One foot in front of the other.
As endurance athletes, we all have little tricks that keep us moving. This morning, I found a new one for myself. Yesterday I read the passage in Dean Karnazes‘ book, Ultramarathon Man where, in the middle of “The Relay”, (a 199 mile race from Calistoga, California to the beach at Santa Cruz, California usually run by relay teams where each member runs three legs of 5.5 miles (Dean did it alone)) he is worried about the last 65 miles of the race he had left to go. His wife said not to worry about the next 65 miles, but just worry about getting to the next light pole, or the next 65 feet.
As I got up this morning at 4:45 AM, I was greeted, not with a dimly lit sky showing the first beams of the sunrise, but rather with a sky that I imagine looked just the same in the middle of the night. The overcast skies brought along with them a light mist, some wispy fog and about 90% humidity. Nevertheless, out the door I went, ready for an arduous run through air as thick as molasses.
Fortunately, it was not quite as hot as it has been for the last few days in the pre-dawn hours. The temperature was a mild seventy degrees and the mist felt good on my skin. Now, I have noticed recently that it takes me somewhere between two and four miles before I warm up and realy feel good on my runs. Coincidentally, that is also the approximate distance on which I am on a slight uphill.
As I got into the run, the thick air did indeed start to stick in my lungs a little bit, as expected. So, I focused on remaining relaxed with my breathing and inhaling down to my groin. This helped a bit, but I need some more encouragement, and since I was the only one around, it had to come from me. So, I saw a light pole bout one hundred yards ahead. I said (yes, out loud), “Hey light pole! You’re mine!”, and then I went and got that light pole. When I got there, I looked at the incline in front of me and said to the tree at the end, “Hey tree! You’re mine!”
I kept this up for most of my seven miles and it felt so great! I have recently started running, sans Ipod, and I have found that due to this I have the time to become much more introspective about what I’m doing. Contrary to what I initially thought would happen, this has resulted in my runs feeling more easy and they seem to go by much faster. Of course, it helped this morning that I was pushing my pace a bit.
What do you do when you need encouragement and you’re the only one there?
Thanks so much for visiting my site! My name is Brandon Wood and I am the social media manager and a customer service rep for Newton Running. This site and podcast follow my adventures on the way to competing in and training for all kinds of endurance events, especially triathlon and running. Click the "About Me" tab for more info!
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That's my trick every time I run outside -sometimes a light pole, a tree, a mailbox, an intersection. Anything to set small goals and not think about the longer distance. I don't run anywhere close to you or Dean Karnazes so this works for short and long distances alike!
I was up 5 minutes after you. Don't forget the headlamp! I let it all the way out and wear it around my waist. Rock On!
When i need encouragement I think of my friends and family that have had some health issues (scares) over the past few years – they are the greatest inspiration to me.
Great run, Brandon! Over the past several weeks, I have also found that I run much easier and more relaxed without my Ipod than with it. Without the music and noise, I notice that I can focus much better on my form and physical cues from my body and make slight adjustments as I run.
As for self-encouragement, no matter how crappy I feel in the middle of a run, I know from experience that this sentiment is only temporary and within the next half-mile or so, I will once again start feeling great, so I tell myself to stay relaxed and run this one stretch as well as I can and the rest will take care of itself. If that doesn't work, you can always remind yourself that the rest of the world isn't out doing what you are doing right now, and there are even some that wishes they can, but they can't due to injury or other physical limitations.
Good on you for getting out there. Run well!
I'm still hooked on my iPod, but I'm going to have to change that soon since I can't use an iPod in races. My last race, I couldn't seem to motivate myself to keep running. So I defaulted to a run/walk. However, I use a counting system to keep myself from just walking. I walk to the count of 60 then run till at least the count of 60. I was thinking of getting a metronome for pacing assistance on my races. Anyone ever do that?
I'm a little goal person too. Sometimes, no most of the time, thinking about the next ten miles is too much for me to think about. Especially when it is hot and humid. I tend to pick out something really cool (big flowers or palm trees) or something that will push me (the top of the next hill) to push towards as my baby goal to keep going for the next one.
Way to get out there, Brandon! Light poles and fire hydrants are the way that I began running. I am new to the sport (i.e., since January 2009). When I first started, my dad and I were just walking. He knew I wanted to run, so he told me to just run the distance of "x" # of light poles. Then, I'd walk back to him…then, I'd do another couple, and another, etc. Then, he wanted me to put segments together. Finally, I was able to run 3.5 miles and do my first 5K in February. Then, a 10K in March, and so on. Now, I'm training for a marathon.
I run with an iPod. The music is a big motivator for me. I use it like light poles even now, though…when I'm tired, I tell myself I'll run until the end of the song…and then usually another favorite comes on, so I commit to running until that song finishes…etc. It's a mind game for me. My body and my mind are constantly fighting over running farther vs resting.
I definitely have a long ways to go to be ready for the marathon…I'm only up to 7 miles. However, thinking of people like yourself who are also out there in "the middle of the night" (or so it seems
) beating the pavement for the sheer athleticism and joy motivates me. I want to be proud of my efforts on the other side of the workout…and so I press on…even when my mind says stop, stop, stop!
Great post! And great run!!! Keep after it!
If I ran without my iPod, I'd miss out on all my favorite podcasts! We wouldn't want that, now, would we Brandon?
Mostly kidding my man – Lately I've been biking without my iPod and I handle it just fine. I just listen to the podcasts in the car while driving to/from work.
Just get to the next McDonald's!
Wow – yep I use the garbage cans on the boardwalk. One more garbage can to go Michelle!! I admit, I rely too much on peeking at my garmin. I need to work on that. I do use my ipod shuffle but somedays I like to run without it. That is when I really try to run my fastest runs. One more garbage can…..
I'm training for my first half marathon. I ran my longest run to date on Friday- 9 miles! Before the run I made sure I knew where each mile marker was, so I was motivated to and re-energized with each mile that passed.
I don't run with an iPod. It's the one time in my day that I can totally disconnect. It's so peaceful!