What does running mean to YOU???

 

This was the sunset at my 24 hour race

This was my 30th marathon or ultra since I started running.  I have had one DNF during those 30 races.  Each race is always unique in it’s interpersonal experience.  Each time I learn something new and useful for my life even if I don’t hit my “number” goal. Which brings me to reason for this post………my most profound lessons of this Across The Years 24 Hour Race.

• I am finding as I get along in my running life, that the “number” (finish time, distance, etc) may not be the most important part of the race at all.  Sure it gives me a goal to work and train toward but is the number the thing that brings me the most lasting benefit?  For me, I don’t think so.  I am working toward a most powerful and awesome paradigm shift where the goal of the race is more for me to get what I needed from the race rather than achieving a certain finish time or distance.  I have decided I want running to be a tool FOR my life, not my ENTIRE life.  This is cool to me because I can never lose and I can always make sure that I improve MY LIFE instead of just my running.
• After seeing so many people at the race hobbling around at the start of the race as though they had just finished the race (you know what I am talking about if you run these), I have decided I NEVER want that for my life.  I like to run and run long but I don’t want to be older walking like I do when I am at 60 miles.  I realized that I want a more well rounded fitness and vibrancy and seeking the numbers of the ultra game are not of the most importance for me.  I want a vibrant peppy step, a good range of motion, and over all fluidity to my stride and self.
• I also learned that making these ultra’s or marathons a part of an overall family vacation and fun time makes them much more meaningful.  It also brings gladness and joy to the family seeing all the awesome runners out there doing their best which inadvertently seeps into the family’s hearts to inspire them.  It also brings me closer to them knowing how much they love me and prove it by sitting in the cold night of a 24 hour race not only encouraging me but the other runners as well.  How cool is that, that I can do something that mostly brings out the best in all of us DURING a vacation!!!!!!!!
• I realized that this is totally a fringe group of society, which is kinda cool but at the same time it is WAAAAAY smaller than us who do the events think it is.  Nobody cares about these races LOL.  Not one of the many MANY people I mentioned the race to had ever heard of it and many lived only miles from the world class event.  This put it all in perspective for me which really was a catalyst for much of my paradigm shift.  These events have to be done for me/you, of course there is praise from family and friends but mostly they think it’s insane.  Heck even my running coach thinks its crazy.  That is why I want to start focusing on my inner world and personal growth while using these races as a tool as apposed to an end.

Testing myself with these runs is amazing every time, and I think with my new perspective they will only become a more truly useful friend in my life rather than my life itself.

If you want a more “heady” exposition of the personal growth aspects of the race go to my personal growth blog.

Peace out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time For The Big Race?

Running down a small decline in a pretty sun exposed section of the course nearing the end of my journey.

This is it!  I have put the time and miles in for the Across The Years race.  I lost a bunch of weight, got in much better condition, and persisted through all sorts of ups and downs.  The funny thing is that this is not even my goal race but it’s a stepping stone ya know!  HAHAHA.  Who the hell makes a 24 hour race a stepping stone to a goal race LOL.

I shipped my supplies to my friend who live near the race and I am ready to roll.  I plan to run 3 minutes and walk 2 for as long as I can, once the “as long as I can” point comes I am going to walk first then run when possible.  My goal is to go beyond 63 miles which is my previous distance PR.  It’s gonna hurt but it’s gonna be a fantastic growing experience.

Wish me luck!!!

One aspect of mental toughness for runners

Mental toughness is REALLY important for runners of all types.  Being mentally tough makes us better athletes.  Some people have found a way to become more mentally tough even when they aren’t running.

Everyone knows that not running, when you are a runner, is tough…..but have you ever thought about how you can mental train yourself to be more tough by demonstrating mental toughness during an injury?  That’s right, you can continue to train even when you can’t train by enhancing your mental toughness during a time of despair.  Taking a break from running is not so easy sometimes, it takes it’s own type of endurance, and you can use this to your benefit.

