Taking The Long View

Last Saturday I was able to resume running with the KMA peeps.
I checked in, stated I would run three laps, and proceeded on "go" with the group. My first lap was 5:02. My second was at 10:06. This surprised me that I kept the same pace. I didn't know I could be that consistent. But the third lap was hard. I thought, I'm going to have to walk some of this. I won't quit, but I don't think I'm going to be able to make it all the way around again running.
I kept envisioning the words, "I am here," a new image that came to me recently. It's very clear in my mind and in fact the letters are vertical when I envision them. That helped me keep going. Or rather, it helped me stay present while my legs kept going, instead of thinking about how hard it was and how much further I had to go.
What also helped was one of the young high school black belt women. She was mentoring someone younger than herself who is, apparently, trying to qualify for black belt. I heard her say to her mentee, 'lengthen your stride.'
I hadn't remembered ever hearing those words before. But I gave it a try (even though she wasn't talking to me). It made a real difference! I felt like I was covering at least the same amount of ground but expending less energy.
Before I knew it, I was rounding the last corner. I hadn't walked, though I had slowed down a bit. But I picked it up for the finish. I turned on the juice. I sprinted to the finish and crossed at 15:00 flat.
Wow! What a great feeling!
This is why I keep training.
To discover that I CAN keep going is profoundly empowering.
I'm trying to get that into my bones.