Since I have had my Gastric Bypass and knee replacements I have participated in a couple of races. And by races I mean walking. Fast walking, but walking none the less. New knees=no running. The last one was last weekend, called trek or treat, and you did it in costume. Now at these races, almost everyone runs. There is a walking division, but most at least jog. The number you pin on your shirt has an identifying do-hickey that activates when you cross the start line and then the finish, so they can rank you. Well, I went dressed in costume, with a pillow on my belly, with a friend, and we nattered the entire way. We did 5k in almost exactly an hour. Which I though wasn't bad. The next day I checked out my ranking online...3rd slowest, and last in my age division. Now, I could make all kinds of excuses, I was in costume, it was at night, we talked the whole way, it was rough terrain...but honestly, I couldn't give a rats ass about being last. Every race I complete is a triumph for me.
If you had asked me 4 years ago to participate in a race I would have thought you were certifiable. 441lbs, 2 bad knees, asthma, I HONESTLY, without a word of a lie, could BARELY make it to the end of my driveway. The mailbox at the end of the road was an ordeal that required me to sit on neighbours fences to rest along the way. I never cared about participating in races, it had no draw for me. But, over the course of getting new knees after losing my weight, those knees needed to be exercised to function properly. So, I started walking. To be clear, I do not like walking with no goal, I live in the country, so my only options are straight out to straight back. Walking to nowhere and turning around and coming back seems silly and ludicrous to me. So, I marked out a mile with my vehicle...that neighbours mailbox is precisely 1k. So I picked that. I walked the kilometer, touched the mailbox (another of my quirks, I have to touch it, whatever goal it is) and went back. And it didn't kill me. I was fine when I got back. Wait a minute, I was FINE when I got back, 2k, and not winded or sore....HOLY CRAP I CAN DO THIS! So, not to lose momentum, I picked another goal.The stop sign at the next concession. 2.6k one way. So more than 5k there and back. I brought my phone, and waited til Dave was home, cause surely I was going to have to call him at some point to pick me up. No way I'd make 5k, I would just keep working at it till I did it. Off I went, Nickelback, Aerosmith, Ac/DC, zz Top keeping me company, walking to the beat of the music, the occasional air guitar or drum solo along the way when I felt the need to pay homage to a wicked beat. Let me tell you, the migrant workers are sure you are having a seizure when you are flailing to a Bun E. Carlos drum solo! Got to the stop sign, touched it in wonder that I had made it this far, and turned to see how far I could make it back. Well, I made it all the friggin' way. Right into my house, 5.2k! Now, this I was feeling, my leg muscles were ticking like an engine run hard and stopped suddenly, but I DID IT! THat meant I could participate in organized races, something I never thought I could ever do. So I did. 2 under my belt so far, and registered for an 8k tomorrow that will probably have me racing in sleet, but I do not care. I can do it. It will be hard, I have only walked 9k by myself a couple of times, it didn't kill me but I felt it. But I am building up to try a half marathon. Yes, ME, Mrs "running is for chumps"! I don't know if my knees will take 21k, and in the 4 hours they usually give you, but I damn well am going to try.
The point is, I don't care if I come dead last, I do not especially like walking, I am not chomping at the bit to lace up and go. I do it because I CAN. I enjoy the fact that I CAN. I am friggin' THRILLED with the fact that I CAN! And time at the end of the race be damned, I am only racing against myself, because I CAN!
If you had asked me 4 years ago to participate in a race I would have thought you were certifiable. 441lbs, 2 bad knees, asthma, I HONESTLY, without a word of a lie, could BARELY make it to the end of my driveway. The mailbox at the end of the road was an ordeal that required me to sit on neighbours fences to rest along the way. I never cared about participating in races, it had no draw for me. But, over the course of getting new knees after losing my weight, those knees needed to be exercised to function properly. So, I started walking. To be clear, I do not like walking with no goal, I live in the country, so my only options are straight out to straight back. Walking to nowhere and turning around and coming back seems silly and ludicrous to me. So, I marked out a mile with my vehicle...that neighbours mailbox is precisely 1k. So I picked that. I walked the kilometer, touched the mailbox (another of my quirks, I have to touch it, whatever goal it is) and went back. And it didn't kill me. I was fine when I got back. Wait a minute, I was FINE when I got back, 2k, and not winded or sore....HOLY CRAP I CAN DO THIS! So, not to lose momentum, I picked another goal.The stop sign at the next concession. 2.6k one way. So more than 5k there and back. I brought my phone, and waited til Dave was home, cause surely I was going to have to call him at some point to pick me up. No way I'd make 5k, I would just keep working at it till I did it. Off I went, Nickelback, Aerosmith, Ac/DC, zz Top keeping me company, walking to the beat of the music, the occasional air guitar or drum solo along the way when I felt the need to pay homage to a wicked beat. Let me tell you, the migrant workers are sure you are having a seizure when you are flailing to a Bun E. Carlos drum solo! Got to the stop sign, touched it in wonder that I had made it this far, and turned to see how far I could make it back. Well, I made it all the friggin' way. Right into my house, 5.2k! Now, this I was feeling, my leg muscles were ticking like an engine run hard and stopped suddenly, but I DID IT! THat meant I could participate in organized races, something I never thought I could ever do. So I did. 2 under my belt so far, and registered for an 8k tomorrow that will probably have me racing in sleet, but I do not care. I can do it. It will be hard, I have only walked 9k by myself a couple of times, it didn't kill me but I felt it. But I am building up to try a half marathon. Yes, ME, Mrs "running is for chumps"! I don't know if my knees will take 21k, and in the 4 hours they usually give you, but I damn well am going to try.
The point is, I don't care if I come dead last, I do not especially like walking, I am not chomping at the bit to lace up and go. I do it because I CAN. I enjoy the fact that I CAN. I am friggin' THRILLED with the fact that I CAN! And time at the end of the race be damned, I am only racing against myself, because I CAN!