After my 10km with Susie I have been feeling quite disappointed with my effort. But really there is no reason to be; I did the 10km and walked a few times in there. Even on the kilometres that had walking in them, the average pace wan’t above 8:15 min/km.
But I really felt that I could have given more. When we had finished I wasn’t sore, I didn’t hurt and I felt like I could do it again. Obviously signs that I didn’t push myself at all.
When talking to a friend at work (that has completed an iron man) he said quite simply “its a mind game”. And it made sense to me. Once you train your body – legs, lungs and heart to run it is only your mind that stops you from running longer and faster.
I decided that yesterday I was going to run the furthest I had without stopping. When I walk I normally walk for 100m. It seems to be just enough to catch my breath and the walk breaks were goals that gave me something to look forward too. The most I had run continuously was 6km (and I did that with Susie last Saturday). Yesterday I figured that I needed to be mindful of my running. Think of other goals rather than when the next walk break was. Adjust my pace to make the mark. Push through the pain, think tough. I wanted to run to feel the hurt that means accomplishment.
I ran 8km. Slow (a few of the kms were over 8 min/km pace) and non stop. I did it.
So now what – my next step is to do 10km (obviously without stopping). And from there another 10km and keep doing 10km, pushing myself harder each time.
Today I feel like a runner. I am sore and tired. I feel like I earned my stripes.
Hi DD – loving reading your blog and keeping up to date! Wish you were closer so we could run together and a have a few running Tshirts that would LOVE to be converted. I might even give it a try myself – scary!!!:-0
you look so good! It has been a big year for our MG… and we have ended the year smaller. Like it very much!
i also LOVE the picture/photo about being a runner. I only felt like I could say I was a runner after doing the 21. But that is ridiculous – I am a runner and so are you!. Doesn’t matter how far or how fast!
Been at the physio this week – first time ever at a physio. I have ITB – muscle injury. Did 10km on Sunday and felt pain in my knee! Tried to break 60 mins but managed 61m35s. Was still very happy! I was worried that i had done serious damage and that my running days were over… so was hugely happy to have itb.
anyway – keeping running in that new lean mean body of yours. God bless. Love MD
Hey Donna…
true!
Give yourself some time love, running takes TIME to improve. Sometimes it takes a long time for the slightest improve
And pssst… IronMum walked some during her half marathon of her last half IronMan race… we ALL walk at stages of our runs… even if just a few paces – it’s not cheating, or wrong… or weak… or not being a runner.
Sometimes we just need to walk a bit… shake out those muscles, shift them about a bit… stretch out a bit? I dunno… I just know that every runner walks too
Hugs
Bxo