How LHR got me into running

Guest Authored by Lauren Do 

I’ve never considered myself a “runner.” Cardio for fun? It was a no. Getting sweaty, out of breath, and red-faced for no good reason just wasn’t appealing to me. After coming to college, however, I wanted to find a way to stay in shape amidst a sea of midterms and easily accessible junk food. I joined Longhorn Run because I saw what an impact it made on the UT community and how many diverse groups took part in it, and since joining, I’ve met so many inspiringly fit people—people who have run Spartan races, triathlons, and even marathons. Hearing about their accomplishments motivated me to give running a second try. It hadn’t been my favorite thing in the past, but who knew, maybe I’d find my second wind.

The first week was definitely the hardest. I’d decided to try and follow the 10K Finish The Race training plan, and to be honest, I could barely run a mile. I was panting and ready to give up after the first few days, but I stuck with the commitment I’d made—and guess who can run 3 miles now? (It’s me!) Sure, it isn’t record breaking or anything, and it’s at an 11-minute pace, but it’s the longest distance I’ve ever run in my life, and I’m proud of that. It’s been a little over a month, and I’m still trying to keep up with the training plan. It’s so satisfying to cross those workouts off the calendar. Sometimes I have to shuffle around which days I run compared to the calendar, but keeping the distance consistent with a physical plan has really helped me to commit to running. I still can’t say running is my favorite thing in the world, but I feel so accomplished when I hit my distance goal. Every run gets easier now, and I’m enjoying it more and more as I switch up the music I listen to and where I run. I’m so happy that Longhorn Run has given me this inspiration, and I can’t wait to see everyone reach their goal when the cross the finish line on race day! I’ll see you all there!

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