A running realization

Yesterday I had the best brick session of my life.

A brick is a bike followed by a run. The transition um, kills... every muscle in your legs. But that's what you do in a triathlon, so that's how you have to train. It does get easier, though. Or at least, easier to go faster. Or at LEAST, it gets possible to at a reasonable speed.

The first time I went I had weird brake problems with my bike... yes the brake was continually ON. So I was super slow. So I came in late off the bike and was the last person to start/finish the run section. I got my bike tuned up and my lap time for biking improved incredibly, but my run still wasn't fast. I think I've been telling myself I am slow- and using that as a crutch. Not "these other people are faster because they are pushing themselves harder" but "these are people are faster because I am a slow person". And then I wouldn't push myself as hard.

There are a couple of fast girls. Yesterday one of them was riding with me. Actually she said "Lisa, let's ride" and I suppressed a giggle because that phrase is hilare- and started on the first loop. We were chatting nicely, and rode at an easy pace. On the second loop, I started noticing I was always at a slightly faster pace. I kept accidentally getting ahead of her. I decided I'd rather make a friend than finish the loop at a good pace, so I'd just stop pedaling for a bit every so often for her to keep pace.

When we transitioned, she was taking her time to have a Gu and stretch out some muscle that had been bothering her, and told me to go ahead- that she would catch up. We were starting with 3 hill repeats so it was really easy to see where I was in relation to the other triathletes. The "fast girl" never caught up. In fact, I started passing a couple of people. There were two new girls that I lapped. Suddenly, and I mean SUDDENLY, I realized something. All this time I've been telling myself I'm one of the slow ones. One of the inexperienced ones. The one who always finishes near the end of the group.

And suddenly? I realized. I. AM NOT. SLOW.

And I charged up those hills, arms swinging, sweat dripping, breath ragged... feeling terrific. Feeling my muscles contract differently on different slopes. Feeling powerful. Actually I think I was even a little teary because I was just... proud of myself. Realizing?- I'm good. Well not awesome, but I am good. I am better than some people who have nicer bikes than me. I am better than some people who have been racing for a few seasons. And I'm definitely better than everybody who isn't out there. Not being last- gaining on people, lapping people... it felt like high school sports, when I knew I was just "a good runner". And I forgot what it felt like to believe that.

Running always makes me happy. But now I am more motivated than ever. I can't WAIT for my next speed workout. I can't WAIT for my next long run. I can't WAIT to go swimming in the morning, or on a really long bike ride this weekend. I'm just SO PUMPED to be out there.