This past weekend has been a dream come true and a milestone to prove that all the hard work I’ve been putting in for the past 10 months especially. Everyday with not one training missed, in the rain, wind, heat, freezing temperatures, early rises and double training days to fit it all in. Every single sacrifice is showing to be worth it.
More than not I get comments on what I choose to do and achieve, ‘missing out’ on gatherings or parties but to me they are the ones missing out on becoming there best selves.
A year ago today I was starting my three month journey through injury recovery with no running for two of it with an injured foot with pain every-time I ran and walked, and if I did run the afterwards pain would be to unbearable to walk on.
In denial of the injury being my own fault I had to go through many pathways through specialist leading me to the top nutritionist in NZ for sporting, where I was told I was receiving the implications of red-S disorder from under eating, this took a while to come to accept but with the lack of food my body was surviving off of itself and got to the point where it could no longer care for the health of my body functions like bones and muscles leading to feet pain.
After accepting and finding a few of the root causes that led me to fall down this path I made tough choices and decisions that from that one point it felt like nothing was worth it or there for me except for my running and fitness so I focused on myself and through many of my juggles this year running has always been my way to release and prove to myself what I can do.
The past 10 months I have been able to put 100% into myself and my fitness and I have finally been able to reap the benefits of proper nutrition, consistency and passion improving myself more every-time I wake up and chose to put myself first because I will always be there.
This weekend I raced at my final New Zealand secondary schools athletics champs, this is my fourth time racing but third year being more competitive, I have only ever competed in the road race but this year I decided to also do the 3,000m race on the track to push myself more outside of my comfort zone because doing something uncomfortable means it won’t be next time.
I ran the race smashing my PB from only earlier this year by 20 seconds and placing much higher than I was seeded.
Following up this race just less than two days later I had my 4,000m road race which was the key race I compete in every year. Last year I placed 24th and broke the 16 minute mark with averages sub 4 minute kms. And was happy with that due to the lack of focus and injury that I was about to go through recovery for.
This year I completed it pushing the pace from the start finishing 6th holding the position I went into, a kilometre in. Already a massive improvement in placing means a massive PB, of 1 minute and 14 seconds, averaging a 3:40 min per km taking a huge leap of improvement.
Not only did I prove to others I could do it after this many years I proved to myself that everything I do is worth it even if it’s hard at the time.
Coach Ray has been with me almost the entire time since I started to focus on my running journey and has guided me through to this point without a slip up or missed comment, every week I look forward to reading the comments he gives and every training I put my all knowing that Ray will see every step that I complete.
Being held accountable but also having someone to know when to stop and when to go has been key. Ray knows just the balance of training I need between swimming, cycling and actually running to recover and preform at my best while still enjoying myself throughout. I can’t wait to sit down and plan out my next years worth of competition and races to start training towards to continue this journey and to reap the rewards of hard work and determination in a passion I continue to grow a love for every run and race I complete.
– Jessica Bray