Running Rabbit said it best. Who's race is this anyway?

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Contemplation.

I was reading Running Rabbit's blog and something she said about the Flying Pig really struck a cord with me.

To sum it up, she feels that she really needs someone to run the race with her. She has a support team at the finish, but she needs someone along the course running by her side. She feels that she is running the race for someone else, not herself, so she is potentially dropping out of the marathon.

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Realization.

Well, I am certainly running the race for myself, so that is not really an issue for me. And I have never had someone run a race of that distance with me per say (they are on the course somewhere ahead of me, but never by my side for more than the first few miles due to pace differences.), however what struck a cord with me, is that my last two races I did alone. I mean ALONE.

I guess I just never let myself reflect long enough on that to really grasp how it effects me. The Freep I had someone on the course with me, but PF Chang's AZ half I was travelling solo, running solo, and to top it off... I finished alone. Now that was a first. And I could see the need for having someone there for upport along the course. RR hit it suare on the head. Sometimes we have to perform a reality check and ask - who am I running for?

There was no one waiting there to hug me, and that is all that I really needed. (I know I know.) Someone I knew was on the course somewhere (and had finished a good deal ahead of me actually - good job!), but since we have split ways in a very not-friendly manner I could not turn to him for support or comraderie, and that really is a shame. I think it was here that I realized that I really did loose a friend.

I knew a few people who were running the race as well - Denise and Pat. It makes the meeting of friends such a wonderful experience, and I really could not have imagined not being alone out there. I got to see some wonderful sights that, yes I wish I could have experienced with people, but at the end of the day... this is still my journey.

And at times you need to walk alone.

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Strength.

Of course I kept on going past mile 8 when I wanted to consider dropping out, strictly because I found strength in myself. I mean, come on Jenn! I trained solo (although not for this particular race!), so I expected to run solo...

You could just give up if you really wanted to, but that would be running away (or walking away I should say) from your accountability in the matter. I know what I am and what I am not capable of. When I do train, I train smart. I have had to devise tricks to get through runs, but after I started throwing the numbers out, I found the runs to so much more enjoyable!

You HAVE to run the race for yourself, otherwise you are being ran. Drive or be driven I say. I have been there done that, and spent equal time behind the wheel and in the passanger seat!

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Preserverance.

I finished the RNR AZ just in time to catch the shuttle back to my hotel, to change out of my clothes and settle in alone waiting for the morning to come when I would be flying back home to see friends. I didn't even get my picture taken at the finish. I just stopped running, then walked straight onto the bus, stopping only for the sandals and a drink of water. "Time to go home." That is all I said. I called Mike, hopped on the bus, settled in for the night preparing for my flight home. Superhero in need of a sanctuary.

I run for me. I train for me. (oh, we established this already? Sorry for the redundancy!) I am accountable for my results and my feelings. That is true. But sometimes even Wonder Woman needs a little support, right? I mean she cannot save the world alone. That is why there is the JLA - Justice League of America. That is where all the *cool* superheroes belong. (nerd alert! Hey lay off! I grew up in a comic store!)

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Determination.

I see my schedule for this year, and with it comes a lot of travel... a lot of SOLO travel. I have three trips to Chicago planned, two for races, one for the wedding of the century. I have a trip to Boston planned.

The great thing is that I have friends in all of these cities - Jenn from High School now lives in Cinncinatti, so I plan on seeing her for dinner one of the nights I am there (sky line chili anyone????) EJ from high school lives in the Boston area, so I will be able to see her while I am there. My friends Matt and Shar live in Chicago, so I will be seeing them on all Chi-town trips, especially since one of them is for their wedding! So even thoguh I will be alone, I will have someone in each city cheering me on in one form or another. And this is not even mentioning the RBFers in teh areas! Hello meet ups!!!!!

I love what I do, and it is a lone sport... I know this. I still have never had a race where someone came to watch me run. I have a feeling that 2007 will be no different. But you know what? I am OK with this. Again - MY journey! Spectators are welcome though!

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Accountability.

I guess to sum it up - this is where finding a group to run with is so important to people. We form both actual and virtual running groups (DRS, NRR, RBF... JLA) because comradarie is just as important as personal gain. It goes back to that "Running is 25% mental" aspect.
I think that running with the NRR is going to be a big help this year. I know already that my involvemnt with the RBF has made a marked difference in my running attitude, so running with a group of runners locally will only be better!

Side Note: Speaking of the NRR - Northville Road Runners - we went to Northville last night for dinner to celebrate Par's new job (way to go girl!) and we passed the runners. All I could think was - man - I cannot wait to be out there with them!

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Wonder Woman.

