"It doesn't get easier, you just go faster." -Greg Lemond
(My race report from yesterday's meet is in the process of being typed but this post is about today's run. And how it completely sucked.)
I've always liked that Greg Lemond quote and now I have an excuse to use it. My run backs up the claim he made.
Many of the distance girls have been sick including my fast teammate JS who was also gone for the meet. One of the girls (RB) was back though and she was running on fresher legs than I was. We were told to do 6 miles so I decided to go about 8 minute pace as long as I could beat RB. My legs didn't feel too tired which was surprising and it was really nice out, almost 75 degrees in March. It was a little too warm for a nice run so the weather had some effect on me. It was also St. Patrick's Day which, because I am a redhead and Irish, should have given me extra strength to run with.
The first mile was in 7:52 which was good. RB was a little behind me which was also good. My legs began to get more tired throughout the run but I was at the halfway mark at 23:27. RB was running about 20ft behind me and I wasn't sure how she felt. I knew I shouldn't have been racing her, but I really wanted to beat her, as I usually did, not only because I'm competitive but to show my coach that I was continuing my improvement.
After I turned back, my legs became exhausted. I was fighting every step and not concentrating on my form, which is evident by my almost tripping (again) on a piece of the trail. I couldn't dwell on my embarrassing moment because I was having trouble just moving forward. The urge to walk was strong but I knew I couldn't no matter how hard it became because I had come beyond the giving up hope and walking thing, and RB was closing the gap. I refused to look at my watch until I got to 1.5 left (35:35) but even then I could feel my remaining energy leaving. My legs had become numb, I could hardly lift them up and so it became a step at a time.
The 6th mile was hard. I had passed a few of the 5 mile girls but because I refused to look back, I wasn't sure how far behind RB was (for some reason this still mattered). Running up a hill with about a half mile to go, a sprinter was running the opposite way and passing me, smiling and telling me I was doing a good job. As nice as this was, I felt like smacking her and screaming. I was going as fast as I could yet it felt like I was barely moving. My legs were so very tired and my good form had been gone miles ago.
I reached the parking lot of my school ready to fall to the ground. A quick glance showed me that I had actually increased my gap but I still sprinted, slowly, the last few feet. As soon as I came to the grass, I flopped to the ground and sat, which felt very nice. When my coach asked me how it went, I told him that it was terrible. He seemed genuinely concerned but I had no reason for why it was so hard. My meet shouldn't have had that much effect but neither should the heat. My run just incredibly sucked.
My time for 6 miles was 48:22. The last 3 miles were done in 24:55, more than a minute slower than the first half. I don't have an explanation for why it was so hard, but it was. I may have gotten a lot faster but it's still not easy.
Showing posts with label quote. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quote. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
NO MORE EXCUSES
This week was a week of progress. 31.9 miles of progress to be exact. Lately I haven't been training very well for track and have been worrying that my results will show it. I don't want to disappoint my family, my teammates, myself, and most of all my coach. Most of the time I can't stand him, but during xc I realized that my coach isn't as bad as I thought. My coach might actually have started believing in me and I don't want to let him down. And let's face it, running for results that at the moment seem far away hasn't exactly got me outside when it's been nice and cozy inside.
Last week I ran a measly amount of miles that does not deserve to be published but I had excuses. It was cold, icy, the streets weren't cleared of snow, there wasn't enough daylight to run in, my legs were sore, my fast teammates weren't getting my runs in, and I was bored with running the same roads around my house multiple times just to get a small run in. But these are the same excuses I've been using all winter to justify my small mileage. I realized that since I don't believe in excuses during a race (unless there is a really good one) than excuses shouldn't count during normal runs either.
Weather should not be an excuse as to why I'm slacking off. Because as Bill Bowerman says in one of my favorite quotes, "There is no bad weather, only soft people". I've been complaining about bad weather, bad road conditions, etc. but those are just excuses that soft people make. I can run in over 100 degree heat so I should be able to run when it's below freezing out. Sure, my cheeks will get numb but at least I won't sweat as much. I have run in thunderstorms, heavy rain, mud, and freezing rain, yet I was making excuses as to why I couldn't run because it was too windy out. I had been turning into one of those soft people who I make fun of as they pass me in their nice warm cars while I'm running.
