Fab friends
HELP! I had the worst treadmill run (14km) of my life today - and it was my first run since our Sunday race!
Suggestions to stop the "why the heck am I doing this" mindset that is currently prevailing are most welcome.
:-{
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10 comments:
Paula, I'm really glad someone else is doing it tough at the moment too, I thought it might be just little old me. I was very stiff and negative after the Sunday run, but did 11k yesterday and 15k at Manly today and rewarded myself with a swim in the surf. I looked like I had escaped from somewhere I'm sure, face on fire, surfing in my running gear but I just couldn't pass it up. The swimming seems to have helped the stiffness too.
I am finding it a chore right now and am not surprised that it can be a point when people drop out.
I wish I knew some motivational tricks, I sure need them, but the only thing I focus on at the moment is finishing on April 13, regardless of how long it takes. It will be an awesome achievement and deep down I think we all have reasons why we are very committed to getting it done....so good run or bad run, just do it!
Margaret
Paula, I'm really glad someone else is doing it tough at the moment too, I thought it might be just little old me. I was very stiff and negative after the Sunday run, but did 11k yesterday and 15k at Manly today and rewarded myself with a swim in the surf. I looked like I had escaped from somewhere I'm sure, face on fire, surfing in my running gear but I just couldn't pass it up. The swimming seems to have helped the stiffness too.
I am finding it a chore right now and am not surprised that it can be a point when people drop out.
I wish I knew some motivational tricks, I sure need them, but the only thing I focus on at the moment is finishing on April 13, regardless of how long it takes. It will be an awesome achievement and deep down I think we all have reasons why we are very committed to getting it done....so good run or bad run, just do it!
Margaret
I didn't mean to send it twice!
Paula - I'll get you focused and hopefully cheered up in a few moments. I just need to pick up Talissa from her soccer trials and I get back to you asap. No way I'll let one of us feel bad, we're nearly there ... we just need a few motivation. I'll get back to you shortly, promissed (in between just to let you know - I'm stiff, I've got pains and I started to put Voltaren creme ...)
Get back to you in 5 or so
:)
Smile!!!
Yours in running (always)
Leonor
Paula, someone once said that genius is being the first to say what everyone is thinking, and Margaret I think your comments were worthy of reading twice.
Its comforting to know that no Strider is an Island.
After hitting the wall big time for the first time mid-race on Sunday I was unhappy.
Yesterday's 10k was a slow painful shocker, and I felt like I was going backwards on every front.
Tonight, Sean (my trainer) and I were both so flat we actually talked ourselves out doing the extra 5k loop at the 9k mark and just ran the 500m back to the gym.
I tried to stretch because I thought that might be a problem, but I couldn't even start to reach down to touch my toes, much less stretch properly.
To make up for not pushing me Sean then stretched me until I was pounding the floor begging him to stop(like Rock 'n' Roll wrestling but for real).
I've got to say after the "vigourous" stretching I felt a lot better, although I'm not sure if thats just in comparision with the pain of the stretching.
I've been avoiding really stretching properly because the muscles are so tight it hurts, but I'm going to do a yoga class Saturday and get a real sports massage in the next day or so and I'm sure it will help.
For me the thrills of telling intimates that I've run 50, 60, then 70+km in a single week and 20, 25 and then 30km in a single run have passed. The glycogen levels are up and down. The old injuries are starting to niggle and not settling properly between runs.
I guess this is where it gets tough on the body, and tough on the mind, and where people who don't have support could drop out.
This may in fact be the real marathon part of the marathon training group program.
In which case, we have made it and will make it because we are still going, and now we just keep going until we come out on the other side in a week or so, and the hard grinding work that makes the difference will have been done.
Then completing the Marathon itself will be a cake walk.
