It took 7 years, but I finally did it
Posted: September 14th, 2018, 7:04 pm
I'd just turned 30 and I figured my metabolism was going to be slowing down pretty soon. I despised running and didn't want to try a gym, so I purchased my model D with a PM3 in October of 2011 so I could lazily burn a few calories to justify some occasional ice cream. After trying "just rowing" for a bit I started looking for a plan to help at least give some better round numbers and found Pete's Beginner plan. After I completed the first go, I figured I'd start it up again from the beginning and see if there was any improvement to be had. Before I knew it I realized I'd hit the 1M meter mark. I requested the free shirt but then it dawned on me there were other markers along the way. I thought the distances required were huge lifetime goals but figured it was something to help track forward progress until I got tired of things.
I happened to see the marathon was coming up and (stupidly) figured I'd just see if I could do 4x 10k's in a row without any real ramp up/training. I didn't actually expect to finish, but surprised myself when I actually made it through (still one of my best times; ah the glory of youth). I saw the Winter Holiday challenge come and with that thermometer running pushed myself to keep trying to add a few more cents to the tally. My first holiday pin arrived in the mail and I threw it into a drawer.
I switched to Pete's 5k plan for a few longer stretches, and after counting out 10k many times I saw the 5M club was in reach. Hitting that just made me want to keep seeing how far I could go. I started repeating Pete's 5k and my next marathon came and went, and I decided to incorporate some half marathons into the plan to help make things feel better in the longer stretches. I remember hitting the 10M mark as I was going through a holiday challenge, realizing how far 20M was away (it was the full distance what I'd just gone through, but repeated!) and pushing onward. The time I'd been rowing had started to blur together, and as I was cleaning out the drawer I'd been tossing the pins I'd received in to I was surprised at how many I'd accumulated and looked back on them fondly.
The 15M club came and went, and now I've suddenly/finally hit what I originally thought was a ridiculous number for anyone other than a fitness nut. This arrived this afternoon. The bag is nice (as it everything else I've received on this journey), but it's because of the embroidery on the side and what it represents I actually tear up a bit when I look at it...and I can only guess where the next stretch will take me.
Thanks C2!
I happened to see the marathon was coming up and (stupidly) figured I'd just see if I could do 4x 10k's in a row without any real ramp up/training. I didn't actually expect to finish, but surprised myself when I actually made it through (still one of my best times; ah the glory of youth). I saw the Winter Holiday challenge come and with that thermometer running pushed myself to keep trying to add a few more cents to the tally. My first holiday pin arrived in the mail and I threw it into a drawer.
I switched to Pete's 5k plan for a few longer stretches, and after counting out 10k many times I saw the 5M club was in reach. Hitting that just made me want to keep seeing how far I could go. I started repeating Pete's 5k and my next marathon came and went, and I decided to incorporate some half marathons into the plan to help make things feel better in the longer stretches. I remember hitting the 10M mark as I was going through a holiday challenge, realizing how far 20M was away (it was the full distance what I'd just gone through, but repeated!) and pushing onward. The time I'd been rowing had started to blur together, and as I was cleaning out the drawer I'd been tossing the pins I'd received in to I was surprised at how many I'd accumulated and looked back on them fondly.
The 15M club came and went, and now I've suddenly/finally hit what I originally thought was a ridiculous number for anyone other than a fitness nut. This arrived this afternoon. The bag is nice (as it everything else I've received on this journey), but it's because of the embroidery on the side and what it represents I actually tear up a bit when I look at it...and I can only guess where the next stretch will take me.
Thanks C2!
