Mind Over Matter

"Slide, slide, skate.  Slide, slide, skate."
This is the little mantra I overheard my daughter whispering to herself the other day when she was trying out her new skates. It got me thinking about the internal monologue we have when we are doing something mechanical and repetitive, like running. I asked some runners and sports people what they do to motivate them.  This is what I came up with:

1)  Just....get....to...the....next...post!
Set yourself small achievable goals, like reaching the next lamp post.  The chances are, once you're there, you'll feel able to get to the next and so on.  The Runners World Streak http://www.runnersworld.com/cold-weather-running/2012-holiday-running-streak is a similar idea, where you pledge to run 1 mile every day over the holiday.  Often, when you get going, you will continue and run farther.

2) Use visualisation
Experts recommend you visualise your run before you actually set off.  Think about how you would like to look and feel at different stages.  If you are racing, it can be a good idea to drive the route before your run it so that you are familiar with the layout and you can visualise yourself running it. (Picture yourself as a Kenyan or an Ethiopian, or even as Mo!)

3)  Lie!
Tell yourself how wonderful you feel and what an amazing run you are having.  You may be so delirious you'll believe it!

4)  Think about the afterglow
Some people love the way their body feels after exercise - and some people like the smug feeling that comes post run!  Whatever your prefer, focus on that!

5) Have a mantra
Here are some little sayings that may help you to keep going once you get out there;

• Pain is temporary: failure lasts forever
• Get comfortable being uncomfortable
• Today is not the day I gave up
• I do it today for tomorrows results
• The harder it is, the greater the victory

Just do it!

Comparing ourselves to others is something we are all guilty of it, and I think it makes most of us feel bad.  But we still do it!  I know that after a few minutes on Facebook, I inevitably convince myself that everyone is happier/busier/more glamorous than I am.

I am also guilty of comparing myself to other runners. During my last race, (which was a loop course) I watched open-mouthed and envious at those who were powering their way past the 7K - as I passed the 3K marker!  Wow....wouldn't it be amazing to run like that.....could I ever do that? Well, no, is the simple answer.  I am a recreational runner.  I will not win any races, but by running in races I might raise a little money for charity and keep my mind and body fit in the meantime.

The great think about running, and running events, is that you learn that runners come in all shapes and sizes.  It may sound stupid, but I didn't know that until I entered my first race.  I had been running solo for years before I had the courage to enter a race: I'd felt I wasn't good enough to stand next to real runners.  And it's not all about a PB.  Loads of people race for fun, to raise funds for charities, to remember lost loved ones.  I was chocked with tears as I watched the final two runners cross the finishing line at a 10K race in Sheffield; an 81 year old man and his daughter.  Christ, if I live to be 81, I hope I am as brave and fit as he is.

I think what I'm saying is, it's not all about speed.  We get so bogged down with our 'minute mile' and our PBs.   Of course, this stuff is important as a marker, but the main thing is that we run, and that we enjoy running.  In a recent survey by Runner's World, participants were asked what running milestone they were most proud of.  The majority rated the ability to run a long distance over speed.
Get outside the numbers....be present in your next run, not pre-occupied!

The Abbey Dash 10K, Leeds

I am one happy mother runner.  Last week I was digging deep to find motivation. This week I find myself on a post-race high following the Abbey Dash at Leeds on Sunday morning. The 10K course took us from the city centre to Kirkstall Abbey and back on mainly flat (ahem!) roads.

I must admit, when my alarm went off at 6:30 am on Sunday, I wondered why I was dragging myself, Hubbie and children from our sleeping beds.  Man up, I muttered to myself.  Thankfully, there wasn't too much grumbling from the family.  The promise of a 'pan au chocolate' in the car spurred them on.  By 8:45, we had arrived in Leeds and spilled out of the car into the freezing cold city centre and hopped about to warm up.  By now, I was eager to get to the race, but there's no such thing as walking briskly with a 4 and a 7 year old. ("Mummy, I brought my binoculars so I can see you, or so I can see some really good runners!  What are those statues?  Why are they on top of the building?  Mummy, look at the hair plane").  We ambled our way up the hill to where the race was scheduled to begin at 9:30.  By the time I joined everyone in the pens, I was buzzing with excitement and couldn't wait to set off.

