So for context, I have never been a runner. In middle school, I did cross country, but it was just so my best friend and I could walk in the back and gossip lol. Always been a little chunky and out of breath. I can lift weights, I can do HIIT, but running has never been my thing. Basically as soon as my legs get that burn or I start to cramp, my brain starts telling me it’s time to slow down before I can’t keep going.

I walk/jog with my dog’s leash tied around my waist, and a couple days ago a man ran up behind us. He got my dog all riled up so now pup was really pulling hard to keep up w the man. I was a little annoyed since we were already halfway through our two mile loop and the sun was out.

Idk if it was the peer pressure/desire not to seem “sporty”, or the fact that the man was jogging at a slower pace than I’m used to, but somehow I kept up with him for over a mile. I was even able to make conversation while jogging. I guess my whole life I thought to be good at running you had to be going at 85-90% consistently. But leisurely jogging w this man I was only giving 40% and had enough energy to jog the rest of the way home!

I know it sounds stupid to experienced runners bc I’m basically saying it never occurred to me that I could pace down. Obviously, I wasn’t going to tell this man he just inadvertently peer pressured me into accomplishing a lifelong goal - he was training for a half-marathon after all 🤣 he didn’t need to know the revelation he just triggered. But inside I was freaking out. My calves were cramping in a way they never had before but I didn’t care - it clicked in that moment what i thought was a physical barrier had always been MENTAL barrier.

On the way home I thought to myself ‘If i didn’t know i could do that, what else do i not know I can do? Am I ACTUALLY a runner now?!’

Now I’m addicted to breaking my “record” every time I go on jogs w my pup. One chance interaction and it feels like my athletic potential exploded.

I know it sounds silly to be so proud over this but it taught me a huge lesson on the power of the limitations I didn’t know I had placed on myself. More proof that consistency does pay off. Having this click for me has meant so much more than the numbers on the scale.

TLDR; Keep going y’all. We’re so much more capable than we realize.