It's all in my head

I read a blog on RW's website about Running Being a Mirror For Life. Hmmm, something to reflect on, here's what I saw ....

Now that I’m running again (four months now ... go us!) I've begun noticing new strengths in myself. It started with a game J and I play. We always run 8 intervals - when we’re struggling we play a game. Actually J invented it and since she told me about it I began incorporating it into my runs. It works. Here's how it goes ... When I start struggling, thinking I can’t go any further, let alone run 8 sets, I tell myself I only have to do six. That's doable. Then, once I get to six, I know I can do two more, taking them one at a time, telling myself I have ONE more in me. This has worked really well for me and has kept me going many a times.

On our last run, I was struggling by the third set - at the fourth, J said “We only have to do six” my reply was “when I say it I believe it, when you say it I know it’s a lie.” My reasoning: she told me a couple of weeks ago though she plays this game with herself, if she’s going to quit, it would be in the first three intervals, she will NEVER quit if she’s made it to six. I laughed and told her I appreciated her effort.

The truth behind my saying it -- I know quitting is a real possibility until I’ve made it through the sixth run. From there, I have found the strength to make myself do the last two. It’s interesting how this works. I'm seeing other shifts in my thinking as well, again thanks to something else J said.

As we were discussing how our running is changing, J told me about something she’d experienced the day she ran alone. She was taking a new path that proved to be more challenging than she’d anticipated. At one point, glancing at her watch, she saw she had two minutes left to run. Instead of the normal ‘oh my god, I’m gonna die’, she found herself thinking something to the effect of ‘only two minutes, I can do that’. Wow.

I had also found that if I had 30 second left to run I could keep going, whereas before, I’d quit with only 20 seconds to go. During our last run as I was gasping for breath, wondering how my legs had gotten so heavy, I glanced at my watch only to see there was 1 minute 41 seconds left to go -- I thought I was gonna die. Instead of quitting like I have in the past, I discovered what J had said was stuck in my head ... I CAN do this ... I am not going to quit.

I was able to convince myself to keep going and I finished the run; when it was over I was feeling rather proud of myself. J and I often joke that, a good run is one that’s over. In spite of the pride, I was glad it was over :)

For years I’ve heard that running is 90% mental; I’m watching this unfold during my own runs. My endurance has improved, which I expected -- what I hadn't considered was to see changes in my thought patterns.

So, if running is a mirror to life, I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Happy running.

a note: because J's baby was sick we decided against the 5k in the park. We're now looking at one in April.

It's safe to say ...

Today was the fourth good run in a row. Even better was that after our run today, I knew, KNEW, I could have kept going. In fact, I ran up a hill during our last interval, never doubting I'd make it! I felt great. After the run I felt like one of those bouncy winners on a game show ... I was giddy with excitement. I kept telling J "you have no idea how thrilled I am". She assured me she felt the same way. We rocked it today!

Today the watch was bumped up to a 3 minute run with a 2.30 walk - doing our usual eight sets. The first two were fantastic; honestly, I wasn't sure I could run three minutes. The time flew by. We were in a groove well into run 3 when all of the sudden someone on a mountain bike called out from behind us. Being as startled as we were, it completely threw off our breathing rhythms. We both struggled through the end of that run and the entire 3 minutes of the fourth.

Damn. I was starting to wonder if I was going to make it through another 4 sets. As I fought to keep going, I noticed J was having an equally difficult time so I reminded her that we only had to get through six. It's a game we play, knowing full we we'll continue. Interestingly, we both seemed to find a renewed energy as we approached what 'could' have been our last run of the day ... #6. It was amazing. We were back in the groove and completed the entire run!

I was left wanting more - wow, yeah, me, wanting to run more ... something good's happening.

We're planning on doing a 5k this Saturday in 'our park' we jokingly refer to it. It will by J's first 5k and as a runner - mine too. I've participated in many a 5k but never believing I was a runner.

So, I think the question is answered; is it love or infatuation?

I Love Running!

Happy Running!

Three in a row and FINALLY!

As I've mentioned, or think I have, I someday want to love running. Seems simple. Well, I think I've arrived. I say this for a couple of reasons. First, because I've had three wonderful runs in a row and second because I am now running more than I'm walking. Yes, the day has finally come where the watch was set to run for 2.45 and recovery was lowered to 2.40. Not a big difference to some - but to J and I - HUGE!

Now I consider myself a runner whereas before I thought I was 'cheating' calling myself a runner when actually I walked more than I ran. This new found feeling is extremely exciting and I'm having trouble containing myself and not going for a run today. Could this be love?

The other day someone asked me how long it took to turn this corner. I must confess, it's taken much longer than I had anticipated. We've been on this journey for three months now. Though it's taken longer than either of us had hoped, we've arrived strong and though some days fraught with soreness and doubt, there have been no injuries. That's the important part - no injuries.

As J and I were running the other day, we acknowledged that we CAN do this. For me this has been a real struggle. As I tire during an interval I look at my watch to see how much time is left. Then I panic. J was the one who noticed this in me. Once she brought it to my attention, I began focusing on NOT looking at my watch. For the most part it worked. Yay J!

Monday, after our run, J commented that now when I call out 30 seconds she knows she can continue. Likewise, when I see there's a minute left, instead of quitting, I know I can make it. Again, this is huge for me as I'm not one who's 'masochistic' as J so aptly puts it. I've not been able to push myself past a certain point. The fact that I can hold on for another 60 seconds is a major improvement.

Perhaps that is why I'm so happy now -- I'm past 'I can't' and now believe I can.

Stay tuned to see if this is real love or just an infatuation :)

Happy Running!

Go US!