A beautiful day for a run near the lake… overcast and cool!
I find myself getting caught up and inspired by some of my fellow bloggers, especially Dawn (Chasing Down Healthy). We’re almost on the same training and race schedule… she’s in week 5 of training for a half (she’s registered for 2 of them), and I’m in week 3. This morning she blogged about how it’s easier for her to just keep running rather than take a walk break. I totally get it. So, I decided to try that out today. Yeah, well, unfortunately it doesn’t work so great for me. Yet, that is. I haven’t broke through the mental challenge of a continuous run non-stop, although I tried this morning.
I had 4 miles to complete, I didn’t even turn my watch or phone on until I was perfectly warmed up and ready to run. I felt mentally psyched. I was ready. One mile down without stopping, I did it! Then here’s where the mental challenge came into play… “you can just walk for a tenth of a mile to catch your breath, then you can take off again.” Alas, it was not to be. I walked that tenth of a mile then I ran into a hill. And this is not a nice hill. This is a hill that challenges every ounce of your being, physically and mentally. Walking up it can leave people short of breath. It’s a hill-training hill for at least three-quarters of a mile. Needless to say, after that first mile, I couldn’t get my groove back once I took a walk break, not even to do my normal run/walk ratio. But it wasn’t the hill’s fault… it was the mental challenge that I struggle with all the time when I run. The one that tells me, “Walk now or you’re going to die.”
I can take away a few positives from this run, though:
- I wasn’t any slower than my last 4-mile run.
- I realized I have to work on the mental part of my runs. Recognizing weaknesses is always a good thing so they can be addressed and dealt with.
- I wasn’t tired or exhausted when I returned home.
- I got to see the ducks in the lake first thing. Taking a picture is a great excuse for a walk break!
Bonus… I love what my phone says:
Woo hoo! In 4 weeks, its going to say 20,000 steps!
I love seeing this ratio, it shows me what I need to work on, although it records my warm-up and cool-down which is all walk.
Weather was perfect!!
Never A Dull Bling 
There are so many people who complete half and even full marathons doing the Galloway method or other personalized versions of the walk-run-walk. They claim better times, fewer injuries and greater distances doing it this way. I love that you’re up for a challenge (and the honorable mention! Thanks!) but I also love that you are learning what works for you and keeping at it. If this were easy, everyone would be doing it, right? GREAT job on the run!
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Thank you!!! 🙂
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And actually, now that I think about it, your comment was very reassuring! I appreciate that!!
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That thing where your brain tries to undermine you- I totally get that too. I have better times running with a partner talking to make the mind chatter stop. Keep pushing through! Great job on your 4 miles! You know how many people can’t do that????
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Haha, thank you! Yeah, that mind chatter can really send us for a loop! My only problem with finding someone to run with is that they all walk faster than I run, 😉
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Nice post. Keep it up…you’ll get there! Also, just a thought, I do hills now, but when I was training for my first half I found them to be too discouraging. I came up with less hilly run routes until I felt stronger mentally.
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Thank you for the encouragement! Yes, I was too brave taking on that hill, indeed! 🙂
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I totally understand the mind thing!! The one person we never have a problem letting down is ourselves. And oh how quickly we can talk ourselves into it! Thank you for sharing….
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I know, right! The mind is a powerful weapon! Thank you for reading!! 🙂
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