Long distance running is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. A few years back I would have written this off as an empty cliche that disregards the immense physiological demands that running for hours on end exerts on the human body. Increasingly though I am starting to see the truth in these sort of statements. There are frequent examples of incredible displays of human willpower in the face of seemingly impossible physical challenges-a recent example was British Comedian Eddie Izzards run across the UK. How could an out of shape 47 year old possibly complete an 1000 mile trek across the roads and trails of Great Britain and accomplish something that medical experts and advisors thought was near impossible at the outset? It was apparent that his incredibly mental toughness and sheer stubbornness had alot to do with it. At many stages in his epic run he was given perfectly good reasons to discontinue but he powered through immense physical discomfort to complete the route many weeks later.
The one thing that is apparent from all this training is that your mind is an amazing tool for both accomplishing feats and also holding you back, if you let it. A positive and determined mindset can take you a long way, quite literally in my case!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Finding a balance
One thing that I have learned in this training journey is the need for consistency. Adapting the body to run far and fast requires dedication to diet, ample rest as well as the obvious necessity of appropriate training. Most people who embark on marathon training are aware of those requirements, the real challenge is trying to incorporate those needs with the routines and pressures of a normal life. Should you go out when you have to run at 6am the next morning? Will you forgo dessert on a night out with friends or family?
It's not uncommon to find amateur athletes who take their commitment too far. Indeed, the incidence of this obsessive behaviour is certainly on the increase with the recent explosion in the popularity of triathlons around the world. There is even a new term entering popular lexicon, the 'Ironman widow', a partner who sees less and less of their spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend due to the time commitments of endurance training. This is no trivial matter and can certainly put real stress on a relationship as this Wall Street Journal article reveals.
My personal take is that whilst it is important to try your best at your selected activity or sport, it's important not to set unrealistic goals and acknowledge that you an amateur athlete whose ultimate motive for participation should be because it is fun.
Onto my training. Running in the mornings has continued to be a necessity this week as the heat wave in Austin continues, the past month turned out to be the hottest July on record here in Austin. I am now managing my own expectations for a fast time in Chicago and realizing that entering a spring marathon (if I am mad enough to repeat this ordeal) would probably be a far more logical choice for training, given the excellent winter weather in central Texas.
That being said, I did lower my 5 mile loop time to under 35 minutes and I am starting to run 7 miles more consistently in the mornings. I am preparing for increased mileage and intensity from here until late September, at which point I will reduce quantity and go for quality tune up runs.
It's not uncommon to find amateur athletes who take their commitment too far. Indeed, the incidence of this obsessive behaviour is certainly on the increase with the recent explosion in the popularity of triathlons around the world. There is even a new term entering popular lexicon, the 'Ironman widow', a partner who sees less and less of their spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend due to the time commitments of endurance training. This is no trivial matter and can certainly put real stress on a relationship as this Wall Street Journal article reveals.
My personal take is that whilst it is important to try your best at your selected activity or sport, it's important not to set unrealistic goals and acknowledge that you an amateur athlete whose ultimate motive for participation should be because it is fun.
Onto my training. Running in the mornings has continued to be a necessity this week as the heat wave in Austin continues, the past month turned out to be the hottest July on record here in Austin. I am now managing my own expectations for a fast time in Chicago and realizing that entering a spring marathon (if I am mad enough to repeat this ordeal) would probably be a far more logical choice for training, given the excellent winter weather in central Texas.
That being said, I did lower my 5 mile loop time to under 35 minutes and I am starting to run 7 miles more consistently in the mornings. I am preparing for increased mileage and intensity from here until late September, at which point I will reduce quantity and go for quality tune up runs.
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