A co-worker while at a local Bridal Show for her upcoming wedding saw the brochure and brought it back to the office, and ever since its been a topic of conversation. (By the way it stares at me on my desk). Surprisingly she and a couple others have even stated that they might be interested in doing the 5k, which I think is fantastic and is starting to really make me look forward to it and the spring.....here comes the problem....
Is doing the 30k to lofty of a goal?
I know, I know---doubt...fear...all those things...just jump in right? NO, I am trying to be smart about this but is the caution warranted? Is it an excuse or is it too soon? I know it wont hurt my ego if I start the training and cant finish. Lets say I can't finish the training...the money spent to register does not bother me. Then, what is it?
Okay, I know myself... finish the training...whoooo hooo...get out there....spend all that time training....knee starts to act up....foot starts to act up (during the race)...will I stop is the question? Did I come through all the training to stop/quit...I DON'T THINK SO!!... this is a huge problem and I know its the way I think. I wont stop, just like I wont waste my food (one reason why I am fat). Its me...start...I must finish. Its the way I am programmed. That's why I do fat so well...really I am a perfectionist!! :)
Next problem...by no means can I run fast or do I think I am competitive in my age group but...and I mean a big BUT....I am competitive!!
Can my attitude cause me to do more than I am capable of (during the race or will it break me)? And why you ask, do I care? I can't be last last...I just can't. Yes its a victory to finish but not the kind of victory that pleases me. If I wanted to participate, I can participate on my Saturday run. Marathons..races etc. are exactly that...races!! Yes they are cloaked as non-profit events but if it wasn't important there would not be bibs, times and or rankings. Otherwise it would be...lets all walk for charity!! No, its a sport and competitive one...I respect that.
A friend recently told me to KISS it. Is this the solution...thoughts?
Guenther
PS I had the same question KISS=keep it simple stupid
Hmmm...a tough one. I'm not good with competition, but do want to improve individually so I guess I'd say that if it were me, I'd feel pretty confident that if my body was really telling me..."this is a bad pain, not the good one" that I'd listen even if it meant sacrificing a PR.
ReplyDeleteSo far, I've enjoyed training myself and running race distances with my Garmin to make it official instead of all the pomp and circumstance, though I'm very slow and feel pretty lame about being midst the field the couple times I did "race".
You just need to look inside to what truly motivates you and if signing up and competing in races is what gets you out on the road to train in the first place, then it is worth doing it...just remember that your ultimate goal is a lifestyle of running which you should be willing to protect even if it means abandoning the finish line.
why cant you be last? does that make you a failure? does that mean you suck? im serious about these questions, they are valid. obviously you need not be last to "feel" somekind of worth, value, placement. i'm the same way, "there is no effing way that 55 year is gonna kick my ass!"or "she's like 2x my size, easy peasy, i can do it." both by the way kicked my butt and led me to some deeper thinking. whose race is it? if it was between me and them, shouldn't i have told them? i guess it is because i need to feel some kind of importance. so speaking in terms of goals. what is your goal? you haven't defined it. make it specific.'i want to ru nthe 30k, stopping 5 times, with a time of approx blah, blah' i find giving yourself a defined goal with some breaks and acknowledging that fear and perhaps disappointment in helps you grow. as for injuries, they happen no matter what, whether it be a 5k or 30k. listen to your body, if while training you get injured and cant do the 30k, so be it, it goes to a great cause and now you switch over to train for the next half or full. there is no harm, no loss, in trying, in attempting it. and no worries as you know once you are in the race, your competitive demon comes out and you wont be last. Gunny you have done what more fit, more younger, more leaner people havent done. if you want it, why not?
ReplyDeleteMy 2 cents...i think we all need to learn to listen to our bodies wisdom. I would like to think that if you were listening, and your body was saying "STOP" you would listen. You would know your limits. And if you don't maybe that is a new challenge for you!
ReplyDeleteOne thing is for sure, if you don't train to be in the race..you won't be! Maybe through training you will find out you are ready or you are not..but either way you will have more body intelligence than you did before!
sam
@ Kyle ty--really appreciate the thought and advice.
ReplyDelete@ Rosa ty--you are truely fearless and mighty; you are inspiring to me.
@ Sam limits are meant to be broken, but you are guiding me to think and sense it when its right.
@ Enza thank-you for the support and reality check and thoughtfulness.
So, I have decided...the 5k it is...but I will run a half this year. After my run tonight, my body and common sense told me..... NOT yet, but soon!! Attainable goals to come...trust me I won't make them easy but they need to be as good for me as exciting.
reasons
1. Still too heavy/impact.
2. I want to be faster.
3. Not running pain free now.
4. Not yet...I can feel its not right even though my mind says yes.
Thank-you to everyone...your comments truely help.
I'll probably be walking it with Melissa and Shelley...see you at the finish line :)
ReplyDelete