For some reason in the back of my mind, completing 3 miles marks the bare minimum of a run for me. I don’t know why and where it came from but I can never just run 1 mile or 2 miles, it HAS to be 3 or 3.11+.
Today, I started my run around 9:56pm, yes it’s late for a run but I made a commitment to myself and I didn’t want to let myself, my body, or my mind down. So I walked out the door and ran knowing that this worries my mother, knowing that it could be unsafe, knowing that I really needed that run.
I made a mental note to get back home by 10:30.
I ran one lap around my neighborhood barely clocking in one mile. I passed my house and continued running while taking a glimpse at my watch.
10:08. Keep going.
I ran until the other end of my neighborhood finishing mile 2. Glance at my watch and see 10:20. I started to contemplate, should I try to attempt to another mile knowing full well that if I do, I’ll be done after 10:30.
Decide, Asmaa, what are you going to do. Make a decision. You need to do 3 miles.
Then a voice came into my head, no you don’t.
I sped up mentally making the decision to stop when I reach my house.
The Runkeeper lady says “workout stopped. 2.42 miles”
I walk into my house feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. I didn’t let myself down, I fulfilled my commitment and it’s 10:28pm.
It finally settled in my mind, that a run is a run. Even if it’s 5 minutes, it’s enough. At least you gave your body what it needed and what it could handle today. And maybe tomorrow it’ll be able to handle more, maybe not. Whatever happens, it’ll be enough.