Lessons Learned from Running (and NOT running)...Take Two

Last night I finished week 8 of the couch to 5k program. This week I move in to week 9 and will graduate from the program a week from today.

The last two weeks have not been without their challenges. This has caused me to spend some time thinking about this running business, and whether I really want to do it. Eight weeks in, and here's what I have discovered.

Running is hard! When you have to run for a long period of time (aka 28 minutes like this week, or 25 minutes like last week) it is really hard to do it.

WHY?

Well, when I have been doing these last six runs, I have realized some things about myself. First off, my muscles don't generally hurt THAT much when I am out running. I did have some unusual calf muscle pain last week, but I think that was because I actually pushed myself to cover some distance (as opposed to nearly running in place which is sometimes what it feels like when I am running).

Second, breathing isn't really ALL that difficult, unless it is hot and humid. Or if I am pushing myself a bit too hard.

I have learned something big about running. 

Your ability to run is not dependent on your physical ability or your lung capacity. Running success isn't impacted by the brand of running shoes you are wearing, or even how quickly you can cover your target distance for the outing.

Running is a mind game. Plain and simple.

And maybe you achieve the elusive 'runner's high' when you overcome your mental limitations, block out your thoughts and allow yourself to achieve a successful run. The 'Just Do It' of running. Whether it's a beginner's run....like the lady I ran past last night who 'was just trying to get through ten minutes of running' (trust me honey...I've been there and if Wayne saw either of us he would have opened the truck door to put us out of our misery). But is it misery???  

Or a slightly more experienced runner attempting her very first 5k, thrilled at the starting line to be one of the group and realizing when the starting gun blasts and the others all take off and leave her behind that she isn't as experienced as she thought...but then overcoming that mental wrench and cheering the significance of her accomplishment as she crosses the finish line after running FIVE ENTIRE KILOMETERS.  

On Saturday I went out to run day 3 and after 3 and a half minutes of running I called it quits because my legs hurt. I started again a few minutes later and managed to run another minute before my legs hurt again. Four minutes of walking and then I decide I have to do this so I start to run again. Three minutes later and I can't breathe properly and give it up again. After walking for about 8 minutes I try again and manage to run about five minutes. I gave up when some sciatic nerve pain kicked in and I walked the rest of the way back to the trailer. Feeling pretty miserable about myself. Questioning why I am even trying to do this. And if I really CAN do it.

After enjoying some beach time and some family time, I returned home last night thinking I should try it again. I turned up beer with the neighbours because I knew I had to try this again (I know that's hard to believe!). And I walked out the door and started day 3 over again.  For the first 15 minutes of walking and running, I almost turned my brain into a chant machine. If I wasn't singing the song on my ipod, I was repeating: "I CAN DO THIS". And then, after 15 minutes of running, you can't stop because you are past the point of no return.

I can't stop now...that would waste all of the good effort that I just put into the first 15 minutes of running.

Even the slight hill in front of the Magnolia didn't slow me down. Shake It came on for the last three of my 28 running minutes and I hit my stride, full on with long legs extended. I can cover a lot of ground when I do that! And then it hit me...the feeling that I REALLY can do this, that I really can do anything....the elusive runners' high.

Well, until the three minutes of sprinting ended and then I had a near death experience. *LOL* ...but that only lasted for about 25 seconds.

And then as I walked through my cool down, I lavished in the feeling of accomplishment and knew that this whole running thing is a mind game. And I am going to keep on trying to win.