Here’s how:

1. Think positively- Oh yes, easier said than done for sure.  During a hiatus, it’s important to practice substituting negative guilty feelings with positive grateful ones as fast as  you can when the negative thoughts hit you.  This practice will really help you when you are back on your feet in a race.
2. Train your mind by challenging yourself with exercise you don’t like as much.  This will help you when you reach that HUGE freaking hill that you don’t like in the race since you know you can do what you don’t like to do now.
3. Relax and think long term.  You know how at the beginning of a marathon or 50 miler you don’t just sprint your way to the end???????????????????????  You don’t do that because it’s not wise and won’t get you what you want.  Think like this when it comes to taking a break because of injury.  Long term health and vigor are the most important in the end, plus………relaxing is imperative to your success while running as well.
4. Use the spare time to FINALLY spend a Sunday with people you love since you can’t be out on the road for 5 hours.  This will help you be more joyful while you are running as well.
5. Stay mentally tough by making sure that you eat properly since you are not burning all those calories like you were when you were training hard.  This goes back to #4 and long term health.  You will also be feeling better if you kept at your current weight when you get back to running.

Those are some simple tips that will help you increase your mental toughness when you can’t increase it by running!

Losing your identity? Injuries!

So after my super long training weekend a week and a few days ago, I found my knee hurting in a way that was not normal.  This is how it goes with doing these long runs and that is why listening to your body and being observant is so important while training and racing.  This week I have tried to run a few times only to find that my knee still hurt within the first 100 yards or so and this COULD be very discouraging.  In fact, this close to a race it could be down right devastating to some.  For me though, not so much.  Why you ask???????? Here is why:

RUNNING IS NOT MY IDENTITY!  I love running, I love what running does for my body and mind, I love what I learn about life from running…………………but running is not the only thing.  I have been where running and what it does for me was my identity but not anymore.  There is a lot to life and it is pretty normal to feel that without that “one thing” that you love that you would not be who you are.  For some it is that significant other, or a job, or drugs, or whatever……and the thought of losing any of those “one things” brings up fear in most to the point that they will cling to the thing to their own detriment.

Running is a vehicle for many things.  It adds enjoyment and vigor to my life.  If I couldn’t run anymore I don’t want to be in a spot where I can’t enjoy life or live with vigor.  I mean do you wan to lose your vigor or enjoyment of life because only one aspect is not working out in it?????  I doubt it, but this may have not ever crossed your mind.  It’s great to have focus but you also have to have the ability to adjust to life to keep it invigorating and lively.

So despite this set back, I know that I am ok and that my body will be ok and that I can accomplish all that I want in life even if I can’t run.  I am not at the place where I can’t run anymore and hope I never get there, but for now I need to back off a bit to heal up and I am happy as ever!

Try not to see your life as a prison just because you can’t do a particular thing!

Last big one done, on the road to the race……

50 miles!  I did it!  I got my last long run in this weekend before my big 24 hour push on December 28th.  I was so excited to have gotten fit enough to do this long of a run and I feel once again that I am an Ultra-Runner.  That feels good and it took a lot of patience, training, wisdom, and passion.  I didn’t get through it unscathed though.  I hurt my knee a bit in the areas you see in that picture.  I don’t believe it’s an injury but it is talking to me and I always listen to my body to ensure the long term goal of fitness and health.  I mean who cares how far I can run if when I am done I can’t run anymore for 5 months or ever again potentially.

The run was pretty dramatic also.  It rained/snow/hailed three different times during the run and it was very cold, I lost my head band that kept my ears warm somehow (you’d be amazed at how hazy your brain works after so many hours), and my ipod died early so I couldn’t listen to my recordings for MKMMA.  Nonetheless, I finished this puppy and it took me about 10 months to get to this point again after a long vacation from running and being health conscious.  I feel back more than ever and am on my way to keeping on keeping on one step at a time.

