One Year Ago … Plus a Mental (Running) Barrier I’m Trying to Get Over
Last night I did 3 treadmill miles at a moderate pace, and Adam ran next to me : ) His goal for the 5K is sub 24mins so running on the treadmill next to him is really the only time I can feel like we’re running together. Outside I’m just chasing him down and staring at his butt (<—- he squats a lot so this is not a bad view).
Somehow I completely forgot how special this week is in my running life. I only remembered because my running coach sent me an e-mail last night which ended with, “Think about where you were a year ago.”
Almost exactly one year ago on Feb 2nd I ran my very first 5K, and then seven days later I ran my second 5K. Yes, this is coming from the girl who just wrote about how she doesn’t like racing, haha.
I had originally signed up for the 5K on Feb. 9, 2013 that went through the Miami Zoo, but then Adam’s co-workers invited us to do Color Me Rad on Feb. 2nd and we couldn’t turn it down.
I remember making it halfway through that first 5K and wondering how the finish line could still be so far away. It took me 42 minutes to finish. Once I crossed the finish line I was so ecstatic (and tired). The same process repeated the next weekend at my second 5K. At around the two mile mark I just really wanted the whole thing to be over, but then as soon as I crossed the finish line I decided it would be cool to sign up for a half marathon : ) Running is such a crazy thing! I love it.
Despite all the progress I’ve made in the past year, and more specifically in the past three months, I still have moments of doubt.
Right now I’m dealing with a pretty big mental block when it comes to speed. Sometimes I’ll be running along at what feels like a comfortable, cruising pace and then I’ll look at my Garmin and see I’m actually running really fast for me. In about 10 seconds I go through these emotions: AWESOME, I’M SO FAST…oh no my legs feel like bricks… ok I need a walking break.
Literally within 10 seconds I’ll go from feeling really good and comfortable to needing a break. It’s insane and I’m sure it’s more mental than anything because you don’t just go from “everything feels great to every step is so hard” that fast. I think I just see the fast pace and my mind says, “you can’t run at this pace, you better stop.”
I need to learn to quiet that voice because it’s killing me! I emailed my running coach to tell her about all this and as usual she just told me exactly what I needed to hear:
I like the motivational quote and the advice on going to my mantras, but most of all I like that she says to just “get over it.”
Seriously, that’s what I need to do. There’s no better advice. There’s no way to sugar coat it.
Next time it happens that is exactly what I am going to tell myself to do… GET OVER IT : )
I will get over it.
What do you do to get past mental barriers when it comes to running/working out?
What is your favorite running mantra?
How many years have you been running? What got you started
– I LOVE hearing these stories!
My mantra, “I’ve got this!”
I try and break up mental challenges into segments…I tell myself, “you can do ANYTHING for 10 minutes”, and sure enough, it’s done. I also focus on how great it feels to conquer a goal. A treadmill is a great place to up your speed, because you can increase speed for 1 lap, then bump it back down, etc.
Haha, I usually tell myself something similar only it’s “you can do anything for 1 minute” 🙂
I love the treadmill for speedwork, it makes it so much “easier”!
We all go through that mental challenge, keep working at it, you’re doing great.
“Just keep moving your legs” – That is my go to when I’m getting tired.
Only been running for about 6 months. My fiance started running so of course I couldnt sit on the couch while she is getting fit.
http://runningschlub.blogspot.com/
The Running Schlub recently posted…Success at Last
That’s awesome that the two of you started running together!
By the way, I tried to comment on your blog but it wouldn’t let me because you don’t have the name/URL option enabled. Would love to comment back!
Thanks for reading, and thanks for the tips. Fairly new at the blog stuff, I used the blogger help function and I think I enabled the comment feature. Let me know if you still have trouble.
The Running Schlub recently posted…Success at Last
“You can do it because you are doing it.” OMG I LOVE THAT. This is my new mantra. I must like the “do” part of mantras, because my go to mantra when things get tough is usually, “I’m DOING this.” And I literally say it out loud. Seriously, say that out loud sometime when you are running. You will get goosebumps and feel so bad ass. Or maybe I am nuts!!??
Meg @ Meg Go Run recently posted…Thinking Out Loud #7
Races are funny, I get really nervous. The 15K I ran last month I had to start talking to myself about mile 2. I was worrying maybe I was too tired…it was too hilly a course, then I said, “Stop!” You do this all the time. Relax, my pace, my record to be proud of is what I started thinking and luckily I zoned out a bit. I hot a personal with distance I can get to ten miles running alone but I rarely can keep going even if I am not tired…I just feel over it. That’s why I signed up for half marathon just to see if I could do it lol I think you are doing great!
Karen recently posted…My Week Mostly in Pictures
I constantly battle with my speed/pace. I know that to get faster I have to get uncomfortable and I have to be patient. Speed will come.
I have been known to curse in some of my mantras so I won’t repeat them : )
http://www.40yroldrunner.blogspot.ca
Melanie recently posted…Week 6 Recap
I do the same thing. If I see I’m going really fast, I immediately think I can’t keep it up and start to slow down. I know we can both crush it, though!
Ali K. @ Hit the Ground Running recently posted…Ragnar Relay – Miami to Key West 2014