Running and I have a very strange relationship. Having only really begun running when I started Triathlon (and because I've only done a few sprints never having to go over 5k luckily) I found it very hard. And still do.
I have to start psyching myself hours before. Throughout the day my thoughts are generally- 'Right, run at 6pm, make sure you have a good dinner, carbs and protein, drink lots of water.'
(On chips and beans day I declared to everyone that I was running later, and couldn't possibly eat that, I needed PROPER food. I dutifully took a tuna salad with me for my lunch and sat eating that, trying to feel I'd gained the moral highground whilst desperately wanting to grab the bag off the person next to me and stuff my face)
2pm- '4 Hours to go'
2.30pm- '3 and a half hours to go'
2.45pm- 'I'm a bit tired actually'
3pm- 'ooh, only 3 hours to go now, and my legs are hurting, will I be ok?'
4pm- 'I don't know if I should go really, I've got a twinge. And this twinge could be something really serious, and if I run with it it could put me out of training for months'.
4.15pm- 'ouch'
4.30pm- 'Ooh'
4.45pm- 'Holby City is on tonight'
4.50pm- 'And 'Come Dine With Me' I could learn to cook healthy post-run meals.. I'm so dedicated
4.55pm- 'No! Stop it, I know what you're doing'!
4.58pm- 'What, What do you mean!!?'
5pm- 'I'm going to be an Outlaw, I have to go for this run. I have to. I'll enjoy it'.
5.01pm- 'No you won't'
5.02pm- 'Yes I will! I'll have fun and feel really good'
5.03pm- 'Nope, you'll be knackered, sweaty, your hair will be stuck to your head and you'll wonder what the hell you are doing running somewhere just to run back again, just don't bother'.
At this point my mind tells me EVERY reason not to go for that run. And I mean every reason. Whatever you can think of, I'd have used it. My mind is very devious. It will use anything to con me into thinking I shouldn't go. In my earlier days of training I would skip runs and justify it's because of this or that, but now I'm so scared of the marathon I'm going to be doing on 8th April (to get my head round the distance before July, even though my head would rather not know) that it gets me out the door. Just.
But really it's no wonder that by the time it actually comes round to doing the run I'm knackered, look how much energy I use flapping about it! It can't be right. In situations like this I think you should write a pros and cons list, then it's there in black and white to help you make your decision on what's best for you.
RUNNING-
PROS-
CONS-
It's hard- parts of the body you didn't even know could ache will ache. In my case for days afterwards.
Lungs will protest and shut up shop, making it really hard to breathe.
Legs, hips, back and knees will follow in show of solidary to lungs and seize up.
You spend all your time running in circles.. Run one way just to run back! Why?
Endless cycles of washing of lycra.
Sweaty flat hair
Blisters
Chafing. The pot of Vaseline on my bedside table gives COMPLETELY the wrong impression. If only you knew exactly how sad I am. It's there to prevent road rash. Sorry to shatter your illusions.
Boring (you don't have as many thoughts as you think you do. Or as many songs on your ipod) I end up counting sometimes! What is that about?!
It can bring on unknown episodes of irritibility. Usually when I see someone happily running along, looking really happy and energetic and I just know they have a t.shirt with ''I love running'' on it, and they bomb past me not even sweating in the slightest, and still manage to smile and shout ''Beautiful day isn't it!''! (How can you run and talk at the same time?! I can barely run and breathe at the same time! And don't look so happy about running in circles you strange, strange being. And it isn't normal to be that bouncy anyway. Get your adrenalin levels checked.)
Running has a bizzarre and unhealthy effect on time that we shouldn't encourage. It literally slows it down. You've been going for ages, your legs hurt, your lungs hurt, you feel like you're going to collapse but you keep on going, knowing the pain is nearly over. You look at your watch- 8 poxy minutes. How on earth is that right?! Running has some strange control over it, I'm telling you. Time today, world domination tomorrow.
That's my list. I'm sure I could add more, but I don't want to take up the next five years. Obviously there are pros to running, I just can't think of any, apart from finishing and sitting down. Which doesn't sound very Triathlete-ish does it.
I know the marathon will be a challenge, just like every run I do is a challenge. That, for me, makes it even more worthwhile. When I finish a run, I feel a sense of satisfaction so huge that I could just hug everyone. Luckily for them I don't.
That's what makes it great. Only when you push yourself to do something you aren't wonderful at do you get the real high. Or is that my twisted logic? People have asked me what on earth I think I'm doing when I don't even like running. I reply with 'I like it because I don't like it, and that makes it even better when I do it'
(Step over Einstein, your successor has arrived)
For me it's a love/hate relationship, and like all relationships like that, it is satisfying for all the wrong reasons. It's quite alarming that I appear to have masochistic tendancies. Running hurts = I feel good. Mm.
Anyway I'm going now, I've burnt my bloody pizza writing this! Maybe just as well. I'm a runner you know, I have to have PROPER food ;)
Pizza????
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