Race Time Pressure
There are times when I say things I don’t mean. It’s not that I’m lying, but more of trying to convince myself of something. If have a pinch in my back, I say to go running and that will fix it. If my leg hurts, I say run farther. When someone asks me the same questions I give the same answer. I always preface it by saying I’m not a doctor and that my advice is optional. It’s kind of like a lawyer on tv that says something and the judge then tells the jury to ignore it. Right.
Even after 8 marathons and an ultramarathon, I still wince a little when asked about finish times. I am a mid to back of pack runner with a desire to get faster. My best marathon time is 4:45. Plenty of room for improvement. My 50 mile ultramarathon time? 13 hours.
When I talk to non-runners, the response is generally “I can’t imagine driving for 4 hours let alone running for that long!” These conversations get me excited because it presents me the opportunity to motivate someone else. We talk about changing their perceived limits they’ve set upon themselves. The goal is to get to the finish line.
Meeting an existing runner is a different feeling. They’re generally faster and have more time to run. Also, I am not a natural athlete by any stretch. I just have big goals and will accomplish them no matter the pain. Don’t get me wrong, I admit when I’m wrong or have taken on more then I can chew. I don’t have much of an ego when it comes to running. No matter how successful any of us are, we always have something to learn. So when I meet an existing runner, I immediately start asking detailed questions. When I first started running, it was more about how do I get to the finish line without dying. Now I want to know more about fueling and preparing.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s important to set big goals. I understand that there are runners that make running their full-time job. For the rest of us that have day jobs, families, and other commitments, it’s more about seeing what we can do. I like to remind myself:
The only person putting pressure on me, is me.
Running is much like life … it’s not about how long it takes you to get to the end, but what you do along the way. Don’t worry about how long it takes you to finish a race, you are changing the way you think and look at challenges. Apply this to everyday life and all of the sweat, pain, and worry will be worth it.
