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| Me and my friends Becky (left) and Michelle (right) |
I ran my 6th PF Chang's Rock and Roll half marathon yesterday. I know I wasn't as prepared as I should have been. Actually my training leading up to the event was pretty lame. So lame that I had decided to downgrade to the "Mini", which is about 5.4 miles. My friend and running partner, Michelle and I had made this decision weeks before when we hadn't gotten our miles up past 5 miles, and our training time was running out. But, when I picked her up on Friday to go to the expo to pick up our packets, she suggested that we go ahead with the half, since that's what we we signed up for, but instead of running the whole thing, we could run half and walk half. I thought this was acceptable so I agreed.
I have to admit that this isn't the first time that I haven't felt totally trained and ready for a race. This same scenario has happened several times before. This time I was a little more apprehensive because I have put on 10 pounds since my last race, and I'm not as young as I use to be. But there are some things that I know from all my years of running that made it not only possible but super fun.
1. The old cliche "it's 99% mental" is not just a cliche'. When I stepped onto my regular running path the previous Saturday morning, I was thinking,"I really don't think I can run five miles this morning," and came up with a thousand excuses why, I was absolutely right. In fact I turned around at 2 and only did a total of 4. When I know I need to get in more miles, no matter how I'm feeling, when I tell myself I can do it, I just do it. So I decided that I could and would do the 13.1 miles, and I did. The power of the mind is incredible. " (Romans 12:12 "be transformed by the renewal of your mind) (Phil 4:8 whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praise worthy, think on these things)
2. I remember learning about muscle memory when I first started running with my group in 2005. My trainer at the time had been running for many years and she said that after a while your body just knows what to do and does it. I remember thinking " I can't wait for that to happen to me, and wishing it would hurry up already. I think I'm finally there. I didn't feel any differently during the race than I did when I was full trained.
3.Moral support from good friends is an awesome motivator.(Ecclesiastes 4:12 a chord of 3 strands is not easily broken.) We know we are not trying to break any records. We just love to run together for three reasons; exercise, social and motivation. Any task shared with a friend or two makes lighter work. Whether its doing the dishes or running 13 miles it's always more fun with a friend.
4. Keep your eye on the prize.(Phil 3:14, press on toward the goal. 1 Cor 9:24 run in such a way as to get the prize) I think about it this way. When I take that first step across the start line, knowing that its going to be long time (2 to 3 hours) before I cross that finish line, I visualize crossing that line. I know what the end feels like, so I pre-live it in my mind. It's kind of like presetting your GPS navigational system in the car. As long as you keep pressing the accelerator and following the path laid out there, you will get to your destination. I love that I always do.
5. Pacing yourself and taking mini breaks is crucial to finishing. (Ex 34:21 God demanded rest.) My friends and I are not fast and we know it. And we are okay with that. This may not be the philosophy of most racers, but our goal is different that theirs. So we take it nice and slow. I didn't know if I would be able to run more that five miles, and I was okay with walking the rest, but because we didn't push too hard in the beginning, we had enough energy to make it to the end, running (or shall I call it jogging) most of the time. Slow and steady finishes the race, (i know, another cliche').
6 You don't have to look like an athlete to be one. Appearance isn't everything. (Ps 139:14 You are fearfully and wonderfully made). My body was not made for running. I'm 5 foot even. So I cant say I look like a gazelle when running. But it really doesn't matter. Any body shape can run, or swim, or bike-ride, or you fill in the blank. The idea is to just get moving. (1 Tim 4:8 bodily training is of value, 2 Tim 2:5, 1 Cor 6:19 your body is a temple) Don't let yourself off the hook because you don't look the part, or feel it for that matter. Just DO IT.
Though this was my 6th Rock and Roll half Marathon, I've probably done 15 or more, (I've lost count), plus one full. Before I moved to Avondale, AZ 8 years ago, I had only run 3 to 5 miles maximum. I never thought I would run a half marathon! And while I don't recommend doing it the way that I did this time. I do recommend pushing yourself hard to do something you never thought you would do. The rewards are more than just physical. But that,s a subject for another day.
6 You don't have to look like an athlete to be one. Appearance isn't everything. (Ps 139:14 You are fearfully and wonderfully made). My body was not made for running. I'm 5 foot even. So I cant say I look like a gazelle when running. But it really doesn't matter. Any body shape can run, or swim, or bike-ride, or you fill in the blank. The idea is to just get moving. (1 Tim 4:8 bodily training is of value, 2 Tim 2:5, 1 Cor 6:19 your body is a temple) Don't let yourself off the hook because you don't look the part, or feel it for that matter. Just DO IT.
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| Only .1 mile left to go. We rocked it! |
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