Moving Past the Bad
No matter your running frequency, you’ve been there. You start you run with the anticipation to go X miles. About one third X miles in, you start shutting down. At one point, a voice in your head says “nah I don’t think we’re going to do this” … and proceeds to apply the brakes. Can really make you question your possible.
This scenario played out for me recently. I have been doing 80% of running indoors due to weather, work, and family. The fact I have even been creative enough to get in some movement is reason to celebrate. After all, these run sessions are taking place after 8:30pm. Sometimes one of my 4 kids wonder down to the basement gym to see what I’m watching on the run. They know I’m not going to stop for a 10 minute break to put them back to bed. Freedom.
On this particular night, my plan was for my 9 mile run of the week. After doing the dishes, cleaning the kitchen, and getting the kids in bed, I changed and filled up my bottle with Gen UCAN. Sure I wasn’t feeling very energetic, I had just spent the third 9 hour day in a row sitting in a windowless room in a training. I figured by mile 2 I’d be all good.
Wrong.
At mile 2, my body felt stiff and sore. Mind tricks were not working. Doubt was creeping in. Man I hate that guy.
I took the pace down slightly. At that point I think I heard the inside voice say “ha ha got him now!” True.
Made it 3 miles and then walked another 10 minutes. If I can’t power through 9 miles on the treadmill, what am I thinking I’ll make it through one of the toughest 100 mile races in the country? I have had quite a bit of thought on that. A goal without a plan is merely a wish. I know that. I tell people that. Time to start locking in on a plan. Each time I do the math of the physical prep needed, I run out of ways to make it happen. There are some fixed items in my schedule, there are implied demands, and then there’s time for me … aka running.
Truth is, this doesn’t happen in just running. I could have left out the running part and you may have thought I was talking about work, change, or fighting an addiction.
We all know that we have limited time in life, so there are days I feel pressure to pack in all that I can. Most that know me in-person have a view that I am high energy and constantly going. In reality, I am constantly looking for moments to recharge my batteries in order to maintain this approach. While others are finding ways to multitask, I am looking for ways to focus on just one moment at a time more often.
Counter-intuitive to the way society is?
It goes back to quality over quantity. I could do a ton of activities, or I could be present and enjoy the one I’m doing. More time with kids and showing that I’m focused on them. It’s good for me and role-models behavior I would like them to have. It also takes me back to my life priorities: family, work, running. In that order. For some, the line blurs between the first two, but quite often, one supports the other. However, work can be replaced while family cannot.
My training is not at the level I want it to be currently. At the same time, I know there is a bigger plan of why it is not. I accept that I will continue to improve and still move forward with the tools I find.
How do you move past the bad and find ways to motivate?
OMG the description of the treadmill is great! It can definitely feel like forced labor at times…:)
I have the exact something thoughts at the same mile marks. First two are hard to get going, mile 3 the brain says why are you doing this to me, go take it easy. Like you though, we have this way to tell that nagging brain to shut the hell up and keep going most of the time. Who has ever run a long run and not want to quit, we all have? Who has ever run 20, 30, 50 miles and not want to quit, no one. It is what makes us stronger, ever time we push through we tell ourselves we can do it.
With my knee recovery and FINALLY just starting to get the miles back on I know that every mile is a struggle. The other day I get less then 3 miles in a run, a few days later felt great after 7, each day is its own day but almost every day I start to feel myself getting stronger again.