Tricked Again!

The other day I got on the treadmill knowing that I needed to go at least 4 miles in order to get my work out in (and to burn off some of the caramel chocolate chip bars I ate all weekend long).  I avoided it all morning and finally decided that I would get on and take the easy way out by doing only 2 miles. That's easy enough. However, when I hit 2 miles, the little voice in my head said, just go 2.5 miles, that's easy enough.  And so I did.  At 2.5 miles, it said, how about 3? I continued this pattern of self-talk until all of a sudden, I had talked myself into running 5 miles without hardly even noticing it.  I love it when that happens!  And I'm embarrassed to admit that I actually trick myself like this all of the time.  You'd think I would catch on to my own little mind tricks, but NO.  It works every time. 

Now, I am a big believer of setting goals and I try to set all different kinds for myself.  However, (as you know) it's consistently working on them that is the hard part.  But over the years, I have come to realize that if a goal is too hard to stick with, then most likely the problem is not the follow through...the problem is with the goal itself.  Goals, first and foremost, have to be reasonable and attainable.  Just like when I feel that 4 miles is too long to run, I won't get on the treadmill.  But if I set the goal to a more manageable one, like 2, then it is do-able and I am more willing to try to achieve it.  In spite of this knowledge, at times I still find it hard to set realistic standards for myself and so I have to use little tricks to get myself through my lazy days lofty goals. So I would love to hear what tips or tricks you use when goals seem too far away to achieve? 

Tiffany

On your Mark, Get Set, GO!

I have many goals set for myself this year.  First and foremost, I want to get healthy.  I have been dealing with an injury very common for runners.  IT Band Syndrome.  I recently was diagnosed with this injury and have been learning a lot about how to heal it, maintain recovery, and how to avoid it happening in the future.  I have learned a lot about running since that first 5K race of mine.  A lot about injuries to be exact.  Running is hard on your body.  At first I was running for fun, but now I realize there is a science behind it.  I have some good friends who have helped me realize this and have coached me through some tough times.  So my number 1 goal is to heal this injury that I am dealing with so that I can go back to running pain free.  (Then I can enjoy running again!!)

My other goals all deal with races.  I have two races set for May.  The first is a 10K.  The next weekend I am signed up for a marathon relay.  I ran in this same race last year and my team finished 3rd for the all women's relay team!  I was so proud to be part of a GREAT group of girls.  I would love to finish 3rd again or even try for 2nd.  Most importantly I hope that our team can beat our team record.  That would be sooo cool! 
My next race is in June.  THE RAGNAR!  If you have never had the chance to run in a Ragnar Relay, check it out!  It is such a party to be with 11 other runners and run all day, through the night, and into the next day.  Such a great accomplishment.  I ran this last year, and unfortunately ended up with the IT Band Syndrome injury.  I wasn't aware, however, until just barely that this is what I was dealing with.  So I am trying hard to recover so I can party along with my team in June!

My two other races are kind of like the cherry on top of the banana split for me.  They are the most important and what I train for to begin with.  I have a 1/2 marathon in August and a FULL marathon in September.  When I completed these the first year, we knew we needed to start training early. We signed up for lots of smaller races throughout the summer to keep us training and so we could have little goals along the way.  IT WORKED FOR US!  There were little milestones to look forward to so it wasn't this huge daunting task at the end of the summer.  However last year because of my injury, I ended up not being able to run the full marathon.  I ran about 20 miles 2 weeks before and knew I would not be able to run in the race.  It is devastating when you train so hard and for so long, and then not be able to accomplish your goal.  I guess it is another lesson taught.  So now I am trying to figure out the hows and whys of running so I can stay healthy. Hopefully I will be there this year in September!  Bring it on!

What are your goals?  Do you have any races on the calendar this year? Maybe your goals have to do with exercise, maybe not.  We all have things we want...we have to work for them to come true. Hang in there and here's to health to us!

What motivates you?

As the snow starts to melt and little spikes of green grass begin to peek through, I get excited.  I love the warm weather.  I love the anticipation that comes with wondering if the plants I have in my yard will actually come back to life.  And more then ever, I love to run....outside.  I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to exercising in freezing temperatures, so when spring comes...I get anxious to get moving outdoors.  The nice weather itself is a good motivation for me.  (As well as the 3 races I am signed up to run before fall!)

I have always run for fitness and exercise.  But about 3 years ago, it developed a complete different meaning for me.  My husband convinced me to sign up for a race!  I was scared to death to run my very first 5K.  I kept asking him, what if I am dead last?  How do you win? How do you sprint the whole time?  What if you need to stop?  I was scared! I remember very clearly how cold it was the morning of the race.  I'm sure everyone around me could hear my teeth chattering from how cold I was and being so nervous! I also remember seeing hundreds of people just like me.  They weren't professional runners.  They were normal people trying to do something for themselves.  I immediately felt like we were all in this together.  All these people had been training for this race just as I had, and now here we were.  I felt a strong unity with a group of strangers.  As the race began,  I quickly realized that unity continued while we were running.  People were cheering on the sidelines for certain family or friends, but then would also cheer others on.  As I would get passed pass others, :) it was encouraging knowing they were accomplishing a goal.  We were all getting closer to that finish line.  I understood the answers to my questions --that I was not at all close to "winning" the race, but I won because I finished.  No, I didn't sprint the whole time, only the last 20 yards (that was all I could come up with by then).  I also learned that if you need to walk for while to catch your breath, it is absolutely fine!  Many people walked the entire race.  I also learned that I LOVED running that 5K.  That summer I ended up running a 10K, 15K, and a full marathon.  26.2 miles!! Ever since I have looked at running with a new light.  It makes training worth it.  It gives it meaning, and I can't wait to gather with hundreds of others at the starting line. 

So what motivates you?  Where do you find the inspiration when you are down in a slump?  I have a few races that are on the schedule this summer, so now I need to buckle down and get prepared.  Good luck to you!