I like to think of myself as a real runner now, kitted out in my tights, new (ish) trainers and my gore top, but I don't even have a watch!  The battery in my analogue model packed in a few weeks ago and I haven't gotten around to replacing it.  I've been running on instinct rather than relying on stats to get me through.  I rely heavily on my play list also, and know which songs mean I need to up the pace.  It was a fantastic and uplifting surprise for me to crest the last hill and see the finishing line and clock in sight, and to know that I was running towards a PB.  I ran the 10K in 54:24, a time I had not even secretly dreamed I would achieve.  I am so pleased! Yeah!

Regular running has certainly paid off.  The first 10K I ran in September was a struggle, and also a real turning point for me as a runner because it made me realise what I was capable of.  This 10K was a lot easier.  I was fine afterwards; I managed to have a normal day once we returned home, took the dog for a 4K walk, took my daughter to her horse riding lesson, cooked tea, did a load of laundry etc.  And I even baked a celebration cake!

So, what next?  Well, I have been trawling the net looking for my next race.  Not sure yet whether it'll be another 10K or if I'll go for a 13.1 miler......time will tell!

Staying Motivated

I find staying motivated during the dark days of Autumn to be a challenge.  Writing this Blog certainly helps, as it forces me to think about running more than I probably would if I wasn't writing it.  But there are lots of other ways to stay focused on running.  Here are some that I came up with on my run this morning:

1)  Tunes : I find running with music inspires and motivates me.  I occasionally revamp my running playlist, and I like to know what songs motivate fellow runners so I can incorporate them if I feel they will work for me.  My playlist starts out quite slow (Fatboy Slim's 'Right Here, Right Now') and revs up a gear at about the 5K marker (Franz Ferdinand's 'Take Me Out').  I also enjoy a bit of Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face'.  For me, the songs need to have a kick to get me going.

2)  Get kitted up : Sometimes, even if I plan to run later on in the day, I get into my running clothes first thing.  That way it's harder to back out of the run.

3)  Run with a friend : While I love escaping for a run and enjoying time alone, there are times when I wish I could share a nice route with a fellow runner, or just benefit from some company and encouragement.  Why not arrange a 'Share a Route' day with a fellow runner.  Take it in turns to devise routes to run together.

4)  Reward yourself : If you successfully haul your ass out into the cold, you need to reward yourself on your return, for doing so.  I enjoy a coffee and a piece of cake post run.  I have also decided to reward myself with a post-race cake, after each race (no, I don't plan to eat all of it, but I will enjoy planning, making and sharing it). This weekend it will be a lemon and poppy seed cake to celebrate (hopefully) my completion of the Abbey Dash.

5)  Read about running : Whether it's Runner's world or a book, reading about running can be very motivating.  (After reading 'Running with the Kenyans' I began to feel I might like to run a Marathon!)

6)  Race! : Entering races will give you a clear, definite target you can work towards.  I must admit, I was tempted to slack off this morning but couldn't as I have a race on Sunday.

If you have any motivating tips, please leave a comment.  

Winter Clobber

Recently, in an attempt to keep my enthusiasm bubbling away, I registered for the Leeds Abbey Dash.  It takes place on Sunday 18th November.  Unlike my first and last 10K, I am not worried about covering the distance, but I do want to better my time.  Since I started taking running seriously, I have found my inner competitive spirit. I am not fired up about doing better than the other runners, but I do want to beat my 10K time of 59:52.  Provided there are no hills, I'm hopeful that I will achieve that target.

Now that the weather has turned cold, I am so pleased that I have finally taken the plunge and invested in some proper cold-weather running kit.  Last year, I used to go out in my tracksuit bottoms and a sweatshirt...no wonder my running used to slack off in October and restart in March!  This Autumn, thanks to my hubbie and my overdraft, I have some lovely Ronhill running tights, a long-sleeved Gore top and a Lonsdale waterproof (which was Bargin as opposed to Budget according to Runner's World).   This vision in fluorescent lycra is crowned with a Ronhill beanie.  I know it's a cliche, but having the proper kit makes such a difference. 

