I spend a lot of time thinking about my running. I plan ahead what big races I want to conquer for the year, place them on my calendar, and then start mapping out a training plan. I’ll admit it, I love doing this. I’m a planner. I also analyze obsess over my statistics. I can tell you how I ran the race, where I fell short, and where I shined.
I log every.single.run.
I analyze every.single.run.
It annoys my family, I’m sure!
My mentality for running the race is just go out there and give it your best shot. You get what you get and you don’t get upset is my motto, most of the time. I show up and while I *never* say it on race day, I’m always hungry for a personal record/personal best.
Since my races for 2017 are already planned, I’ve been thinking about 2018 (I know, it’s only March of 2017!) and what I would like to achieve. The word marathon (26.2 miles) whispers in my ear.
But not just any marathon.
I keep thinking about running a marathon that would enable me to qualify for the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon is the marathon of all marathons that runners strive to race. It has strict qualifying times and even if you qualify there’s no guarantee you’ll get in the race.
But here’s the funny part…I want to qualify, but I really am not that obsessed about running the Boston Marathon. I just want to say, “I qualified!”
Oh yes, I’ve analyzed my stats and I’ve been on the race predictor calculators a few numerous times. I’ve calculated worse case scenarios and best case scenarios. The possibility for success is close; it’s achievable! I’ve even picked out the race I would run to qualify and I’ve considered working with a coach. So, what’s holding me back?
It’s the lies I tell myself!
- You are way too old for this! What are you thinking? Give it up!
- You’re not good enough and probably won’t make it anyway, so why try?
- You’ll have to do speed work to train for this. You can’t do speed work. You hate it.
- You don’t like someone else telling you how to train. You will need to be a slave to a coach and someone else’s training plan.
- You don’t have time for this. You have other priorities you should devote your time to.
Truth be told, we all have lies we tell ourselves.
Those lies can grow like weeds and take over. So why not practice lie management and shift the mindset? A growth mindset that would allow those weeds to turn to bright and beautiful wildflowers. Wildflowers that would takeover, look up and smile at the sun. A mindset that would look like/sound like this:
- You are blessed that you can get out there and run with those in their 20s, 30s, heck, even those in their early 40s! Go get them!
- It’s better to say I tried than to have regrets of never trying. If I fail or if I succeed at least I can say I gave it my best.
- Speed work will take you to the next level. It’s what you need to give you that edge.
- Hiring a coach will give you the expertise you need, a fresh new perspective!
- You make time for what you value. You’ll figure it out, you always do.
I’m in the 45-49 age bracket and Boston says I need this:
My race predictor calculator says I should be able to run this:
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My race predictor believes in me more than I do.
I guess it’s time to grant myself some grace and stop telling lies to myself.
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