Things for the readers to remember:

• Stuff takes time.  I have been doing this stuff for years even though I took a big break in the middle of it all.  When I started this journey at my all time high weight years ago, I couldn’t even barely walk 2 miles.  I kept at it and it is worth it all the way.  Be patient with yourself, love yourself, and listen to yourself.
• It’s painful at times.  It hurts to run 50 miles.  There is no getting around it.  And if you have never run or exercised, it is gonna hurt to walk 2 miles just like it did for me.  It hurts a bit to get on the scale to see you are bigger than ever, or see that after a year on the weight loss journey you gained 3 pounds one week. Take all of this pain and be objective about it.  Don’t judge yourself, just take it as info that can help you succeed down the road.
• You can do it too.  I truly and honestly believe that just about anybody can run 50 miles, but most people would never want to and I get that.  Here’s the thing though, you can do FAR more than what you currently believe that you can do.  Begin to believe THAT and things will start to change.
• Starting is the biggest challenge.  Getting to the starting line is the biggest thing you can do.  No reason to wait until xmas is over, or the holiday temptations are done.  “Do it now”.

Faster, Rainy’r, longish run!

This weekend I had a half-marathon to run on my own out on the curvy hilly roads of my hood.  The task was to keep a faster pace.  Often when training for really long races and runs, I do shorter runs at harder paces to keep myself in shape for shorter distances and this ultimately creates faster longer distances. It rained like crazy.  For about 3/4 of the run.  I took this pic because this little river developed in a matter of only about 20 minutes.  The cool thing is that instead of dread the rain or hate it, I turned my mind to loving it by realizing it was a cleansing run that was refreshing!  Awesome huh??? Did you realize that you can DECIDE how to think about something…….even rain during your run.  And that if you do this in a positive way it will help you in the rest of your life.  I think that that’s pretty darn cool. So next week I have a long run weekend again.  I will post about it then but I have to go about 50 miles in a 24 hour period and that will be my last long run before I hit the road for the Across the years race in Arizona. Wish me luck!

Better than the runners HIGH!

Today was a fantastic run.  I am currently in this totally awesome course called MKMMA and this is part of why this run was so awesome today.  If you have never put your voice to music so you can listen to your vision in life while you run I highly recommend it.  So I was out there on the normal beaten path of the sidewalk I hit most days of the week, when all of a sudden my ipod just came to life.  I even shed a tear about this.

It was a super cold brisk sunny day and I was intently listening to myself with some awesome background music tell myself how awesome my life was and how much I am and am going to accomplish.  The exertion of running, the cold air going into my lungs, the sound of my voice and the sun all came together and everything seemed so certain, so ok, so RIGHT! Now that is an awesome feeling that beats any runners high hands down.  My body felt great, my mind felt great, my heart felt great, and my emotions felt great.  Wish all of my runs felt this way but I have a hunch that more of them will be like this in the future.

The basics of todays run was 4 miles slower and easy with the last two miles headed home at a hard pushing pace.  Nothing was stopping me today.  So while I am on top of the mountain for now, I wanted to share with you that so much is possible for you, so much is in you, SO MUCH.  Even if you can’t see it or feel it, it is there.  Ask yourself the simple question: What do I really want my life to be? Then just sit there and think about it……when it comes to you……WRITE IT DOWN.  Then put it to some music if you can. Ask me how in the comments if your curious.  Peace out!

I gotta learn to tape my feet

I was talking to my coach today about a few blister spots that I get on the super long runs.  So I set out to search for a way to tape my feet as I have never done it before.  I found this http://trailandultrarunning.com/foot-taping/ and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to tape feet or endure the torture of ultra-running.

Long runs teach you about life!

The is a picture from the last mile of my weekends long run

One of the things that I love about my weekend long runs is that I always learn something about life.  I have said it so many times……running, especially longer runs that really push you mentally, mimic life.  Each long run is unique and each one tests you in a new and different way.  There are ups, and downs, and ups, and downs.  So this weekend while putting in my 46 miles of training, I learned/remembered these two secrets.

•  There comes a time where you eventually have to give up all hope that your negative thinking is going to get you to where you are going faster, get you home easier, and  that thinking like this will make it better. (That’s a link to better thinking!) 
• During these long runs AND life, you finally get to a place where you humbly bow down to the fact that everything you want in life (and getting home from a run) is gained one step at a time.
• Ultrarunning ain’t no microwave and neither is life.  It doesn’t happen easily or fast!

