I have a sneaking suspicion that the best way to combat that feeling you have when you see someone running and think "man i wish i was that kind of person" might just be to get off your ass and run. Even if you're really, really bad at it.
Let's be clear. I'm not striving for Olympic marathoner here. More like...Forest Gump Running on Empty maybe? Forget it. The point is, on more than one occassion now (and let's just leave it at that) I have gotten off my ass and run. And, utterly predictably, gleaned some seemingly life-changing (but no doubt short-lived) lessons from the ordeal.
A favorite quote, which I've seen attributed to Oprah of all people, states that "Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity." I am not a lucky runner - I have FAR too much opportunity and no preparation to speak of. My first run, in fact the first time I did any kind of exercise at all in the last 6 months, was a 5K two weeks ago. Upon arrival I realized I forgot my still-good-but-nicely-broken-in New Balances, and considered myself lucky to find a beat up pair of Nike's in my trunk (previously relegated to 'unprepared for hike in the mud' duty). Nikes which, by the way, I BEGGED my father to buy for me...for tennis season...in eleventh grade. Are you familiar with Plantar Fasciitis? All my friends are. Intimately. I haven't shut up about it since. Apparently I'll never be able to wear flip flops again? I digress...
A couple of things about my 5K experience. First - I didn't run the whole thing. I ran as long as I could, then I walked. Quickly. When I caught my breath, I ran some more. I never really expected to be able to run the whole thing, so I wasn't dissappointed. (Life Lesson #1 - Manage Expectations).
Also, I went with family who do this sort of thing alot. They have best times they like to try to beat and whatnot. I made it clear to them in advance that they should go for it, and not feel obligated to slow down for me. They were out of my sight before I finished the first block - it was a very lonely 3 miles - but they cheered me on at the finish line. (Life Lesson #2 - Root for your friends, even as they leave you in their dust.)
I have no concept of distance, never have. Even in a car. The idea of 3.106 miles is as forgeign to me as...well...Plantar Fasciitis was 3 weeks ago. So I didn't worry about it. I looked up, and saw a stop sign. "I'm gonna keep running till I get to that stop sign," I'd think. Then I'd put my head down and do it. Sometimes, when I got there, I found I had a little left, so I looked up again. Saw a 'No U-turn' sign. Thought "Ha. That's ironic. Anyway, I'm gonna run until I get to that 'no u-turn' sign." You get the point. (Life Lesson #3 - Tackle the race one block at a time.)
Throughout the race, I imagined myself bringing the house down at the end - sprinting. (I was a sprinter - in high school. Its over quick and doesn't require much commitment. I felt good at it - which isn't to say I was good at it.) I held a little in reserve that whole 3 miles, thinking how good it would feel to burst into a full run at the end. Only..."the end" was preceded by 4 blocks of steep up hill. So much for my reserves. (Life Lesson #4 - Whatever you're doing, do your best the whole time instead of trying too hard to make it look good.)
Those 4 blocks sucked. I almost walked them. Some stranger - a lady who looked to be in her mid-fifties but in MUCH better shape than me - said "we're too close to quit now. Let's keep at it." (Life Lesson #5 - random acts of kindness and support make all the difference in the world.)
Life lessons 6 - 9, in case you're interested, are that sometimes spitting is just necessary, youth really is wasted on the young, and no one - NO ONE - has figured out how to make a decent sports bra in my price range.
In the end, I ran it in 37:28, for an average pace of 12:03, which I'm told is respectable for an unprepared newbie. Today I did 2 miles on my own with an average pace of 12:59. The difference? No audience. (Life Lesson #10 - An actress must never lose her ego - without it she has no talent - Tom Lehrer.)
June 5th is my next 5K. Working on that whole 'preparation' thing. (Life Lesson #11 - just keep running.)
April Snow Brings May Slow, But I Keep On Fighting
9 months ago
OK, let me just say that you tackled this event with exactly the right attitude and objective the entire way. YAY!!! I am so psyched for you! And if you can apply consistency to training with this exact same plan, you will see dramatic results. Mentally and physically. I promise.
ReplyDeleteEVERY day (no, no days off) get out and "go for a run". It can be just a mile. And you don't have to run. The simple act of going thru the motions and the arrangements to get out the door will make you WANT to run, but you'll just have to take my word on that for now. Pick a distance the way you did yesterday: two miles. or three. Tell yourself that you're going to run to the next intersection, then walk a bit once you get there. It's ok. You're doing something that 90+% of Americans aren't capable of doing (because they're too lazy). Increase the ratio of running-to-walking every time you go out the door. I will bet large $$ that within 2 weeks you will easily cover three miles of solid running. Then ... let yourself be happy with that for a few weeks, and then surprise yourself by adding another block onto your run one day :)
I'll confess that I AM one of those people who loves running and actually get ridiculously overwrought with frustration (to the point of beligerent anger) when I can't. It's the most liberating physical exercise possible: you can do it anywhere (trail running is my fave), you don't need scads of equipment (good shoes, good bra, you're good to go), and you don't have to adhere to a scheduled a time to do it (a la aerobics class at the gym). It can be solo or social. Running is perfect. Welcome to the secret world of running. You're gonna love it here.
*** one important note -- go to a RUNNING store and have someone help you get a GOOD pair of shoes. Then ONLY WEAR THEM FOR RUNNING!!!! Walking around in them wrecks them for running and your shoes are the most important piece of equipment you can possibly need. ***