My coach doesn't make excuses. He thinks there should be no reason that we aren't hitting our times even though its pouring rain and thundering with mud that sucks on your shoes, 90 degrees and sunny with no shade, or 20 degrees and icy. This is obviously very annoying because it's not like we aren't trying. But none of my excuses I tell myself would my coach even consider. He'd tell me to suck it up or use one of those funny sayings he's always telling us. He just started running again after xc ended so I'm not sure if he's as strict with himself as he is with us, but I'm pretty sure he'd get mad if he found out about my training. But I like those few and far between smiles and congratulations I get from him so I've decided to work harder. I mean, my coach is actually running (I saw him run for the first time in November) and I don't want him to be able to beat me when he runs with us. I want to be able to impress him and show him that I can do this. That I am a runner and will work hard to accomplish something he and I would be proud of.
I've been thinking about this for awhile and this Monday I decided to do something about it. I ran 5.65 miles after choosing a new out and back route that is very hilly but as my dad would say, "builds character". I ran the same route Tuesday and Wednesday, getting more tired but dropping almost a minute each time I ran it. Thursday I went to a gym and ran a fast 2.25 miles before swimming because a friend wanted me to workout with her. I was almost going to count this as a rest day but thought I could get enough miles in later in the week while still taking an actual rest day. Friday I didn't run. I made the excuse that it was too slushy outside and my legs were sore. I gave into the excuses but promised myself to run the rest of the week. Saturday I ran 5.65 miles. It was super windy and kind of slushy but I pushed through it. Plus there was an article about cycling and running in the sports section which hardly ever happens, so I was able to be inspired. Today, Sunday, I ran 7.05 miles very slowly. Physically I knew I could do it even though my legs were a little sore. The wind and cold turned it into more of a mental battle though, but I did it. All 31.9 miles of it.
As I sit here typing this, my legs are very tired. But they are a good tired because I know that hard work is what made them sore. Now I can talk to my coach and tell him without lying or not telling the whole truth, that I actually got my miles in. I won't have to avoid his room anymore and I will finally be able to walk around knowing that I accomplished something this week. I can now look at the sprinters and laugh again at the meager training they call running. I am myself again now that I running more than a few miles and am putting everything into my training. I have figured out that running is hard but harder when you make excuses. Because excuses may belong in other sports but they have no place in running.
Last week I ran a measly amount of miles that does not deserve to be published but I had excuses. It was cold, icy, the streets weren't cleared of snow, there wasn't enough daylight to run in, my legs were sore, my fast teammates weren't getting my runs in, and I was bored with running the same roads around my house multiple times just to get a small run in. But these are the same excuses I've been using all winter to justify my small mileage. I realized that since I don't believe in excuses during a race (unless there is a really good one) than excuses shouldn't count during normal runs either.
Weather should not be an excuse as to why I'm slacking off. Because as Bill Bowerman says in one of my favorite quotes, "There is no bad weather, only soft people". I've been complaining about bad weather, bad road conditions, etc. but those are just excuses that soft people make. I can run in over 100 degree heat so I should be able to run when it's below freezing out. Sure, my cheeks will get numb but at least I won't sweat as much. I have run in thunderstorms, heavy rain, mud, and freezing rain, yet I was making excuses as to why I couldn't run because it was too windy out. I had been turning into one of those soft people who I make fun of as they pass me in their nice warm cars while I'm running.
My coach doesn't make excuses. He thinks there should be no reason that we aren't hitting our times even though its pouring rain and thundering with mud that sucks on your shoes, 90 degrees and sunny with no shade, or 20 degrees and icy. This is obviously very annoying because it's not like we aren't trying. But none of my excuses I tell myself would my coach even consider. He'd tell me to suck it up or use one of those funny sayings he's always telling us. He just started running again after xc ended so I'm not sure if he's as strict with himself as he is with us, but I'm pretty sure he'd get mad if he found out about my training. But I like those few and far between smiles and congratulations I get from him so I've decided to work harder. I mean, my coach is actually running (I saw him run for the first time in November) and I don't want him to be able to beat me when he runs with us. I want to be able to impress him and show him that I can do this. That I am a runner and will work hard to accomplish something he and I would be proud of.