Can you do this?

I had a 10 mile variable speed run the other day.  Four minutes at 9 minute pace, 1 minute at FASTER pace, then two minutes walking.  When you are training for your big race it is ALWAYS important to read your body.  Some people cant’ do it and some can I guess.  That’s what I have heard but I am pretty good at it.  I think the ONLY reason I am good at it other than being an introspective person is that I keep the long term perspective in mind.

Back to that hard run.  It was pretty long and had a lot of hills.  By five miles my legs had a “pump” like when you are lifting weights, they were burning, and my Achilles were a bit painful.  I could have keep on, I could have overpowered my body with my mind, but instead I went the wise route.  I READ MY BODY.  WHY????  Because I know not getting injured and keeping on the road is far better for my progress than making it 10 miles with an injury that potential could put me out for awhile.  It is so easy to get impatient with ourselves or our progress.  Just remember, if you lose 20 pounds this year it is really like 30 because you would’ve gained 10 if you didn’t do anything.  Long term baby, long term.

Do you feel you are good at reading your body???

Time For Recess, Glee in Life

I had a most wonderful experience while running today.  That’s not so normal for a speed work day hahaha.  At the five mile or so mark I was round a corner, I was listening to Les Brown on my IPOD at the time when all of a sudden I heard GLEE!!!!!  I head chitter chatter, laughing, joy, contentment, and LIFE.  Keep in mine I heard this over my IPOD.  That is amazing in and of itself.  I looked to my right and there it was, a school playground full of kids kicking balls, swinging, running, talking, and all manner of lively things we all used to do.  It brought so much joy to my run today.  I even stopped to walk slowly so I could take the sound in and even took a pic for the blog.

DO YOU REMEMBER YOU, WHEN YOU HAD THAT GLEE AND VIBRANCY?

DO YOU REMEMBER YOU, WHEN YOU HAD FANTASTICAL DREAMS AND SMILED A LOT?

I do, but I normally don’t, so my best advice is to be observant…….even during a speed work out LOL.  Because something this simple can turn the page in your life if you take it seriously and ask yourself some good questions!  Peace out!

Today’s run was a refreshing success!

Here I am waiting for race walker champion Tammi. Fellow blogger who won the race walk division. I am also getting teared up by watching everyone push through and finisher their own marathons

I had a 6 mile run today where I took it easy for the first 4 miles then kicked it into high gear for the last 2 miles.  It was raining the whole time but after reading Og Mandino’s Scroll 2 I loved the rain as a cleansing of my spirit.  An my spirit was soaring after this run.  My body felt great during and after the run, my mind was in full force positive, and my hope for the future was engaged in the now.  I guess I am saying that I am very thankful that my run went well today.  These days are a gift to be cherish.  These days are the days that make keeping on easier.  These are the types of runs that you remember when you are sucking wind wondering why you are running at all.  We all have hard days……….and that’s ok.  Just do your best and know that you are headed in the direction you yearn to be heading in.  Peace

Two months until Across the Years 24 hour race

This is the story of the original Strolling Jim Horse

Well I have been running, doing weight watchers, and really striving towards new heights this past month.  So far this month I have been able to train my mind and body pretty well with two runs in the 35-40 mile range over the weekend.  Man these runs are tough but so satisfying at the same time especially when I KNOW that they are preparing me for a much more challenging race………..Across The Years.  This is a 24 hour race and my goal is to break my previous distance record of 63 miles.  I did that in 16 hours I think so I don’t think I will be there at the moment with my conditioning but the funny thing is, this isn’t the BIG goal race for me.  This race is going to really prepare my mind and body for my favorite race of all time which is the Strolling Jim 40 miler held in Wartrace, Tennessee.  This race holds a special place in my heart.  Oh, getting off track lol.

