I'm not sure whether this broadcast from my favorite radio show gives me hope or makes me want to pee my pants. Jad and Robert talk about how far you can physically push your body- and about how much of the perseverance depends on your mind. What if mine isn't that tough? How do I work out my brain- pump the iron of my gray matter? Visualization? Positive thinking? Yoga? I'll need to trick myself into going further than I think I can.
If you have a minute- tune into this show. "Limits". Play while you get dressed, do your homework, feed your beta fish. Then you'll understand where I'm coming from.
Now, pardon me while I go watch "the Little Engine that Could."
Done!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Do Marathons Begin with a 3 Command Start?
"On your mark....
...get set...."
BANG!
Thus began nearly every race in my high school track and field career. Five years of varsity squad training, most of them on mid distance. Drill hard. Race smart. Run fast. Simple right?
With the exception of one deplorable season of XC, my races never lasted longer than half a mile.
Now, add 25.6 miles to that. That's a big gap.
My name is Kate Thompson. I am 18 years old. I have just hit the legal age for marathon running (yep, there are laws for that). So I am going to run a marathon. I've registered for, paid my dues to, and gotten a poster of the Pittsburgh Marathon. All in attempts to keep myself from backing out.
Let me be clear, if only for my own sake. I am not doing this for an impressive finishing time. I'm not running in honor of anyone. I am being totally and completely selfish. This is for me.
All my years of running I've struggled with love/hate issues of confidence with my body and with my mind. I've wrestled with my weight and tussled with times. So this run- this marathon- is going to be the culmination of my rehab with running. I want to fall back in love with it again. This sport and I are going to couples therapy if this long distance relationship is going to work.
Here is where I'll document each step of the journey to mile 27. To see if someone as frustrated by running as an ex-track and field star can learn to love it again. To push my body and my mind passed the finish line. Passed the distance, and times and scary details I'm mentally avoiding (I've heard pre-race portapotties are the stuff of nightmares). I'm running to teach my self to stop running away from my doubts and fears, but towards something. Something gold and heavy and about the size of my fist.
So. On your mark. Get Set.
...get set...."
BANG!
Thus began nearly every race in my high school track and field career. Five years of varsity squad training, most of them on mid distance. Drill hard. Race smart. Run fast. Simple right?
With the exception of one deplorable season of XC, my races never lasted longer than half a mile.
Now, add 25.6 miles to that. That's a big gap.
My name is Kate Thompson. I am 18 years old. I have just hit the legal age for marathon running (yep, there are laws for that). So I am going to run a marathon. I've registered for, paid my dues to, and gotten a poster of the Pittsburgh Marathon. All in attempts to keep myself from backing out.
Let me be clear, if only for my own sake. I am not doing this for an impressive finishing time. I'm not running in honor of anyone. I am being totally and completely selfish. This is for me.
All my years of running I've struggled with love/hate issues of confidence with my body and with my mind. I've wrestled with my weight and tussled with times. So this run- this marathon- is going to be the culmination of my rehab with running. I want to fall back in love with it again. This sport and I are going to couples therapy if this long distance relationship is going to work.
Here is where I'll document each step of the journey to mile 27. To see if someone as frustrated by running as an ex-track and field star can learn to love it again. To push my body and my mind passed the finish line. Passed the distance, and times and scary details I'm mentally avoiding (I've heard pre-race portapotties are the stuff of nightmares). I'm running to teach my self to stop running away from my doubts and fears, but towards something. Something gold and heavy and about the size of my fist.
So. On your mark. Get Set.
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