Coming Back to Yourself: My First 5K in 7 Years

I ran my first 5K in seven years… and it changed more than just my pace.

In this episode, I’m sharing the honest story of what it looked like to come back to something I once loved, after injuries, self-doubt, and years of believing I couldn’t do it anymore.

Now this episode isn’t about running.
It’s about rebuilding trust with yourself.

We’re talking about:

•  Why your excuses can feel valid (and what to do anyway) 
•  The power of starting small and staying consistent 
•  How to challenge your inner “mean girl” voice 
•  Creating a plan that actually honors your body 
•  And why the simplest path is often the most powerful 

If you’ve been feeling stuck, disconnected, or unsure where to begin again, this episode is for you.

✨ Join the Rewrite Her Voice email list for encouragement, journal prompts, and support as you rewrite the way you speak to yourself

Because you’re not starting over…
You’re starting from experience.

I would love to hear how your inner mean girl is showing up and what tools are working for you!

Let's connect! you can find me on Instagram or Facebook

For more information on The Rewrite Collective membership click here

Love, Rach

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Welcome to Rewrite Her Voice, the podcast that takes a bold and compassionate look at the inner critic living rent-free in your head. You know the one. She's judgmental, perfectionistic, and never misses a chance to tear you down. But here's the truth: that voice isn't truly you. Each week we dive into an honest conversation with powerful stories and practical tools to uncover where that inner mean girl came from, why she shows up, and how to rewrite her script. It's time to reclaim your inner voice, break the cycle of self-sabotage, and speak to yourself with the kindness and strength you deserve. If you're ready to stop letting your inner mean girl run the show and start showing up as your most authentic, empowered self, let's go. Hey my friend. I'm so happy you're here. So today's episode is a little more personal. It's a story, but also an invitation. Because recently I did something I haven't done in like six or seven years. I ran a 5K. Now, this may seem like, you know, a super small thing to some of you, but for me, because I hadn't done it in like six or seven years, let me tell you, it wasn't just a race for me. It felt like coming home to a version of myself I thought I had lost. So seven years ago, running was a part of who I was. But then life happened. Injuries made me stop, scheduling conflicts made it hard to go back. And over time, weight gain started to whisper lies to me, like you can't do this anymore. You'll get hurt. You're not that person anymore. And if I'm being honest, I really believed those lies for a long time. But something shifted in me. Not in a dramatic overnight transformation kind of way, but in a quiet, gentle decision. I decided to try again. Why not? Right? Not perfectly, not intensely, just honestly, just start, right? So I started small. I walked most of the time during my practices, okay? Like most of the time. And I signed myself up for an actual race. So I had a deadline. And there were definitely moments where my inner critic was like, okay, you used to be faster. This shouldn't be this hard. What's the point? But instead of letting my inner mean girl lead, I started talking back. Not with shame, but with truth, right? Because that's what we do here on Rewrite Her Voice. We speak with truth. We learn to listen to our inner mean girl. So I started with truth. I'm just showing up. I'm allowed to start where I am. This still counts. Then I started to incorporate interval training. And let me tell you, that was rough. But little by little, step by step, I actually built some momentum. And a couple weeks before the race, I ran my best practice time of 43 minutes. Now, seven years ago, I was able to run a 5k in less than 30 minutes. Okay. So doing the 43 minutes, my inner mean girl could have definitely taken that from me and made it feel like I failed, but it actually felt like a victory. Okay, that 43 minutes felt like a victory. Now come race day, I shaved off three more minutes and I cried more than once. Not because it was easy, not because it wasn't, but because I knew how much it took to get there. Because I remembered how much I love running and how deeply I had missed this part of myself. And here's what I realized through all of it. Your excuses will always feel valid. And sometimes they actually are. Like when I injured myself, I couldn't run because I could have hurt myself more. You might be tired, you might be overwhelmed, you might have real limitations, but that doesn't mean you're incapable. You can do hard things, but only if you make the decision. You have to make the decision to keep your promises to yourself. Not perfectly, but consistently. I also learned this. You need a plan. But you have to let that plan be flexible because you're honoring your body, and that matters. Rest matters, adjusting matters, listening matters. This isn't about forcing yourself into burnout. It's about partnering with yourself in the process. And maybe the most powerful part, learning how to converse with that inner mean girl voice. Not silence her, not pretend she's not there. Challenge her. Because when you push through that comfort zone, when you choose truth over criticism, you unlock a kind of freedom. And it's hard to explain. But once you feel it, you'll never want to go back. And here's something else that surprised me. The solution was actually simple. Not easy, but simple. Start small. Stay consistent. Be kind to yourself. That's the plan. That is the plan. Don't stay consistent and be kind to yourself. That's it. Sometimes we overcomplicate healing. We overcomplicate truth. But the truth is the simplest path is often the one that honors you most. So if you're in a season where you feel stuck or disconnected from who you used to be, let this be your reminder. You're not starting over. You're starting from experience. And you're allowed to begin again right where you are. Remember, my sweet, sweet friend, you are enough. You are worthy and you are loved. Now, if this episode spoke to you, if you felt even a small part of yourself in this story, I want to invite you to go deeper with me. I want you to join the rewrite her voice email list. This is where I share encouragement, reflection prompts, and real life reminders to help you rewrite the way you speak to yourself, one small step at a time. We just chit chat in there, okay? It's a space for growth, honesty, and becoming together. And I'm gonna say it again because I want you to remember this. You are enough. You are worthy, and you are so deeply loved. Until the next time, love Rach. Hey my sweet friend. Thank you so much for spending time with me today on Rewrite Her Voice. If you love today's episode, will you hit that subscribe button for me? And be sure to share it with a friend. If you're ready to quiet your inner mean girl and step into your own authentic voice, I would love for you to join me inside our cultivating membership. Until next time, remember, you are enough.