I have a few months to prepare for the 24 hour race.  Just in case you are interested in knowing what preparing for a race like this means here is a little bullet point outline

• Visualize the race in a quiet place AND while running
• Losing more weight and eating healthier
• Doing some resistance training as these long ultras take their toll on many different parts of your body especially your back and shoulders
• Running 4-5 times per week
• Super long run every 2 or 3 week that is from 10 hours to maybe 15 once I get closer
• Staying positive and not letting the naysayers make me believe I am crazy for striving to be my best
• Talking it all over with a coach once per week

And finally, just keeping on keeping on with the good habits that always create a new us!

Simple ways to get out when you don’t really want too.

There are times (I had them all week lol) that it feels hard or like you don’t want to get out and run, exercise, walk, etc.  So what do you do then.  How do you trick yourself into doing what you really do want to do but don’t feel like at the time.  Well, I think you have to build a habit around the thing you want to do.  Like get your running clothes on the same way and do things that create a routine around it.  So then, even when you don’t feel like doing it, if you can START the routine your mind will kick into gear and get you through the rest of the routine/habit.  So here is what I did this weekend when I didn’t want to get out there.

 

 

 

1.  I put on my running clothes even though I kind of intended to still skip the run.

2.  I put on my running shoes even though I was laying down on the bed.

3.  I told myself, NUMEROUS times that I could just go out and walk.  (Remember, I was supposed to run but to just go out and walk STARTS the routine ya know what I mean

4.  I stepped outside to feel what the weather was like and wake the hell up

5.  I put my watch on and got Ipod ready.

6.  I started my walk which eventually turned into a run because I was now IN my routine and it all felt pretty “right”.

That’s all folks

Week of recovery and the blues

About Wednesday I was feeling out of sorts, blue, and a bit overwhelmed.  Thankfully a friend reminded me that I had just run a marathon only three days prior.  Now I normally don’t forget about something like that but since I have been really focusing on a new journey I had forgotten.  It is often common when you complete a marathon or a big goal that some “bummers” set in.  Just relax…….everything is going to be ok.  Tell someone about it so that you can have an awesome friend remind you of what is really going on.

Keep on keeping on!

Back in action so it seems

I feel like I am back in action after finishing the Portland Marathon.  I am a bit heavier than normal but who cares.  I’m growing, I’m reaching, and I am becoming.  And that my friends is super exciting.  I have taken two days off completely from exercising but I am feeling good so I will get back to it tomorrow and start striving towards my next goal which is the Across The Years race in December.  That one will be a bit tougher and a little longer though, yet I still look forward to it.

Weight Watchers is still in effect too.  I have not done all I can do the last few weeks so my weight hasn’t changed much and that is about to change LOL.

Here is a great quote to remember today as you go through your activities: “SOMETIMES THE ONLY GOOD THINGS YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT YOU ARE THE THINGS YOU SO TO YOU!”  It comes from this video regarding fear by Les Brown.

#29 happens in the morning

I will be running in my 29th marathon tomorrow morning.  I think it is my fourth Portland Marathon.  My bib says “Mole Man” because I am super awesome at catching moles lol.  Well, I am not at the weight I was hoping to be at for this race but that is fine, I will get to where I want to be when I need to be at it I guess.  For now, I am going to rest up, organize my stuff for the race, get up early, and take my first step on my newest 26.2 mile journey.  No matter how many times I have done it, everyone of them is very different yet the same too.  Letcha know how it goes

When you see a “big” person out there exercising think twice

Today while I was out for my 6 hour jaunt to train for my 24 hour race coming up in December, I had to chuckle to myself.  One thing that I do now when I talk about my running is I usually only give the amount of time or the distance but not both.  It automatically causes a person to judge me or themselves.  Really it is all irrelevant.  The important part is that YOU or ME is out there.  That’s what counts. Anyway, so sometimes I will get passed by a “faster” runner, orrrrrrrrr……….I will pass a “slower” runner.  I have learned over time is that things are not always as they appear.  That fast person might be running a mile as fast as they can and I am on my 5th hour out there and feeling grumpy.  Or, that person I pass might be getting past the longest they have ever gone and I am on my faster weekly run.  My point is that it’s important to remember that everyone is in their own place on the fitness journey and us looking from the outside have no idea where that is.

