Surviving to thriving

20:01.

A respectable 5K time for any 44-year-old, but one agonising second away from my sub 20 minute target. 

My initial reaction to my chip time at the Donfaster 5K on Friday was disappointment. Could I have given a little bit more?

It didn't take long for me to gain some perspective though. I felt strong throughout the race and paced each lap evenly. I didn't come last in a wave of impressive runners, some of whom finished the course in around 15 minutes. I didn't throw up.

What's more, the physical act of running a solid race opened up a psychological door to the belief that, with consistent training and effort, I could achieve a lifetime PB and potentially even break 19 minutes.

I am still recovering and I am still healing. What awaits, what feels tantalisingly close, is a new era where I switch gears from surviving to thriving.

It feels good to be running fast again.


Last push towards the finish line.


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