I am just me. The runner girl. The journey. Yeah that is me, I am that girl. I do get lots of support in general (especially from my friends and fam), I just need to find a way to bottle that all up and take it with me on the run. Sort of an "on call" support team. My portable JLA, if you will.

Superheroes wanted. Please inquire within.

Running - 50% Physical, 25% Mental, 25%... clothing?

I know that the old addage is that running is 90% physical, 10% mental. But through my four years of running I realized that running is just as much about your mental state as it is about your physical conditioning.

Now do not get me wrong here, you need to put your energy into your training - however if your heart of mind is not into the run, it just will not go as smoothly as you hoped for. I have had just as many bad runs as good runs. And to me bad could simply be a mental state.

Part of reaching your goals is defining them, planning for them, and being ready for the changes neccesary in order to reach them.

Definition of Goals
You need to be specific in your goals as being too ambiguous will lead to disapointment in the end. By being specific you say not that you want to start running this year, but rather that you want to start running 10 miles a week. By being more specific you are more apt to reach them, and it becomes more probable that you will stick with it.

Planning for Goals
Now after reviewing your goals, you need a plan. For us runners and walkers this usually comes in form of a training or running schedule. Just like anything, if you schedule time for it it inherantly becomes a priority. You cannot just go about yur day and hope that you will have time for the task. in fact, the more you do it and the longer the runs, the more time it takes to get in the distances you have planned for. Running 1 mile takes less time than 5. So in addition to scheduling when you run, you should also have to schedule how long it should take from prep time to shower time.

I have started rituals to help with this. I am a very regimented runner. For races I always arrive about an hour prior to start time to get a feel for the weather, a feel for the crowd/field, and a feel for how I feel that day. I may have planned a PR run, but upon arriving realize that I will be happy with a finish.

All of this takes planning, not just in running itself, but in planning for all the ancillary aspects - mental, mood, weather, etc.

Another part of planning is something a lot of us take for granted. These are the tools of the trade - clothes, shoes, and gear. I would never decide to run 10 miles without some sort of water bottle, GU packs, music, etc. In addition I would not run a summer race in my winter garb.

That is why I say that 25% of running is our clothes. I used to joke with a running partner about how I felt like a runner when I bought new equipment. We would laugh, but now that I have met more and more people, my thoughts were actually the norm.

If you match, or are wearing your favorite running apparel, you tend to be mentally more "on". I find that if I am running in my "real" running clothes I actually take myself more serious and am more apt to compelte the task. That all goes back to planning.

After 4 years of running I have found my perfect running outfit for any type of weather.

SUMMER
sports bra tank
running lycra shorts (spandex, hate chafing!)
coolmax top or tank
coolmax socks (anti-blister)
water bottle (ice cold)

FALL/SPRING
Same as above, only the shorts move on to lycra running capris, and heavier socks. My tank now becomes a long sleeved coolmax top. possibly gloves and a hat if really cold.

WINTER
Same as above, only my capris turn into running tights, and I run with a coolmax turtleneck shirt, a t-chirt over that, and either a runnign jacket, or a sweatshirt over that. My golves and hat beefs up a bit, and I also switch my socks to short-woven wool (Dunham brand). Being that my shoes are super mechy the wind passes right through them making for chilly feet. The addition of the wool running socks has completely removed this issue.

I also always dress in layers, giving me about a 20* difference should the weather change, as well as I dress for weather roughly 15-20* warmer to assure that I will not overheat while I am out there.

Dressing is a very crucial issue for runners. No matter what you are comfortable in, COTTON IS SIN. Remember that and all fo your soft spots will be very VERY grateful!

Being ready for the changes neccessary for the Goal
Part of reaching any goal goes beyond the definition and planning phases - you actually ahve to be ready for the changes you may need to make in your life.

If you want to run a marathon - you are going to have a lot of trade offs to account for all the time you will be running. Take an average 4-month marathon training schedule. 4 months of speed work, long slow distances, tempo runs, and just overall crosstraining efforts. Plan on reducing the number of nights you go out to the bar, as well as focusing more on your eating habits., Food = fuel. You will feel it in your run if you disregard this fact.

Even in shorter distances, such as the half marathon, 10k or 5k, you are still training. Even if your goal is just to finish - this is a habit you are trying to fall into, and with any habit you need to allow yourself time to adapt. To change. To develop and grow. You must be prepared for the time, money, energy, and desire that this is going to take.


After I broke running down into these three areas, I realized that running IS 50% physical, 25% mental, and 25% clothing!

Once I realized this, my journey got a little easier to continue on with.

Keep on running!
RunnerGirl Jenn
Today's mileage - 3.11 miles, Weather - COLD, conditions - SNOWY!