I was trying to put off the inevitable expense of a new pair of trainers until after the Abbey Dash, plus I didn't want to retire my Nike Lunar glides as I've loved them so much, but I've had to listen to my muscles.  Over the last couple of weeks, my shins have become increasingly sore, but yesterday, they stopped me in my tracks.  I set off full of enthusiasm for my six mile run and had to turn around and head home. I lied to myself as I set off, the soreness will ease out, mind over matter, Man Up! etc. But then sense kicked in and I realised after 2 miles that something was wrong.  I am hoping that this is nothing major and a few days of R and R will sort out the soreness, but in the meantime I hot-footed it to Sweat Shop in Meadowhall and after trying on 6 pairs of trainers, purchased a new pair of Brooks.  Looking forward to getting back out in them, when the muscle soreness dies away.  

Today, in Sweat Shop, I learned that if I am running 20 miles a week (and that is my target)  I should change my trainers every 6 months!  (My Nikes were over 3 years old!)

Sports bras should also be changed every six months.

Why I run

Sometimes, I find myself asking myself 'Why do I run?'  Especially in the latter months of the year when the weather turns cold, daylight hours fade and the act of leaving the house in my running gear requires a lot more planning and orchestrating.  'Why are you going running?' asks my son, as I call goodbye to my family (who are usually cosied-up on the sofa), and step out the door into the chilly air.
'Why am I doing this?' I sometimes ask myself as I start out, plodding along the wet, narrow roads, trying to stay out of the camber and hurdling over potholes, puddles and horse shit.
I'd be lying to say I've never had a run where it's not been hard all the way through.  But the good runs far outweigh the bad.  The good runs are the reason I run.  I like the way my body feels, post-run.  I enjoy noticing the subtle changes in my body; muscles are appearing, wobbles disappearing. I love the sense of achievement I get at upping my mileage, at improving my time. When I run, my thoughts are uninterrupted and while I'm in that groove, possibilities are endless.
Here's what I now know about running that I didn't know 6 months ago: after about 20 minutes, it starts to feel good.  My body finds its rhythm and I feel as though I am moving mechanically, without much effort.  The endorphins have obviously kicked in at this point because sometimes I even feel elated and I sing along to my playlist (knowing that nobody will hear me on my rural run and think I'm a nutter).  When it all clicks, I feel able to up my pace, often encouraged and buoyed up by the fact that I am out running, and running better than I ever have.
'Lead with your chest' I tell myself.  'Run tall.  Head up.  Breath.'
Why do I run?  Because I love being a runner!

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Last Sunday, I had an amazing run.  It was a route that I plotted a few weeks ago and had been itching for the time and form to do it.  While you can often hear me grumble about the inconvenience of living in the sticks, I must admit that when it comes to running routes I am spoiled for choice (and they are all flat!)  So on my 10K run, I marveled at the autumnal beauty, the changing leaves, the berries on the bushes, the lack of wind and the reflection of the billowing clouds in the canal waters.  I thought about my lungs, how they were working, how my body was functioning as I wanted it to, I focused on my legs and feet and tried to improve my style.  For me, it encapsulated a lot of what running is about.  I had The Buzz!  I was thinking....maybe Half Marathon....maybe one day, even the Big One!
However,  I got totally carried away by my enthusiasm and fell foul of making classic beginner mistakes.  I'd had such a great run, that I repeated it two days later.  My body didn't like that, my right knee ached and I started with sciatic twinges. It made me realize that running 'like a mother' and continuously upping my mileage was not the best approach in becoming better.  Taking some sense on board, I reverted to a 5K after work one night, but then tried the 10K again on Sunday  (this time, with a slight cold).  Not a good idea either!  I found the run very hard, and could have thrown in the towel at any point.  I have never been so relieved to return home, my body ached and I felt annoyed with my stupid cold for hindering my progress. 
I like to think that I have grown as a runner this week; I now know that I need to reign in my enthusiasm!  Over the next few weeks, I plan to run more sensibly.  I hope to adopt a training plan, do more research on nutrition, muscle repair and ways to improve.  Also, my daughter has expressed a desire to race, so I am going to look into some child friendly races in our area, and see if she wants to try a gentle jog around our park.
I laughed in recognition as I read this blog link http://www.shutupandrun.net/2012/04/9-dumb-mistakes-new-runners-make.html  I'm not the only one who started out thinking I was invincible! 

