There comes a time in our training when we need a change to get us to the next level. I’m not saying some of us have hit a wall … we just need something different to get us over the hump.
Over the past week others have shared that they lost their running partner due to injury, lost their ‘mojo’, can’t get past 5/6 miles, can’t get off the treadmill and run outside or whatever.
Personally, I lost my running partner—Luke just isn’t down with the jogger once we hit the one hour mark. Can’t say I blame him.
On a recent road trip, I popped in one of my ‘driving’ CDs. You know the CD that will keep you alert when you’re behind the wheel. This time it was a compilation of my favorite alternative songs.
Man!
What a great flashback. I sang non-stop for 1 ½ hours across Alligator Alley. The air guitar and hand banging was in full swing. But, better than that I was reminded of my running days from yesterday …
My awesome alternamix also doubled as my half-marathon training music. Listening to Weezer, Green Day, Lit and Everclear immediately catapulted me to hill repeats on the Martin Luther King Bridge and dewy, Sunday morning runs along the Riverhills golf course.
So, as much as I love catching up on “This American Life” and “Freakonomics Radio” I have come to the realization that our running relationship must end.
I, Natalie D. Preston-Washington, need the high strung guitar and pulsating beats of AFI, My Chemical Romance and The Offspring to get me through 9.3 miles and on to the finish line.
What change do you need to claim victory on March 3rd?
“The unspoken and shared understanding of what it means to be a runner can be seen in the kinship between runners. When 40,000 people line up to run the Chicago Marathon, or when 130 line up at a high school cross-country race, they can look each other in the eye with a certain respect, awareness, and comprehension that is prohibitively elusive for the non-runner. Before, during, and after the rac...e, the fellowship between runners is tangible and real. The brotherhood and sisterhood of the running community can be felt in the air as they inhale a collective like-mindedness. To be a runner in the midst of other runners just before the start of a race is a mystical experience that can no more be captured in words than can the color blue.”
ReplyDeleteRunning The Edge
Well said ... runners do have a wonderful kinship. Last week Mathdany and I ran on campus and I guess we looked like we were literally running out of steam. A brother passed us and said something like "Looking good" or "Keep it up." His timing was perfect and his harmless remarks gave us just the boost that we needed to get through the last mile. The same can be said of a mere head nod or wave of the hand to a fellow runner as he or she passes by.
ReplyDeleteAnd, the ‘love’ that is displayed on race day is unreal. You would think that every man (or woman) would be focused on self on race day.
Not so.
You will witness and hear all kinds of acts of kindness and encouragement. I vividly recall my first half-marathon. I hit a wall around mile seven. Not good considering I had six more miles to go. I ‘met’ a brother on the course and he ran with me until the finish line. My mom got a picture of us holding our medals and he continues to inspire me to this day.
Cleveland is in the 50 states club. He has run a full marathon is all 50 states, sometimes doing two states and marathons in one weekend.
He may be a crazed runner, but he’s my inspiration and my friend. Now, that’s kinship that I can keep for life!
So true! The person that got me into running is my friend Mona who lost 50+ pounds training for the San Diego marathon. During a race you'd think she was on the sidelines the way she cheers on other runners.
ReplyDeleteNatalie - I LOVE the visual image of you jammin out to the alternarock! I have a running mix tape..that's right, a TAPE, that I still listen to when the mood strikes. Music can sometimes keep us going by distracting us with nostolgic images of the past.
My motivation? Knowing that every time I get out there I'm already accomplishing my goal. By the time I approach the start line my work is done. All I have to do is start running and hang in there. That helps me feel like every run is vital and a challenge met!