Wanting to share today, an imposed challenge that was presented to me this morning by a trainer at the gym. Following Fitness Yoga, I always like to run a few miles as I’ve mentioned before, it is a time when I feel light and fleet on my feet. However, today, my time was limited and I only had about 20 minutes to run before I needed to pick up 
my daughter.
As I hopped on the treadmill, ready to make the most of my 20 minute window of opportunity, the trainer behind the desk, gave me a bad time by saying, “You still here?” I responded saying, “I have 20 minutes to squeeze in a bit more mileage!”
He proceeded to challenge that plan saying, “Gonna get 3 in? Can you do an 8 minute pace?”
As the belt started to move, I plugged in my earbuds, hit my stopwatch and smiled over my shoulder, “Let’s see!”
Moving from the relaxed state in Yoga to an 8 minute pace, there is a bit of a transitory adjustment, but once my legs started moving and the musical motivation of my “Faithful Fitness” (upbeat, Contemporary Christian) playlist kicked in, I picked the pace up to an 8 minute mile.
Finishing the 1st mile, with one eye on the clock and the other on my stopwatch, I picked up the pace to 7:30 and maintained it for a while. Throughout that second mile, I focused on my breath and breathing, striving to inhale through my nose and on alternating exhalations, exhale through my nose and mouth.
As the clock on the wall let me know that my 20 minute window was closing in, I decided to finish out the three mile and on the last quarter mile, I kicked the pace up to 6:40, resorted to mouth breathing, and pumping arms.
When I hit stop on my watch, I had just clocked a new 3 mile PR of 22:30 a 7.43 min. per mile average. For some people, this pace would not be a record or even be a challenge to maintain. For me, this morning it was a challenge set forth by someone who randomly called out a couple of numbers, yet planted a seed in my brain. I immediately internalized it, and chose to push my body to achieve it!
To the trainer behind the desk, those numbers didn’t mean anything and whether or not, I did indeed run 3 miles in 20 minutes or hit an 8 minute pace, wouldn’t change his day one way or another. BUT, running 3 miles in 22:30 at a 7.4 min/mile pace changed my day and my mental outlook toward future challenges!
So in turn, I impose a challenge today to you: Take a reflective inventory of the pace in which you live your life. What is your average pace (be it mental, or physical), how can you challenge that pace today, or perhaps, other people throughout your day are challenging it for you? How can you rise to the challenge and beat your best pace? I am not just speaking about the speed in which you go through your day, daily activities, and responsibilities. Your pace can be your positive outlook, your tone of voice with your husband and your children, perhaps even the affirmations that you allow yourself to hear and feel as a reward for a job well done!
My imposed challenge to you today is to set a new PR, a new pace, and then delight in that feeling of success!
Whether it be running and fitness PR’s or life lesson PR’s, I would love to hear your stories of success and vow to help you celebrate!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
thanks for this inspiration! Normally a runner, I would incorporate your encouraging words toward my running – however I am enduring these winter months in a neck brace (broke my neck sledding around Christmas) – so regarding pace, I need to slow mine down, and after doing too much on the elliptical on Saturday, I am still paying the price. I also need to keep a better perspective on life – I am lucky to be alive! not just impatient for these next 2 months to pass by. While I do have my moments of discouragement, I try to keep a positive perspective…thanks again for your encouragement!
Martha,
Slow and steady wins the race…a mantra taken from the famous race between the Tortise and then Hare! Time does heal, but it is hard to be patient with our bodies in a state of repair. Perhaps you can use this time to strengthen core muscles and work on breathing techniques that will help you once you are able to safely return to running.
Your positive perspective is a shining example for all of us, thank you for sharing and best wishes for continued healing!