My Race My Pace
In January 2023, I joined the 50 States Half-Marathon Challenge with a goal to run a half-marathon in each state by age 70. The challenge meets my goals for fitness, travel, and visiting all 50 United States at least once. This is called habit stacking, where one habit meets several needs or goals. On June 23, 2024, I ran the Hi Vee Half-Marathon in Bloomington, Minnesota making it the 7th race I have completed in the 50 States Half-Marathon Challenge.
I enjoy running half-marathons, 5K and 10K races because of the since of accomplishment I feel when I cross the finished line. With each half-marathon, I set out to complete the race in 3 hours. My best time this year was 3:00:51, when I ran the Jump Off Rock Half-Marathon in Hendersonville, North Carolina on May 11, 2024. I was so energized from the North Carolina Half-Marathon that I entered the Minnesota Half-Marathon with a goal of completing the race under 3 hours.
When I began the race, I immediately felt the difference in the course. The North Carolina Jump Off Rock Half-Marathon was a downhill course that gave me an immediate force of speed because of gravity that was pulling me forth. The challenge in this race was to pace myself in such a way that I would not fall. The course in Minnesota was a mixture of flat and hilly terrain that required more physical exertion, strength and endurance.
Another difference in each of these Half-Marathons was the weather. The temperature in Hendersonville, North Carolina on Saturday, May 11, 2024, was a chilly 44°F when we began the race. The weather in Bloomington, Minnesota on that day was 71°F when we began the race. It was a notable difference in the climate and what I needed to endure heat, the longer I ran the course.
Finally, with each race, I was in a different physical and mental space. When I ran in May, I had given myself more recovery time from the Chattanooga, Tennessee Half-Marathon on March 3, 2024. The recovery time between the Tennessee and North Carolina Half-Marathons was 9 weeks. Whereas the recovery time between the North Carolina and Minnesota Half-Marathons was 6 weeks. This too was a notable difference in my energy level while running, making my finished time in Minnesota 3:15:20.
Why am I comparing my finishing time in these races? The truth is I am not competing with anyone else’s performance but my own. To date, I have completed half-marathons in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Hawaii, Tennessee, North Carolina and Minnesota. With each race my finished time was different, but the real goal of running a half-marathon in every state is being accomplished!
Here’s 5 things I am learning as I complete the 50 States Half-Marathon Challenge:
1. Each course is different.
2. Each race comes with different variables in terrain, weather, and physical exertion.
3. Each time I run I am different.
4. Each race requires recovery time.
5. Each race requires a different pace.
These and other life lessons are reasons why I enjoy running half-marathons. The principals are transferrable in many ways. I can apply them to how I live, lead, work and accomplish goals in every area of my life.
It’s no wonder why the Christian life is often compared to running a race and other athletic games. With each race I gain insight into my own life and spiritual journey. The lessons of faith, patience, endurance, waiting, resting, and restoration is invaluable. Running half-marathons teach me how to endure seasons of turmoil, testing and trials.
Life is like a half-marathon course. The terrain is different at each juncture. The temperature and weather changes are common to life. Therefore, I must give myself time for recovery prepare for the next season and accomplish my goals. Finally, I must remember that I am not competing with anyone else. It is my race and my pace.
Blessings…
Dr. Toni
#halfmarathonrunner