some people have improved their times. 🙂 Really inspiring!
Thank you for posting this. I’m just starting out with this marathon stuff, and it’s comforting to see that even speed demons like you weren’t always so fast!
Thank you for this. I read your blog and many other running blogs and feel like it is so far from me being able to accomplish any of it. I am VERY new in the fitness journey and I have fallen off more than once. I am currently doing week three of couch to 5k. My boyfriend just found a 5k for next weekend (it is run/walk event) that is for pancreatic cancer and I want to do it because it is the disease that claimed my grandfather’s life a few months ago. I was scared to register because I know I will walk half of it and I know the time will be a horrible time. But you are right. It is a start. It is in beautiful NYC. It is more than I have done in the past. It is for a great cause. So thank you. It is important I start.
Awww, I was at Nike Women’s in 2005 too! It was my first full and I finished in a truly abysmal 4:41.
I love this. It gives me hope for a speedier future.
And my case is similar: I ran my first half a few years ago in 2:14. My goal was to finish. I was psyched. Now I’m a head case. Hehe. Where has our running innocence gone?!
this is a great reminder to look back on where I came from instead of always being antsy about where I’m going. thanks 🙂
thank you so much for posting this. I just began seriously running about a year ago and ran my first half last month in 1:43:41. I was disappointed and the race did not go as planned. I also thought I didn’t have it in my to increase my speed. but reading something like this after discovery your blog a few months ago and completely coveting your speediness makes me encouraged to know maybe i can increase my time and maybe one day hit the goals I set in place for myself. I’m a big fan of yours and its so great to know that others start out with maybe not the times they wanted. I tend to get down reading running blogs bc I am not as fast as the authors but posts like this make me encouraged instead of down so thanks so much for that.
i love this so much. you give me so much hope and help me realize that it’s not gonna happen overnight.
ran my first half just two years ago in 2:35. my pr is 2:12 now, and i really want to break it/2 hours. seeing your incredible progress, i can’t imagine where i’ll be in another 5 years!
hope is alive. thanks page!
I think my first race was in 2005 too! I ran a 15k and loved it even though it was a hilly course. I think that is what got me into loving running. It is great that you can go back and look at your first race. My first half was pretty slow too, but it was so awesome just to finish!
Completely agree! It’s always good to remember/be reminded why I started running– because I LOVE it! It’s not about PRs… it’s about that feeling of knowing you did something amazing!
WE RAN OUR FIRST HALF MARATHONS ON THE SAME DAY!
I ran the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon, my very first one, on October 23, 2005, in 2:04 and change. My half times proceeded to look something like this for the next few years: 2:08, 2:02, 2:11, 1:57, 1:52, 1:52 …. and still 1:52. Not as impressive of a drop of time, but I have hope! 😉
This is awesome! It’s amazing to see how far you’ve come and a great reminder that everyone starts somewhere.
Hahaha @ Cate, if I finish my first full in 4:41, I will be over the freaking moon! 😉
wise words, page! like many, i tend to get really competitive with myself and get so hung up on numbers/results. but you’re right, it’s important to still look at the big picture, be proud of ourselves, and have fun! i’ve only been running for a few years, but when i look back and see how far i’ve come (and not just the finish times), it amazes me a bit : ) things i once thought were impossible/out of reach have actually been achieved. who would’ve though? thanks for this reminder!
This is the answer to the question I asked you a few weeks ago. It was something like ‘Were you always this fast!?” You inspire me to be faster! I’ve been running only about 2 years and I have seen serious improvement already – I’m hoping to get down to the 1:30s at some point!
This made me smile!! 🙂
Wow, you now finish a full hour ahead of your first half marathon!
You are right, we all have to start somewhere! And in the end as long as it’s fun that is all that matters!
This is the best entry ever, Page. You give me so much hope. Keep rocking lady.
I love this post!!! It’s fun to see how the whole obsession started. It’s so easy to get caught up in how fast you want to be now, that you forget how far you’ve come and where you’ve started.
And, it gives me hope that I can be super speedy one day, too. Or just super, if not speedy.
My first half was Oct 2011. I ran it in 2:01:17. I was terrified the night before!
I can’t hardly even remember my first races anymore! It’s exciting being new to something, whether it’s a new food or new sport or a new person. And also fun to look back and see how far we’ve come. Some day you’ll look back on tri training and laugh at being a Fred.
Thank you for posting this. I’m running a half next weekend and hearing about how much others have improved is exactly what I needed to hear. Especially since I’ll probably finish in about 2:30!
Aww yay I love this post! You improved so much and it get’s me excited and motivated to keep running and keep pushing myself to get better!
This is great! I’m in my freshman year of college right now and I just ran my first half yesterday. Like most of the people who commented, I just wanted to finish. I ran casually for about three months then decided to do a 5K (which was 4 weeks ago), then a 10K (two weeks ago) and decided to go through with the half marathon yesterday. It was such an amazing feeling to finish. I don’t know why I didn’t start running a long time ago. I’d like to improve my times but time is on the backburner compared to getting the feeling of finishing another race. Good luck to you!
Interesting post! I know your first half marathon gave you an encouragement to continue your journey in running, right? I know you will succeed, trust yourself! Happy running and good luck. You can do it!
Wow! Did you feel like it was slow or was that the best you could do?
I’m older than a college student but this gives me hope…1.30 seems so fast I can’t believe you could have started so slowly (no offence). My first half was 2.17 🙁 but I just dropped it down to 1.56 in a few months so maybe 1.45 or lower is within reach! That would be amazing. I shall try being more dedicated.
I like your blog and your training is impressive. You go over a lot of things I want to read about as I am thinking of starting triathlons. Reading the archives.