Running in the Night isn't just a song by Lionel Richie it is something I do when the days get shorter and shorter. I prefer not to and will do it only rarely by myself. I've got the treadmill and don't mind putting in the miles on that. But my husband hates it and so out the door we go with headlamps and reflective gear.
Last night as we prepared to do our 5.8 mile route he asked me how fast I'd do it. When I gave him my prediction he said, "You do realize, don't you, that that is 2 minutes faster than you did it a couple of days ago?" I said, "Yes, I realize it, but I'm fast in the cold and dark." He thought that was kind of funny but it is true. To a certain degree it is easier for me to run in the cool air because I don't love running in the heat and there are fewer pollens to interfere with my breathing. And when I'm running a little scared (yes, I'm still afraid of the dark) I go faster.
I tried to temper my goal and said, "Okay, I'll be one minute faster." I was one minute faster at the turn and almost always run a negative split on that course. And I did. I was two minutes and seventeen seconds faster than my previous run.
I take a small life lesson from this experience: Performing outside your comfort zone can often produce your best results.
Please feel free to share your comments about situations where you've also found that to be the case. I'd love to hear from you!
www.jerianne.rnohomes.com
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