In the middle of February came an Email from our Vorstand about B2Run 5 km activity. I am not in shape for about 2 years, in other words, I have not done anything close to be classified as a sport, by any means. However, as an ex-sportler, I have to say this 5 km run looks doable. I did it many many times before (read: BC *Before Covid, meaning Shanghai time).
Julia said “let’s do a Team Event together, come on Marlyn we have done it on Silvesterlauf last time” turned to Andreas, he directly said yes. I said yes too #peer pressure 😉 This conversation became a topic during our lunch time with Holger, he said “ich mit sicherheit nicht”
I planned my first training in April, 1,5 month preparation should be enough. Searched on YouTube ‘warm up before workout’, specifically ‘warm up before run’ videos then run around my apartment.
I was so convinced I can do 1 km in one go, result? totally mistaken, I could only reach 0,48 Mi #utter shocked! I told Holger about my first running trial experience, he said “Du, we were already talking since 1,5 months ago that you should train earlier but you said one month is enough, mach wie du willst” Okay, I need to calm down, this is first trial, no need to give pressure whatsoever, there are still time.
Scheduled my training, plan every week 2-3 times, gradually increased. For example this week 1 km, next 1,5 km, then 2 km etc until 4 km distance. I don’t want to do a full 5 km exercise as someone… I forgot who… could be Miguel or Julia or both, said we should train less than the real distance therefore when the due day come, we have adrenaline to finish it, only then we will feel satisfied as we achieved something we never achieved before. Although Thomas said the other was around.
I also create my playlist with Eminem / Lose Youself, Jon Bon Jovi / Living on a Prayer, Queen / Radio Gaga, relaxing song from Westlife / Flying Without Wings, all planned one after the other. In total it made a 15 minutes song, I should make 1 km with those songs. Second try, I made 1,17 Mi.
Funny thing is I didn’t realized it was Miles I thought Mi is meter #for some reason. Everytime I saw my phone, my reaction was “OMG am I that shitty?” On the office, PV asked if I still trained, said I only able to ran 117 meters, should I cancel it? showed him the screenshot, then he said it’s Miles! you need to times 1,6 then indeed I reach 1 km, even slightly more! #proud moments! The hell is my XiaoMi not using metric system!
I also did an exercise when I went to Amsterdam visiting Irina, reached 2 km there. Confidence started to build in, yes! everything works according to how I plan.
Back to Dortmund I did reach 2,5 km even though I almost die. One time, on one Wednesday evening, my goal was also 2,5 km until I ran into Thomas, that was the first time I ever made 3 km. He said he just finished the B2Run training with B2Run people, none of them from Nordwest, they conduct the training every Wednesday. Good to know, I join him next Wednesday.
Next Wednesday came, we did full 1 hour training including warming up. Thomas was in fast group with everyone who has a pace of 4 Minutes = 1km. I was in the middle group ran with a girl who owned the very hard pronounced name ever, Ithbiel (if I’m not mistaken) too bad I didn’t see her again, we ran for 4,5 km, I could see the end of my life is coming #dramatic.
Thing starts to go down the hill after that exercise, probably because I gave too many gas at once? When I tried by myself, I can only handle another 2 km or 1,5 km, the jackpot was when I didn’t reach 1,5 km! I joined the last training with B2Run, could barely reach 3 km #why? T.T so sad, decided to switch to walking group for another 4 km.
B2Run activity is just 2 weeks away, Andreas did his training when he was on a business trip in Asia, he ran 2,5 km, Julia did 3 km and I’m confident with my 2 km. Time is running yet my ability was only until 2 km, push with so much effort, yes 2,5 km.
Few days before the run, we took our B2Run Toolkit from our Personalabteilung we need to say our name, I said “Marlyn Praseli”, Andreas said “Andreas Hainka”. In my number is written “Praseli” while in his’ written “Andreas” he asked if everyone has Vorname and only me has Nachname…hmmm what is going on?? My colleague guessed who had verkackt? Anna from Personalabteilung knows what my name is but then everyone register by themselves aha moment, mystery solved! I am the one who verkackt my own name #it happens
Last chance of training was on Saturday, I took Felicia to join me, she was only chilling by the pool while I used Hotel Radisson Blue’s gym. I ran on the treadmill, walk + run + walk, in total 6km, the real run was only 4 km, my XiaoMi didn’t do the justice 😉
Due day is here, ate my yoghurt + banana. Sven came to my table, saw my preparation he said “it’s not a marathon” he was so motivating, “Marlyn of course you can do it, no need to do it so fast, just relax running… paused for a while only to continue…you do realized irgendwann macht sie zu oder? du kannst nicht 3 Stunden laufen” 😀
Due time is here, adrenaline was high! We marched together from Nordwest to Westfallenpark. 2 hours before our starting time we already there. I’m nervous yet excited, Julia kept saying I should enjoy my run 🙂 there is nothing to be worried about, most important things is we are doing it. Come on, Praseli! says Anna.
Thomas asked me what is my target? I just want to make it innerhalb 45 Minutes, he was so nice saying “of course you can make it, let it be 35 Minutes” , replied “no…maybe 40 Minutes” , “see it’s already 5 Minutes runter”
Our running time is at 18:30, we were walking from our stand to supposedly starting point, I kept my XiaoMi tracker all the time, pressed the GO button although its not the real starts yet, happened 3 times, Denise need to help me put my phone into my pouch repeatedly until it was really start time. At first it was all so crowdy until I can find my path to run in peace.
There was Lena in some km running she recorded me while I’m dying screaming her name.
After some more meters, I didn’t see Nordwest people anymore! Shit! am I the last one! I can’t be the last one this will be so embarrassing, I’d violated my father rule! kept running, thought to change to walking once I reach km 4, nope! decided to still keep the tempo, I’m surprised with my body’s ability! Anna and Melanie caught me when we were 300 meters away from km 4. From that encounter, we ran all together, they talked about holiday etc to distract ourselves. I kept wearing my ear buds as it will say how many km I already reached.
Finally we can see the finish line, I can’t go faster than what I’m doing, many people will do sprint when they see the end, I didn’t, I’m satisfied with this speed haha rain poured down the moment we finished, however I really need to have the Medallion, we don’t care, we three waited in line with all the rain.
First things I do when I finished was checked the time, from my phone it took me 41:20 meaning Holger will invite me for food! yesss! everyone was so happy I made it within Holger’s timeline!
Met Thomas again in our stand I asked him “are you number 1?” he is! WOW! 23 Minutes! I told him I got slightly over my target 41:20, he said it is still good. Few hours later, he checked my time from the official B2Run, according to them mine was 39:35!
Remember my last name on the paragraph before, here is the real revelation, I somehow wrote Praseli Praseli….without noticing it, how could it be? I told Denise about this, she said she will help me register for next year haha
I can’t say I love running or its easy to achieved, nevertheless I determined to practice more often. I remembered what Ashley said when we met in Frankfurt, made some investment in a good running shoes to make it not only as an event sport but rather as a regular sport. Investment considered and agreed 🙂
PS: I wasn’t the last one 😉 #mission completed!