The Need for (More) Speed

I am such a dork. This morning I spent an hour looking up race times from FIVE years ago--before twins, before 50 more pounds settled on my frame, before every waking moment seemed to be consumed by work or being a mom.

It got me excited about running and about my potential. I'm never going to be fast. I'm never going to win anything. But I can be faster than I am now, for sure.

The long and short of my research:

• At distances between 5 & 10K, my times ranged from 9:31 minute miles to 10:06 minute miles, even at altitude. I did three sub 10 minute mile races (and all this time I thought there was only ONE)
• At the half marathon distance (13.1 miles), I ranged from 11 minute to 12 minute miles
• At the marathon distance (26.2 miles), I was solidly doing 12 minute miles (mostly because of walking the later miles)
  

Most of this while I was struggling with torn cartilage in my hip. Not bad for a chubby woman who started running in her 30s.

This time round while training for the Chicago marathon in October:

• I've done ZERO races. ZERO. And I'm ok with that.
  
• I'm not dealing with major injuries (in fact, my Achilles Tendinitis is finally healing in large part to my expensive, miracle MBT shoes and training sensibly)
• I'm training to run/walk
• I'm just hoping to finish the same day I start. :-)