Yesterday I ran a 5K. I could have been garage sale shopping - I passed so many garage sale signs! But I wanted to check off a new years goal I had set. My goal was to run a 5K in a certain amount of time (are you thinking, "I wonder how fast she wanted to run it"?). Well, I ran my hardest. And when I couldn't keep up with this much older woman, I wondered if my booty wasn't as in shape as it should have been. I didn't have a watch so I had no idea how fast I was running.
I beat my goal time by three minutes. Three minutes! My goal wasn't even close to what I ran it in (are you wondering how fast I am?)! And it feels wonderful to check that new years goal off. But it got me thinking. Should I have set a much harder goal for myself? I remember when I ran a half marathon a couple of years ago, I beat my goal time by thirty minutes. Again, not even close! Why do I do that? Is that bad? Do I do that with the other areas of my life (that I can't measure or calculate so nicely)? It is true that I love to check things off my lists. So do I subconsciously set things I know I can do just so I can put that big ol' check mark next to it?
"I don't know why I doubted myself because I am so clearly awesome."
I don't know. Maybe my goal time should have been harder. But just having the goal in the first place got me in the race and out of the garage sales.
I wonder how many sales I missed.
9 comments:
First of all, I have to say I think it's funny you think you are not a good writer. I think this post is so well-written!
And second of all, I have to say that in the finish-line picture of Maegan and I on our half marathon, there is an old woman walking with a smile on her face about five paces in front of us, who apparently finished about three seconds before us. Why do those old people have to make us look bad? (Especially considering the smile on her face and the face I'm sure I made after I crossed the finish line as if I was going to cry and vomit. :) )
And third of all, well done on finishing the 5K! Go Audra!
I think the way you do it is just fine. When it comes down to it you push yourself to acheive your best. The goal gets you moving, and then you go kick booty.
Congratulations on accomplishing your goal. I used to set my goals really high and then motherhood got harder and harder with each child and I realized that I literally couldn't accomplish what I used to and became easily discouraged because of it. Now I set simple goals and love checking them off. I am a checker and need to check to be happy. It is a reality and by realizing that I have a means to produce happiness.
Nice job setting a goal and achieving it. Maybe the time doesn't matter so much, but you doing it.
I ran a 5K yesterday too! Too bad we weren't in the same state and couldn't run it together! I miss those days.
I think are amazing for doing it no matter what the time!
By the way you are clearly awesome (I love that show!).
Congratulations on running the 5K! Congratulations too on bettering your goal by so far! That's amazing! I don't think you set your goals too low, I just think because you don't focus on running every day, your estimation of what you thought you could do was lower than what it really was. You're just plain awesome!
Good job running the race! This made me laugh. I love the quote from the office. I am trying to get back into running. It's nice with the longer day light so I can actually do it now when Chris gets home.
Setting realistic goals is a talent. You are clearly awesome.
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