Last Week, Coach Phelan, advised me to ask myself "WHY race in the first place?" To my surprise, it was hard to answer at first or at least get an answer from my heart. I had all the good reasons - a healthy life style, to lose weight , and who wouldn't want to run the Boston Marathon! It is the Super Bowl in the running world. But the "WHY" came down to a simple answer and from the heart. I need the challenge! For myself, Running has always been about the mental benefits I've gained more than the physical. Every time I set a goal and achieved that goal, my thinking and my outlook on life would always change for the better. My first 5k - I became a runner. My first marathon - I switched careers completely. And after awhile, I stopped smoking (that was really Big). Just getting out the door, my first few years of running, was a big enough challenge. The list goes on and on. Every time I have tried to reach a goal - even the times when I didn't reach my goal, but really tried, I would change. Instead of watching life go by, I have been a participant in my own life. Small stuff for some people, but BIG, Life Changing stuff for me. I would have never thought running would do so much!
I've been coasting for a while with my running, setting small challenges for myself along the way like trying to PR here and there and training others. My last big challenge was to run one half marathon a month for six months. I ran 8 half marathons in 6 months, nine if you count my unofficial "Rock 2 Victory" race. I actually ran 15 miles that day - pacing runners and bringing them in! But after 8 half marathons and receiving 8 medals, I was like "Oh, okay". So my "WHY" is simple - I need to satisfy an urge to challenge myself! The Bonus to all of this is that by me being Coached, I will become a better Coach. I will assure you, Runwell Training is going to look different! :)
I'm proud to say, I've ALMOST been able to follow my training schedule. It has to make sense to me or I will not do it! It's now starting to make sense why I need to do a long 14 miler on a Sunday in July, a long tempo run on a Thursday, Track work on Tuesday, and other runs in between. Even the bike rides are starting to making sense. Slowly the lights have been coming on as my understanding of these training techniques increases. "Oh, now I get it!" The problem was that this is so different from how I have trained before. Plus, the plan is not coming from me - and that's the real problem! I will say this much about being Coached; it is hard on me. :) The bike rides, after my runs, have not happen yet! But they will. Clear one hurdle at a time - first get the schedule down and make it fit into my life and then incorporate the bike work. Strangely, by rescheduling my training, I'm running more but starting to have more free time at night! This last week, I've been able to follow the schedule (-bike). I've been fueling body properly before, during, and after the runs. The results have been better workouts and a faster recovery. This stuff really works! I've chosen low fat chocolate milk as my post hard-workout fuel...YUMMY! I mean it's the next best thing to Starbucks after a few hours of running! Balance is the key. Doing my runs, fueling my body like a runner, and resting! WOW, I'm starting to feel like a real athlete...well for this week anyway!
So once again, I'm going to put Coach Phelan's reply out there:As a reply to you looking for your commitment, let me suggest you go to the basic reason of “WHY” you want to run the race.An athlete will do an amazing amount of work inspired by the reason "WHY" they chose to train in the first place. The reason “WHY” will get you up in the morning to run in the rain, by yourself. “WHY” will get through the last few miles of a hot run. Once the reason “WHY” is known and believed, coming from the heart, the brain will justify EVERYTHING else, and make the body follow!
I'm asking you to ask yourself "WHY" you want to run or race. What is your goal ? Find it, put out there and let's DO IT!
I've been coasting for a while with my running, setting small challenges for myself along the way like trying to PR here and there and training others. My last big challenge was to run one half marathon a month for six months. I ran 8 half marathons in 6 months, nine if you count my unofficial "Rock 2 Victory" race. I actually ran 15 miles that day - pacing runners and bringing them in! But after 8 half marathons and receiving 8 medals, I was like "Oh, okay". So my "WHY" is simple - I need to satisfy an urge to challenge myself! The Bonus to all of this is that by me being Coached, I will become a better Coach. I will assure you, Runwell Training is going to look different! :)
I'm proud to say, I've ALMOST been able to follow my training schedule. It has to make sense to me or I will not do it! It's now starting to make sense why I need to do a long 14 miler on a Sunday in July, a long tempo run on a Thursday, Track work on Tuesday, and other runs in between. Even the bike rides are starting to making sense. Slowly the lights have been coming on as my understanding of these training techniques increases. "Oh, now I get it!" The problem was that this is so different from how I have trained before. Plus, the plan is not coming from me - and that's the real problem! I will say this much about being Coached; it is hard on me. :) The bike rides, after my runs, have not happen yet! But they will. Clear one hurdle at a time - first get the schedule down and make it fit into my life and then incorporate the bike work. Strangely, by rescheduling my training, I'm running more but starting to have more free time at night! This last week, I've been able to follow the schedule (-bike). I've been fueling body properly before, during, and after the runs. The results have been better workouts and a faster recovery. This stuff really works! I've chosen low fat chocolate milk as my post hard-workout fuel...YUMMY! I mean it's the next best thing to Starbucks after a few hours of running! Balance is the key. Doing my runs, fueling my body like a runner, and resting! WOW, I'm starting to feel like a real athlete...well for this week anyway!
So once again, I'm going to put Coach Phelan's reply out there:As a reply to you looking for your commitment, let me suggest you go to the basic reason of “WHY” you want to run the race.An athlete will do an amazing amount of work inspired by the reason "WHY" they chose to train in the first place. The reason “WHY” will get you up in the morning to run in the rain, by yourself. “WHY” will get through the last few miles of a hot run. Once the reason “WHY” is known and believed, coming from the heart, the brain will justify EVERYTHING else, and make the body follow!
I'm asking you to ask yourself "WHY" you want to run or race. What is your goal ? Find it, put out there and let's DO IT!
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