This is a Marathon not a Sprint. . .

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Mental Roadblocks. . .

Last night I ran C25K Week 5 Day 2…AGAIN.

I ran it originally about a year ago…for the very first time. I remember the elation and then I remember the dread. Dread that the very next run would be a steady 20minutes. The max I had done until then (in my LIFE) was 8 minutes. I think I was worried for the rest of that evening and all the rest day. Then it came time to "do" it. And you know what, I didn't. Nope, I fizzled out somewhere around 15 or 16 minutes. I don't remember. But you know what I do remember? That the very next day, I tried again. And DID IT!

I swear at that moment when my Ipod announced that it was time for my cool-down (walk), I could have done cartwheels the rest of the way home. And now, here I am again. Not just for the 2nd time, but either 4th or 5th. WHY? Because I mentally set myself up to fail. Instead of remembering that I have done this. That I have trained, that I know how to breathe, that my body will make it, that I won't die if I sweat a little…..all I can think of is how HARD its going to be.

Several of the bloggers I follow are on the same step as I face now. And thankfully they have been honest about their efforts also. Its disheartening to go out and read the blogs and feel like everyone is succeeding EXCEPT you. MsFatass over at her blog insightfully details her 20min. attempt. And I have to admit, as much as I LOVE reading the successes of everyone, it's reassuring to read an attempt that did not result in a "success" every now and then. Because LIFE is never all success. And sometimes when you ride that high, you forget what the down times are like…or rather you forget how YOU are responsible for getting yourself out of those dips….and when I say you, I mean ME.

Tonite is definitely an "OFF" night from running. I usually don't listen too much to the 3 day a week rule since its really only 30 minutes of cardio….BUT….I also have been treadmill running…until last night. And for any of you that do both…..you know the difference it makes in your joints….or maybe you don't….I AM getting older….. the treadmill always is a "softer" run but also feels a lot faster than what the speedometer says…when I'm running 5mph on the treadmill, I feel like I'm struggling. Road running is harder on my hip joints but I run faster….averaging at 5mph with no problems…..my distance is correct, it's been measured…but I can finish on the road much quicker than on a treadmill???? But then again, its easier to get "lost" in running on the road, so I think I just get more into the scenery instead of paying so much attention to speed….

I've got about 2 more weeks of REALLY heavy work and then it'll fall off almost at once (BIG tradeshow). I hope to resume weight training then. Until that time, I just make sure I get the cardio in 4-5 times a week. And I'm okay with that. Holding steady is much better than backward movement!

Tomorrow night is 20min. C25K run. I'll let you know how it goes. As Booker T. Washington said, "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." Whether tomorrow night, the night after, or the night after that…….I will overcome this obstacle and move on to the next…. Each step to doing so is a step of success…

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