My running comeback

Since then I slowly started to recover. Towards the end of my flare I attempted a few runs at home. The first run back was AMAZING. It was one of those runs where you were only planning a brief run on one trail but then you feel so good you keep going AND you spontaneously explore a new area! The other two runs I did at home however, let's just say, cut it a little too close for comfort 💩.

I was glad to have taken a break from YouTube for the most part because I watched soooo many film theories and YouTube docs on that thing lol.

Soon enough, I gained the confidence and belief not to myself to do my first outside run at my new home! I had so much fun exploring new areas and mixing up the treadmill and outdoor runs each day!

A picture of an orange sky at sunrise.
I can feel the cool morning air just looking at this beautiful sunrise pic from an early morning run!

Luckily, this hiatus was super brief. From my mistakes, I became a (slightly) smarter runner. I tried to cool it a bit with my running by running every other day and (usually) only once a day. I also realized that running in the same pair of already severely worm shoes was not helping. So I decided to strap on my brand new Saucony Triumph's and that was the BEST idea ever!

Popped on new shoes...got lost... got a new 10k PR. 🤣

All this 'smart' running was a promise to myself to build up a base while doing everything in my power to avoid injury before marathon training.

Yep. That's right. You read that correctly. I said marathon training. I, Brianna Maeve Lyman, am going to run a marathon.🤯💥😎

bri wears a black beanie, blue jacket, and black yoga pants as she runs down a pavement.
Little 14 year old me would've never guessed she'd one day run a marathon!

I have always... HATED running, until I loved it and sometimes can't get enough of it. There's just something so incredible about the paradox of running- the pure exhilaration of pushing your limits vs the relaxation and self reflection of long easy runs.

I 'fell' out of running a bit while at disney. But then Marathon Weekend Hit. And when the Freemont INTERNATIONAL half marathon popped up on my feed. (How cool is that?!) With my nostalgic love for running, I could not say no.

I was very inspired greeting all the guest runners with their post run swag!
It's official! Bri's first thon 🥹

*Yes I said half marathon, but the fact the full marathon was $10 more... I simply had to upgrade to the full deal. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I immediately began researching training plans. I even realized with 34 weeks between the time I would return home after the DCP and the marathon; I would have enough time to train for a half and then train for a full! But... I didn't want to get bored (which I doubted would happen but was still a worry of mine) so I decided to just wait. During this latent non-training phase I probably researched a thousand different training plans... espescially when I couldn't run (thanks U.C. lol).

But there was many times I could run. Most of these runs boosted my confidence and excitement for the upcoming training period. After running comeback #???who knows now???, I even won my race and set a new 5K PR!

Remember that image of 14 year old Bri who struggled to run a 40 min+ 5k? She would be astonished and so proud the same girl who felt defeated and like she could never sub a 8:32 sec mile would go on to run a 5k with a 7:57min/mile avg pace! The growth that running brings me both physically and mentally, is by far my favorite thing about the sport.

Thank you legs for carrying me so many miles thus far. I know er are ready to take on our biggest running challenge yet!

Enjoyed this post? Let me know by commenting something past you would be proud about you now! As always, stay curious. ~Bri

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