Running and not comparing

So I started this blog out by wanting to be the same person I was 10 years ago. Well I have realized I am not that same person and thats ok. I knew I wasnt the same person but it took me till last night to realize I had become ok with it. I have started seriously training for a 5k for the first time since college, every other 5k I have run since then I have just run and not worried about the training for it. This week was a pretty successful first week of training if I do say myself. All of my workouts went pretty well, especially last nights track workout which I surprised myself on with my times. But none of that is what made this week successful. What made this week successful is NOT once have I compared myself to the runner I was in HS/College. And NOT once have I cared that I am not that fast anymore. I have really just enjoyed the fact that I am running again. I have tried very hard every day to just be in the moment and enjoy that days run. I have also decided that I am splitting my PR times into two categories, before 2010 and after 2010. I was amazing in high school (or I think so anyways :) there were definitely people better than me but I couldnt be more proud of my HS career looking back on it 10 years later) and those will probably always be my fastest PR's (I mean I was running under 7 minute paces) But I need to start working on new PR's, because if I keep using those PR's as my measurement stick then I will always be reaching for a goal that isnt attainable. I am becoming very proud of the runner I am right now mainly because I havent given up even though I wanted to at points. I am at a new starting point in my training and who knows maybe I will eventually get below a 10 minute mile again but for now I am quite pleased with myself. To be honest getting to this point hasnt been all on me, its taken a lot of help from several friends who knew me then and know me now. Its also taken people telling me to stop focusing on the times and start focusing on how it feels. Now dont get me wrong I am very focused on being decently fast for this 5k in may. But I am not expecting miracles like I dont expect myself to be under 30 minutes. I am definitely focused on not embarrasing myself though since it is at my old high school where the only activity I was involved in was running for the most part. Thanks to a former teacher (aka Patty) though I have realized that I am going back as a successful young adult (I am still considered a young adult for a little bit longer right?? LOL) and that just seeing people will be fun. Let me just wrap this up by saying physically I may not be the runner I once was but mentally I still have the determination and toughness that I did in high school and this week has really shown me that, and just knowing that makes not being at the level I was then all right. BTW for my friends who didnt know me when I ran in HS or College, I become obsessed with running when I am really into it, hence all my running posts on facebook lately. I love talking about running, I guess I should have warned you guys ahead of time lol. :)