Blog – Page 24 – RunningWell

Still smiling

April 2, 2014/in Blog Posts/by RWadmin

I had a goal to run the Around The Bay 30K race in a PB time of 1:56. I trained hard through the winter and stuck to my schedule despite tough training conditions – freezing temps, icy roads, knee deep snow. Then, three weeks out from the race I sustained a hamstring injury. It stopped me from training properly from there on in, but I was still hopeful that I’d be able to race. I laced up on race day and started out on goal pace. However, by 10K I started to struggle with tightness around my injury and by 13K I knew I couldn’t maintain my pace. Instead of risking further damage, I decided to slow down and jog/walk back while cheering on other runners.

SO…

How am I taking this? How do I feel? What of all the work gone to waste? What next?

I feel fine, I’m happy for the work I’ve done, I’m optimistic, and most importantly, I’m still smiling.

After my race, my husband sent me a quote by Winston Churchill. If you ever need to channel some optimism, grit, determination, inspiration and inner strength, look to Churchill. Here are some reasons which I have to smile, backed by his words:

1. I’m smiling because I did manage to run through this brutal winter, and having a goal pulled me along where I otherwise may have run a lot less – and I’m glad I didn’t!
– “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill
2. I’m smiling because I can still run. Being injured makes you realize how much you take for granted. I can’t run hard (right now) but I can run, which I’ll continue to do until I can run hard again.
– “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
3. I’m smiling because I’m optimistic about my future running. I’ve learned that I can’t take little things for granted, like not doing core/strengthening exercises. With my renewed focus I know I will come back stronger.
– “I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.” – Winston Chuchill
4. I’m smiling, because if you’re not smiling, then you should stop until you can, and I’m not stopping.
– “War is a game that is played with a smile. If you can’t smile, grin. If you can’t grin, keep out of the way till you can.” – Winston Churchill

Smiling at 29K

Would you rather … ?

March 20, 2014/in Blog Posts/by RWadmin

Three weeks out from my race (Around the Bay 30K) for which I’ve been training all winter, I’ve sustained an injury. Instead of a taper, I’ve come to an abrupt halt. Needless to say, I’m a bit upset. I’m still unsure how bad the injury is – it hurts to run fast, but jogging slowly is ok. All I can do is rest it and hope for the best on the start line. I am still clinging to optimistic hope. I’ve always said that over-tapering is rarely something which brings on negative results, so if I can manage to race with manageable pain there is a chance I can still hit my goal of a PB (1:56). In situations like this one, I try to remember that it could always be worse. I like to play a little game with myself called “Would you rather …” where the answer leads me to choosing the scenario I’m in.

For those who have never played it, “Would you rather … ” is a game where you’re given two bad options, and you have to choose one. It’s a fun way to mentally torture yourself.
For example: Would you rather…
a) have a hairline that starts at your eyebrows and continues up your forehead, or
b) have a nose sticking out of the back of your head?
They’ve even made it into a children’s book, so of course I bought a copy.

Fun bedtime mind games

Here is a typical choice:

Would you rather be chased by … a crab, a bull, a lion, or wolves?

There are a lot of things which could happen throughout a training cycle and race which have the potential of throwing you off course. I think about those and this is how I play my game.

Would you rather…
a) sustain an injury 3 weeks out from the race but still be able to race OR
b) sustain an injury in the middle of a big training block?
I choose a).

Would you rather…
a) sustain an injury 3 weeks out from the race but still be able to race OR
b) come down with the flu 2 days before your race?
Again – a).

Would you rather…
a) sustain an injury 3 weeks out from the race but still be able to race OR
b) have your car break down on the side of the road on the way to the race so you miss the start?
My answer: a).

Would you rather…
a) sustain an injury 3 weeks out from the race but still be able to race OR
b) have a wicked storm blow in on race morning with torrential freezing rain and fierce head-winds leaving no hope of a PB?
Totally a).

Of course any of these other things could happen as well, but in my game, I’ve already picked my choice, so option b) won’t happen. Sort of like karma. Those of you racing Around the Bay 30K can thank me for the perfect racing conditions we’ll be receiving on race day.

Running jargon for every day life

March 6, 2014/in Blog Posts/by RWadmin

As someone who runs every day, is often training for a race, and coaches others to run, I find myself thinking about running a lot. In fact, even when I’m not thinking or talking about running, my running language somehow still seems to permeate my conversations. This doesn’t bother me, as I hardly notice it, but I wonder if non-runners are able to understand me perfectly. Some examples:

Bell Lap – A while ago I was attending a series of meetings over four days. It was a long and tiring week for everyone involved. On the last day as everyone was having lunch, preparing themselves for the final two-hour meeting I said “okay guys, Bell Lap!” I’m sure most people understood the term, but for me, Bell Lap means more than just the fact that we’re close to the end. It means pick up the pace and finish strong – no slogging through – you can turn a bad race around here or make a good race even better. Hearing The Bell gives you a shot of adrenaline, and you need to give it all you’ve got.

Tuck in – Sometimes in life, as in running, you just have to tuck in and let the pack and your momentum carry you. When a friend is going through a rough patch in life or work, the best advice I can give is to just “tuck in” and conserve energy. It means you don’t quit or stop, but you don’t have to be at the front charging ahead and doing all the work. Sometimes in life, as in running, you just have to tuck in until you feel ready to push again.

Bonk – I don’t bonk that often in runs as I try hard to prevent it by fueling and training smart. However, I regularly ‘bonk’ while doing other things. For instance: the five errands I was supposed to run on my way back from my meeting? I bonked after number three and just couldn’t get the rest in. The three loads of laundry I told myself I’d fold? Bonked after the first. It’s just so perfectly descriptive of my state of completely running out of energy and mojo for a task.

Kick – In running I’ve never been known for my kick, but I have managed to pull off a few well-timed finishing kicks. I hold a great kick in high regard. It’s such a dramatic and precisely planned way to come out ahead. The same is true in anything. It’s the short but effective burst of energy which brings you from behind to finishing first. Behind the rest of your class in getting your term paper in? A well timed kick the night before it’s due can fix that. It’s Christmas Eve and you haven’t done any shopping yet? Just kick it in, baby – if you’re good you may still be the hero. Hosting a dinner party in two hours and your house is a mess and you have no food? Good thing you have a great kick!

Running jargon is just so perfectly descriptive for every day use. I may get some quizzical looks from people who don’t quite understand, but personally I can understand and describe life better through a running point of view.

This says so much to me