I've been thinking about this for awhile and this Monday I decided to do something about it. I ran 5.65 miles after choosing a new out and back route that is very hilly but as my dad would say, "builds character". I ran the same route Tuesday and Wednesday, getting more tired but dropping almost a minute each time I ran it. Thursday I went to a gym and ran a fast 2.25 miles before swimming because a friend wanted me to workout with her. I was almost going to count this as a rest day but thought I could get enough miles in later in the week while still taking an actual rest day. Friday I didn't run. I made the excuse that it was too slushy outside and my legs were sore. I gave into the excuses but promised myself to run the rest of the week. Saturday I ran 5.65 miles. It was super windy and kind of slushy but I pushed through it. Plus there was an article about cycling and running in the sports section which hardly ever happens, so I was able to be inspired. Today, Sunday, I ran 7.05 miles very slowly. Physically I knew I could do it even though my legs were a little sore. The wind and cold turned it into more of a mental battle though, but I did it. All 31.9 miles of it.
As I sit here typing this, my legs are very tired. But they are a good tired because I know that hard work is what made them sore. Now I can talk to my coach and tell him without lying or not telling the whole truth, that I actually got my miles in. I won't have to avoid his room anymore and I will finally be able to walk around knowing that I accomplished something this week. I can now look at the sprinters and laugh again at the meager training they call running. I am myself again now that I running more than a few miles and am putting everything into my training. I have figured out that running is hard but harder when you make excuses. Because excuses may belong in other sports but they have no place in running.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
BRRRRR
I've been running this week, only taking one day off. Thursday I set a new PR on one of my 2 mile routes. Friday I took a break because it was sleeting and I had basically raced myself on Thursday. The past two days I've done 2 miles but it's a little bit different from the beginning of the week. For one thing it's 32 degrees outside and it's been snowing off and on since Friday. During the middle of my run yesterday I started to repeat this quote to myself, "There's no such thing as bad weather, just soft people" by Bill Bowerman. I chanted it to myself when the wind made my cheeks go numb today.
I've ended my first week of training and it's gone pretty well. No major aches or pains and my hamstring feels a lot better. It still feels a little sore when I stretch it sitting down, but when I run it doesn't hurt anymore. The inside of my knees have hurt a little and it makes me feel old, like I've got arthritis or something. It's probably just from starting up running again.
The cold has bothered me more than it usually does this week. I usually love running when it's cold but now I remember all that comes with it. A constantly runny nose, sore throat, chapped lips, dried out hands from not wearing gloves, and always being cold after your run. The chili I'll have for supper might warm me up. I like this better than the 70 degree weather we had earlier in the week though. Except I think I'll miss my running tan that has started to fade. Sure I might have looked dorky wearing flip flops with my white feet but to me, my running tan says dedication.
I was thinking a lot about the upcoming track season during my run today. I've improved a lot over the summer and I think I can be pretty good if I don't hurt myself. One thing I'm going to do different this winter is make sure I get all my miles in. Last winter we had all that ice so I skipped a bunch of days. I'm going to run every day I possibly can, no matter how cold. Ice can be dangerous but I think I will be able to work around it. I'm also going to keep doing my core workouts. I did them during the summer but then I slacked off once xc season started. I'm going to do them all winter so I will be in shape for track. This includes the pushups I've incorporated into my workout. I might actually get arm muscles.
My HOPE sign has yet to go up in my room because I'm trying to figure out where to put it. I love it though, I think it's going to make me faster.
I've ended my first week of training and it's gone pretty well. No major aches or pains and my hamstring feels a lot better. It still feels a little sore when I stretch it sitting down, but when I run it doesn't hurt anymore. The inside of my knees have hurt a little and it makes me feel old, like I've got arthritis or something. It's probably just from starting up running again.
The cold has bothered me more than it usually does this week. I usually love running when it's cold but now I remember all that comes with it. A constantly runny nose, sore throat, chapped lips, dried out hands from not wearing gloves, and always being cold after your run. The chili I'll have for supper might warm me up. I like this better than the 70 degree weather we had earlier in the week though. Except I think I'll miss my running tan that has started to fade. Sure I might have looked dorky wearing flip flops with my white feet but to me, my running tan says dedication.
I was thinking a lot about the upcoming track season during my run today. I've improved a lot over the summer and I think I can be pretty good if I don't hurt myself. One thing I'm going to do different this winter is make sure I get all my miles in. Last winter we had all that ice so I skipped a bunch of days. I'm going to run every day I possibly can, no matter how cold. Ice can be dangerous but I think I will be able to work around it. I'm also going to keep doing my core workouts. I did them during the summer but then I slacked off once xc season started. I'm going to do them all winter so I will be in shape for track. This includes the pushups I've incorporated into my workout. I might actually get arm muscles.
My HOPE sign has yet to go up in my room because I'm trying to figure out where to put it. I love it though, I think it's going to make me faster.
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