Dog Jog

I'm not great at time management, and I've had one of those weeks where my exercise plans have taken a back seat.  But I have managed to 'dog jog' a couple of times.
A while back, I decided that I would try to combine the daily dog walk with a jog.  This venture has had mixed success.  If given the choice, I would always choose a solo run.  I love the feeling of freedom I get when I run; I feel light and unanchored.....not a feeling I have when I am tethered to my excited Running Dog!
The cons of jogging with my pooch?  She gets very over-excited about the jogs and always starts off too fast for me, so I end up being dragged along behind her.  After a couple of hundred metres,  I usually manage to reign her in, and for a while, we are in sync; perfect jogging companions.  However, she will stop dead if she detects a new smell (and given that she is a scent hound, that happens very often), and my arm is yanked out of its socket.
It's not all negative; the pros are that I am getting a run, she is getting exercised, and I have saved a bit of time.  Also, I love those moments when we are in sync; she looks like she is really enjoying herself.  I'm going to stick with it, as I am hopeful that one day we will be better running companions.  I'm proud of the fact that we've worked up to a 5K circuit (and we only walk about 1K of that.)
I have to try to be selfless on these outings; Running Dog is not interested in a PB.  She's more of a 'tempo training' gal!

Heroes and Role Models

I love arriving home after a run; particularly when I am greeted by my son flinging himself at my legs, wrapping himself around them and proclaiming, "I missed you when you were running."  Between the puffing and the gulping of water, I feel wonderful.

My children were ridiculously proud of me when I did my first 10k a few weeks ago.  I crossed the finishing line, returned my chip, collected my goodie bag and enjoyed the heroes welcome I received from my little support crew.  While I sat on the edge of a flower bed, they fished out my 'tin foil' blanket and medal, and insisted I wear both.

Not only do I find that running does wonders for my body, both physically and mentally, but I like to think that I am being a positive role model for my children.  I hope that I am showing them that achievements are made by hard work, commitment and goal setting.

And I love the Olympic Legacy!  I was thrilled when in July, the first poster my daughter put her wall was one of Victoria Pendleton holding her medal.  I only hope that this next generation continues to be inspired by the sporting heroes we all came to love this summer; that they understand that achievement and success comes at the end of a lot of hard work. 

In the meantime, I intend to do my little bit (both for myself and for my children), rambling along, racing a little and aspiring to be the best runner and mother I can be.

Changes

As the seasons turn and the nights draw in, I can't help feeling that these September winds bring significant changes for me both as a mother, and as a runner.

For the past 8 years, a considerable amount of my week has been spent looking after my two gorgeous children.  But now my youngest has just started in full-time education, leaving me with large swathes of time where I have nobody to chase after, no pushchair to cart about, no hand to hold.  I walked away from the school gates last week feeling unanchored and returned to a silent house.  I was prepared for feeling lost and so had made a long 'to do' list which I quickly set about.  I am someone who needs to keep busy; both mind and body.

And for this reason, I thank my lucky stars that I have recently fallen in love with running.  My relationship with running has been a slow-burner.  It started about 3 years ago when I took myself off to a reputable running shop and surrendered myself to a very able assistant who videoed me running and told me what trainers, sports bra and socks I needed.  Then the jogs began.  I didn't particularly enjoy them, I endured them.  I built my route up to about 4Km and then stuck with that, running about twice a week.  I was tempted to enter a race, but somehow always managed to talk myself out of it.

Then, like much of the nation, I was gripped and inspired by Olympic fever.  I watched Mo and Dibaba run and I was in awe.  I decided there and then; I had to take the next step - to run a race.  So I searched on the internet and entered the Great Yorkshire Run in Sheffield.  I felt giddy, then nervous.  I had 4 weeks to train.  I dreaded race day but when it finally came, I was excited.  I ran it and loved it.  It was a couple of days before I wanted to run again, but when I did I was all fired up.  I realised that I was actually enjoying running; I felt powerful and exhilarated.

Since then, I look forward to my runs.  I pay more attention to the articles in my running magazine and find myself playing about with my routes and playlist to help my motivation.  I want to run faster, stronger, and for longer.  I am excited about becoming a better runner (and I hope it stops me from being a lonely mother!)  Time to stop rambling.......