Weight watchers: if you blow it……..hold on cuz it might not be so bad

So yesterday I had a scare at work that basically through me (somewhat unknowingly) into myemotional eating persona. LOL.  It was stressful that’s for sure and the minute somebody asked me if I wanted some fast food I hoped right on that band wagon without a thought.  Then I felt guilty about it and ate a bunch of candy.  All in all I ate 91 WW points for the day.  It was a true blow up but I stopped it after the candy since I was actually pretty dang full of the yummy fatties.  I wasn’t going to count any of those points but today I decided it is what it is and I should count it.  I turned out that it was not such a horrible blow up after all.  Sure I emotionally ate which I don’t like to get into when I can help it but even after counting all 91 points I still have 13 weekly points left.  That was a huge relief and I could have enjoyed many more hours of “NON-GUILT” if I would have just counted it right away and known the truth.  So it was a good lesson RELEARNED!!!  If you blow it, just hold on, stop, and count the calories/points.  It is usually not as bad as you think it is.  It is the guilt that you let fester that kills you because you hop right back into that bad healthy cycle.

Today was a much better day for eating.  I also ran.  Yesterday I didn’t run because of the work emergency and the mass amount of food made me to full to run.  But I was back at it today.  It was a drizzling dark night tonight with heavy heavy fog.  The run was tough, I ran faster than I normally do and I just wasn’t in to it.  I didn’t enjoy it that much but sure was happy that I did it.  Here are a couple of pics from the run.

this is what my run looked like to me. it was actually pretty beautiful and neat

Creating an atmosphere of confidence in your mind for your journey

image from studentbranding.com

I had a terrific week and a few days ago I wrote a lot about the confidence I had in running long distance training or race runs.  As I ran my 6 mile run today I thought and thought and thought about this but I didn’t know I was until I finished.  I said to myself mid-way that I should go for ten miles because I knew I could do it and it would increase my long run distance build-up faster.  I held back though.  I thought to myself that I am 100% sure that even right now I could push through and battle out a marathon finish.  I mean heck, when there is so much on the line (a finishers shirt!!!  🙂 ) you always finish.  I know I could.  Would it be really fun?  Would it be “relaxing” and benificial?  Would it foster good thoughts or bad ones?  Then it struck me about training for me personally.  My body responds well to pretty much any kind of training I think.  I recover well.  I can go a long ass ways.  But it REALLY struck my that a conservative build-up (like the one I did when I first started running) did more for creating an ATMOSPHERE OF CONFIDENCE within my own mind than it did for creating a super fit person.  Of course the super fit goes along with the running but the multiple ultras and marathons, the way I explained to myself in my writing how I thought and felt going into a race, the sense of almost scoffing at a distance (with respect though) because I had done the work in the trenches far before hand.  It struck me that the ATMOSPHERE OF CONFIDENCE in my own mind was what I need to foster more than anything.  THAT is what creates IN ME the ability to stick with it, the ability to enjoy it, the ability to endure much longer distances.  In other words, I held back.  I cherished the “small” 6 mile victory.  I saw in my minds eye the red line on my confidence meter bump up because I finished my 6 miles in complete comfort and with a sigh of satisfaction followed by a smile.  There is plenty of time to build-up to 20, 30, 40 mile long runs.  I was reminded of the times where I had a 30 mile long run and I felt this exact same way when I finished: in comfort and with a smile.  Not sore for days, happy I did it, confident I could do it again. 

 

It also then dawned on me that training (or even starting exercise for the non-exerciser) is  a work of creating that atmosphere of confidence in the mind.  Making sure to work it in a way to create small victories to maximize and ensure that the confidence builds.  The body will make the changes it needs to, but the mind almost needs to be tricked into believe in itself if that makes sense.  It may seem slow forcing delayed gratification but suddenly you end up doing 50 times more than you ever thought feeling like its easy just like that 6 mile run.  I am committed to this.  Developing that atmosphere of confidence, developing that consistency of victory.  Maybe not moving on too fast but making sure I have lots of victories along the way.  Building, building, building.

 

Hopefully that all made sense because I just rambled a lot. LOL.