Paula -I'm back. Just think we've got only 3 really tough weeks to go and then a few weeks with 3 restdays a week - how good is that - cheer up. What are 3 weeks in a 4 months program? We can dot it - easy. If training for a marathon was easy, everyone would do it ... but it's hard work. The most important thing is a tough and determined mind - and the ability to withstand pain. So you just have to keep focused and remind yourself that you know you can do this, that you're stronger than this, and to forget about the pain and how weak you can be. You need to tell yourself that you can do it. It's such a mental game to walk out the door and do whatever you have to do that day, whether it's a huge run or just going for a walk. I hate when I have doubts in my head, but I am not afraid to admit I have them. Everyone has doubts sometimes, but not everyone knows how to deal with them. The thing that limits us is ourselves. When I feel that, I just remind myself that I have it in me to do it. Why do we do it, Paula? Because we love to run! And we have the strength and mind to do it. Getting out of our comfort zone and finding out who we are is really what running is about. I will send you a copy of an article re dirty tricks - and you will not belive it, I actually copied it today at work to have it as an inspiration and to read it over and over again. I'm sure you'll love it.
My whole body felt so stiff that Monday that after work I went for a swim to losen up those musles, like Margaret :) and today I feel better. But my 14k run this morning was quite slow and felt heavy, but I look at the positive and I'm so happy to have an easier week.
Shall we run together on Sunday so we can chat?
Hi guys, here are some motivational tips:
* Next time you are running, pretend you are actually running the marathon. Print the Striders pace wristband, but pace to a gentle 5-hour marathon pace. Pace to anything - trying to keep an even pace distracts you from other things
* Publish your achievements at your desk or on your fridge. Count down the kilometres!
* Buy a new pair of shoes
* Run a new course that you haven't run before
* (my Saturday favourite) Run to meet your partner at a cafe, so you run in one direction with a goal at the end
* Buy a good running book (Hal Higdon or Jeff Galloway work)
* Buy anything (you deserve it for getting this far)
* I hear there's a movie out called "Run, fat boy, run" about an overweight guy who decides to run a marathon to 'get a girl'. Go see it!
* Send me an email and I'll help you out with anything
* Go and read the Canberra Marathon website and have a look at the course map and read the comments from past winners
* Cut your kms for a week! You do NOT HAVE TO RUN THE ENTIRE PROGRAM. If you run 90% of it, you'll still make it!
* Alternatively, take a day off and don't beat yourself up mentally for it - enjoy it.
* Give yourself interim goals. I have never run the Equaliser run and am very much looking forward to it.
* Pamper yourself, because you deserve it (I spent the day fishing on the harbour Tuesday and my run at 4pm after fishing felt GREAT!. Of course, 6 Kingfish helped too!)
* Spend some time picturing the race day in your mind - it WILL be one of the greatest and most memorable days of your life. Picture yourself crossing the line with another MTG/Fab 5 member and seeing your family there.
* Think of how great you'll feel with the medal around your neck on April 13th at about 1pm
* Think of how much work you've done so far - there's not long to go.
But Leonor is spot on when she says that we really only have 4 'hard' weeks of the 7.2 weeks to go. The last 2-3 weeks of the program are very easy in comparison.
COME ON FAB 5 - YOU CAN DO IT!!!
And not to mention how massively PROUD of you guys that I am! You are all awesome!!!
And I don't want anyone dwelling on "niggles". See a physio or have a massage - get it checked out so that it doesn't worry you too much.
Enjoy your Sunday run if you aren't coming to the Equaliser.
Phil
My Forerunner 305 finally turned up today!
That has provided me with a big boost.
I sure that when I work out how to turn it on it will give me an even bigger boost.
Just remember - it's not that I had the courage to finish - its that I had the courage to start.........
And all marathons have 3 starting lines - one for mothers with kids under school age, one for mothers with kids (sorry guys) and one for everyone else......
Also, I know from experience that you can run a marathon without all the kms on the Striders program. I am not endorsing couch sitting but its ok to shorten a run or try something else (however take this advice with caution as I did come in behind 3 guys dressed as nuns and one guy dressed as a daffidil).
Paula - I's love to run next Tuesday together after drop off - lets pick a meeting place. Anyone else free?
Also we are on for the 1 June run (North Ryde Rambler). I will give the Calender team my mobile to publish - could we add another mobile? It will only be used as a contact for the calender.
Denise
Denise happy to share my mob - feel free to let Rob know.
Take care
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