Thoughts Running Through My Head

As the marathon date approaches (10/10/10) I find myself thinking more and more about what may or may not happen on race day. I can’t say I have anxiety about the whole thing, but I can say I am getting a little scared.

Training has not been easy this summer. I found myself working like a dog every week (still haven’t blogged about that) and so tired from the work that I skipped out on training. So now I’m paying for it as I try and cram in workouts.

What’s interesting to me is that throughout the months I haven’t found my body shutting down on me. No major cramps, muscle or joint injuries, but I’ve been plenty sore, stiff, and tired. Just saying nothing that has physically stopped me from running.

What has stopped me from running is, my head. My mind is my worst enemy! As soon as I tell myself, “it’s time to go running,” my mind starts to come up with excuses, it starts to race with negative thoughts. Here is the conversation that I had with myself last night as I went on my run. (what I was thinking in blue / my negative thoughts in red)

Man it’s almost 7pm gotta get up and try to go for a run

I’m so tired, why am I so tired and sleepy. I just ate maybe  I should keep laying here and digest.

Come on! Get up just push yourself, Lisa doesn’t want you to die out there.

Serious you’re gonna get up? You just ran 10.5 miles on Saturday night. You need to let your body rest.

Your body has been resting for two day get up and go. Wash your face put on your clothes and just run a few miles.

ok a few miles, 2 or three at the most you can walk most of it.

Alright doing good get your stuff and get out the door. Once you’re out there you’ll feel good and you’ll be glad you did it.

Man you can already feel it.

I’ll go up Johnson Creek to warm up and get my legs going. There’s a big hill during the marathon that I need to be ready for.

You’re going up there cause you wan to walk! It’s easier…

Alright finished the hill time to run

Oh that streets still a little steep you should keep walking

Slow and steady get into rythem

slow, slow, slow… it already hurts

Not too bad feeling good

Why do you lie to yourself? You’re only a mile and a half in and you’re feeling it. A marathon is 26 miles of this!

Keep going a couple of blocks and you’re go down the hill.

That hill ain’t easy! It’s hell on your legs.

Woo hoo down hill make up for the walking time!

Don’t fall… Wow you could get shin splits blodding down this mountain.

Alright back to normal pace… this is the best part of the run.

How many miles have I you gone?  Two really?

Don’t count the miles keep running.

Oh man maybe dad was right. I can hear him right now: “Are you sure Joel? Are you going to finish? If you start you have to finish, cause it looks really bad if you don’t.”

I love my dad, but his words aren’t very motivating.

Ok you’ve run enough you should head back. Take it easy the race is in two weeks.

Push yourself a little more. You can do this… Down to Sunnyside, then around the mall and back. Only adds about two more miles to this route.

Two more miles??

Turn on your worship music maybe if you focus on Jesus…

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus… this hurts!! My God why do you forsake me!

Uh… That’s not good.

Funny though…

You gotta be ready if you’re running with John and Melissa. Do it as a team support each other.

Stupid John Chang!! I hate you Sr. Chang!! Why did you have to challenge me to do this??

Haa haaa You know this is good for you.

Man you did this cause you hate saying no to people. You did this cause you thought if Oprah can do it… You are so full of yourself!! You just want to look good in front of people! You love the attention.

Oh wow… That might be true. I gotta check that. Whatever the reason I signed up. I’m committed and I’m gonna finish.

Two more big ass hills!!

At least theirs one down hill that’s about half a mile long. You can push hard and be home right after that.

Two more big ass hills!!

Man I have been swearing a lot more lately… I must be one of those Hipster Christians.

Alright two hills down…. a little more then half a mile left and most of it is down hill.

Man how long have you been running?

Down hill push…

Wow this is fast but your lungs are starting to burn

Come on let the gravity do it’s work

gravity is gonna put you into the ground

Almost home you can see the lights!!

Are those your lights or are you about to pass out?

Done!! Woo Hoo you made it. You didn’t puke!

This is really the typical battle I have with myself each time I head out for a run and what I have to look forward to over the course of 26 miles. In a strange way I am kind of excited to take on this battle in two weeks. I want to see how intense that battle in the mind really does get. I’m not expecting it to be easy at all, but I expect to go out and push past the negative thoughts and finish this race.

Good thing I have a two great friends that have committed to run the race together and we can be there to help each other along the way. I do things much better in community, so having them is going to be a total blessing.

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

Encouraging the little ones through song is a great way to help them learn and grow. Make up a song to the tune of “row, row, row your boat” is amazingly easy!