By Amy Balla
“It’s amazing what the body can do…”
I’ve heard this statement before, but never understood it. Usually my mind surprises me before my body does. Have you ever stepped on a scale to discover amazing acts by your body? I don’t need a scale anymore…my body talks to me everyday now without it.
I joined the beginner’s running group after the July 4th holiday this year. Today is October 24th and I’m still running three times a week consistently. The only background in running I had was as a soccer player in high school. I’m 28 now and on the road to fitness shape again. I could run for hours then. Those were the days when I thought I’d never be out of shape. Once again, “It’s amazing what the body can do…”
I started in the middle-level group at the Myers Park trail. This meant I was able to jog for ½ mile without stopping. I remember breathing so hard at the end. My face would be beat red and my body ached. It’s easy to imagine yourself as the same, fit runner from high school until you try it again. The thought of running a 5K, 3.1 miles for the runners-to-be, was just simply “dumb” in my mind at the time. Dumb in the sense that I just couldn’t do it, not because of the thought. Thinking is easy…doing takes real strength.
Two weeks ago, I completed my first ever 5K with a personal record. I’ve never been more proud of myself. People ask me what place I came in…it doesn’t matter. I finished and I finished faster than ever. Guess what I did last week? I ran my second 5K ever. The course was hot, sandy and hard. But, I still finished under my set-goal time. Guess what I’m doing this weekend? I’m running my third 5K ever.
“It’s amazing what the body can do…”