Monday, May 13, 2013

The glass is half full

We've all heard those expressions about building strength and character in the face of adversity.  E.g.:
  • Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger
  • Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted
  • Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue
I will be the first to admit that it's very easy and therapeutic to complain about things.  Negativity is very commanding and can be really rampant, breeding even more negativity.  Flashback to high school physics class where Isaac Newton said that every action has a reaction.


Under Newton's theory, this would obviously be true for both positive and negative actions, as well as neutral actions and everything in between.  With that in mind, I am making a conscious effort to be more positive.  For example, instead of saying:

"I hate doing speedwork because it is exhausting, hard, and takes forever to show any results.  Why do I even bother?"

I'm trying to condition myself to say something more along the lines of:

"I am looking forward to how good I will feel after I finish my speedwork.  Even mild speedwork is better than nothing!"

I am trying to apply this way of thinking to every aspect of my life - not just running.  It is obviously a change that takes some time to solidify.  But I am hopeful that changing my way of thinking will reverberate more positivity into my life in general.  (Way to put into practice what I just preached there, eh?  =) )



On a very quick side note - I felt really good after the Wisconsin Half Marathon last weekend and had great training runs on both Tuesday and Thursday last week.  I had said here that I did not want to run another marathon this year.  However, I felt so good this past week that I started thinking that maybe I did want to go for it again this year after all.  I started pondering the possibility of getting a post-close entry to the Chicago Marathon by fundraising for one of my favorite charities.  I also started toying with the idea of other local fall marathons, like the Prairie State Marathon or the Milwaukee Marathon.

Then, I went for my weekend long run yesterday.  I was excited to knock out an easy 10-miler, or at least a good stepback-week run of 5 or 6 miles.  But, that saying up top about how experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted?  Let's just say that I got a LOT of experience yesterday while running.

During the run, I was feeling parched and dehydrated less than a mile in, had overdressed for the weather, and was going much more slowly than my effort would have dictated.  However, instead of doing what most normal, reasonable people would do (turn around, go back home, get some water, and shed some clothing layers), I stubbornly kept going. 



After four miles, I had had it.  Even after getting some water, I didn't feel like going any further and I didn't feel like pushing myself.  So I called it quits for the day.  Way to bring myself back down to earth.  I had forgotten how bad the bad runs can feel - even if you know exactly why they didn't go well.

Now, I am so very happy that I have not signed up for any marathons this year. 

How's that for positive thinking?!?!?  =)

14 comments:

  1. Those darn marathons! They trick you into thinking they're easy! I agree, good thing you're not signed up for one :)

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    1. I think that once you've done a marathon, you forget very quickly how tough the training is. Selective remembrance, anyone? Then you've got friends who volunteer at races both the day after and the weekend after running their own marathon - thereby also making marathons seem much easier than they really are. ;)

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  2. To continue with the cliches, don't the bad runs just make the good ones better? It's a little hokey, but also true. And bad runs happen. I think they're the worst when you're feeling really good about running and just expect it to go well - like why don't my legs sync up with my brain on those days? I'm also not surprised you felt overdressed - it has been SO tricky to get dressed in this weather!

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    1. Ah yes, I've said myself many times that you can't appreciate the good unless you've had the bad. And it is true. Can we say that I now really, REALLY appreciate my good runs? =) And that feeling of wondering why my legs don't sync up with my brain? I've felt that way more times than I care to admit!

      Weather forecast is calling for 80s starting tomorrow! I am looking forward to going from running tights and a jacket to shorts and a tank top. =D

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    2. I think we've all had it happen :) A couple weeks ago when I was still hurt, I tried to will my leg to just suddenly feel better so I wouldn't fall behind with training, and told myself I would have a good run. Not surprisingly, I didn't! It hurt and I cried by the end of it, because it wasn't what I was hoping for. But today I had an awesome run, and I can think about how much better I felt now compared to then. I hope your next run is better!

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    3. Anne, I am so glad that you had an awesome run today and that you felt so much better today than before!!! Injuries are the WORST but you were very smart to take the time to let it heal. I've made the mistake myself way too many times of trying to get back into running too quickly while still injured. It sounds like you are in very good hands with Katy and your medical professionals. =)

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  3. I look forward to seeing Tomas Vokoun and the Penguins beat down out Ottawa on Tuesday night !

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    1. I am looking forward to seeing the Penguins take out the Senators in 6!!! And I am also looking forward to you going to the Consol tomorrow night in Pittsburgh to see a big win and the start of the beatdown. =)

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  4. Ugh, sorry you had a bad run but it's sounds like you have a good attitude about it! Also I was debating signing up for a fall marathon and kept putting it off and now that we're getting to the point where I might start thinking about training if I were doing a fall marathon ... I'm glad I didn't sign up for one. It's definitely one of those cases where not having the ignorance of marathon training is preventing me from wanting to do it again.

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    1. Thanks Maggie. I COMPLETELY agree with you on the second marathon mentality. Many people say that your second marathon is so much easier than your first since you know what to expect... but I really think it'll be even harder since you know what to expect! Just the thought of those 2+ hour training runs, all the stretching and foam rolling, and everything else associated with marathon training? You really, really have to WANT to do it!

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  5. This line: "I had forgotten how bad the bad runs can feel." You are singing my song right there. Bad runs are called bad for a reason - they suck! And sometimes there's a reason (poor preparation, bad weather, upset tummy) but other times there's just no reason! Don't beat yourself up about it. Give yourself some time then get back out there!

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    1. Thanks, Amy. I know you relate to how those bad runs feel, especially those that have no apparent reason. Much appreciate the encouragement to just take a step back before trying to move forward again. Sometimes just getting back out there is the hardest part, right?

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  6. Every run is a good run!
    *Gandalf Voice* A run is never bad or too short, it is exactly as long as it needs to be!

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    1. Declan, I LOVE this quote. Love love LOVE it. I am going to start using this as one of my mantras every time I have a run that doesn't go the way I wanted it to go!

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