When I am training for a race I always try to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Usually there is some point in each race that I really get an uncomfortable feeling. Sometimes it is a feeling that I can't physically do what I want. Sometimes I mentally get down and I feel like I can't do what I want to do. Either way it just stinks.
I know it is a confidence issue. When I have trained for a race I know I am ready physically. I also know that I am mentally ready. But there always seems to be that little issue where maybe something just isn't going my way and I just have to get through it. That is why I say I have to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
I always like to pick a day when I am tired physically and mentally and use my run for that day to push myself. On a training run I can go as hard or as easy as I want. But during a race I need to GO! When I hit that place where I start to lose confidence it helps to be able to know that I can push through it. Sure I feel like crap but I have been in this place before while in training and I know I can get past it.
There have been plenty of times that I just wanted to quit a training run but I didn't because I know If I quit now I might quit in a race. If I know how to handle that uncomfortable feeling I can push through and finish the way I want. That is why those training days where I am tired can be life savers come race day.
Probably my worst feeling during a race was a 5k that I really struggled in. Kinda. The race was a week after a half marathon that I trained really hard for and didn't finish how I wanted. Also that week before the race was the end of a weight loss competition at work that I didn't really put much effort into. Until the last two weeks. I lost about 9 pounds that last week trying to get to my goal. Not a real good idea. Add to that I had some personal issues I was dealing with so when I got to the starting line I was a freaking zombie. At one point in the race the course turned right and I just wanted to turn left and sit down somewhere and cry.
What got me through that?
Almost all of my runs are in the late morning/early afternoon. After I have been at work all night. I know what it is like to run tired. I have songs on my ipod that get me going emotionally. I almost always have to run by myself because everyone thinks I can't slow down for them (I can by the way). I also lift weights most days before I run.
So there I am. Sleepy, physically tired, emotionally spent and competing against myself. I can get pretty uncomfortable.
I just had a friend tell me that it is just something runners do. I agree. Most of our time running is by ourselves so we really have to find that will to fight through whatever is in our way on our own.
And that terrible race that I had? I finished one freaking second behind my PR at the time. And second in my age group. Good enough for 7th overall.
I guess I was just comfortable being uncomfortable.
Usually there is some point in each race that I really get an uncomfortable feeling. Sometimes it is a feeling that I can't physically do what I want. Sometimes I mentally get down and I feel like I can't do what I want to do. Either way it just stinks.
I know it is a confidence issue. When I have trained for a race I know I am ready physically. I also know that I am mentally ready. But there always seems to be that little issue where maybe something just isn't going my way and I just have to get through it. That is why I say I have to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
I always like to pick a day when I am tired physically and mentally and use my run for that day to push myself. On a training run I can go as hard or as easy as I want. But during a race I need to GO! When I hit that place where I start to lose confidence it helps to be able to know that I can push through it. Sure I feel like crap but I have been in this place before while in training and I know I can get past it.
There have been plenty of times that I just wanted to quit a training run but I didn't because I know If I quit now I might quit in a race. If I know how to handle that uncomfortable feeling I can push through and finish the way I want. That is why those training days where I am tired can be life savers come race day.
Probably my worst feeling during a race was a 5k that I really struggled in. Kinda. The race was a week after a half marathon that I trained really hard for and didn't finish how I wanted. Also that week before the race was the end of a weight loss competition at work that I didn't really put much effort into. Until the last two weeks. I lost about 9 pounds that last week trying to get to my goal. Not a real good idea. Add to that I had some personal issues I was dealing with so when I got to the starting line I was a freaking zombie. At one point in the race the course turned right and I just wanted to turn left and sit down somewhere and cry.
What got me through that?
Almost all of my runs are in the late morning/early afternoon. After I have been at work all night. I know what it is like to run tired. I have songs on my ipod that get me going emotionally. I almost always have to run by myself because everyone thinks I can't slow down for them (I can by the way). I also lift weights most days before I run.
So there I am. Sleepy, physically tired, emotionally spent and competing against myself. I can get pretty uncomfortable.
I just had a friend tell me that it is just something runners do. I agree. Most of our time running is by ourselves so we really have to find that will to fight through whatever is in our way on our own.
And that terrible race that I had? I finished one freaking second behind my PR at the time. And second in my age group. Good enough for 7th overall.
I guess I was just comfortable being uncomfortable.
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