Don’t give up even if it’s hard to continue

I’ve had rough start to the week and my mind has been playing tricks on me. If you didn’t know, I’ve been taking swimming lessons because I have this crazy idea of becoming a triathlete. I like to run and I LOVE my bike, but I can’t swim very well. Let me be honest, I thought I could swim a little bit but I was wrong.

On Monday I had a swimming lesson and I got frustrated with myself. My mind was already NOT there concentrating on the pool and I had previously ran 3 miles and rushed off to swimming, but I gave up. My instructor was trying his best to get me in the mode and have me work hard and he was pushing me. The problem was I wasn’t pushing myself. I was over it before I even got into the pool. And then when I realized I was struggling with my swimming I was WAY over it and wanted to leave the pool. I tried to cut this lesson short many times but he just wasn’t having it. I stuck with it for a good amount of time, but I just wasn’t having it. I think I cut the lesson short by 10 minutes but I was done. I gave up!

On Tuesday, my training plan called for 7.5 miles. This is the longest I’ve run in the middle of the week ever. I usually do 3-4 miles a couple of times a week and a long run on Saturday. I’m moving into the going further section of the plan now. I was a little apprehensive about it but I’ve been doing a great job of sticking to the plan so I was ready to tackle the run. My mind was still scattered. I was worry about the heat (I started at 5:30 pm I should have waited until 6:00 pm), I left my iPod armband at home so I had to run with my iPod in my Spibelt (which totally annoyed me) and I just felt like I was carrying too much stuff with me. The run was off to a bad start. I wanted to call it quits after 3 miles and almost did until I ripped out this sucker. Oh, my hand held water got so hot I think it started to make me sick.

gupb

Yes, a GU saved my run! I’m trying to find new ways to refuel while running and I figured I was struggling with the run anyway because sun had ZAPPED me dry. And the moment was like falling in love for the first time. (FYI: I’m currently OBSESSED with peanut butter or any type of nut butter at this point. So having this peanut butter boost was AHMAZING! I know, I’m weird.) At that point, I figured I had just ingested the calories so I should keep going to at least burn it off. What’s another mile, right?

I just suffered through this run! It started out fun then turned into a search and rescue mission. Sadly it ended in a recovery mission but I finished! Moral of the story: you mind says quit before your body does. Don't give up! #runchat #running #maratho

I pushed on and it was rough. The sun had killed me so when the sun started to go down my energy was just at zero. I was running very slow but I didn’t want to give up. I remembered the day before when I wanted to bail on my swimming lesson and I wasn’t going to do that on my run too! Besides, I’m training for a marathon and there will be hard miles in that 26.2 that I will have to push through. It was good mental training! I slowed down the pace and just wanted to make it to the end. I did end up short changing myself half a mile but I figured 7 was close enough!

Moral of the story: Your mind says quit before your body does. I’m sure I could have made this a whole lot easier on my physically if I wasn’t defeating myself mentally. This was a learning experience for me and I think I will grow stronger as an athlete and person after this week. When I run and I’m having a hard time I always tell myself the same thing. “I have overcome so much already. I can do this. I am Angela and I am strong.” Funny, I failed to say this to myself on Tuesday!

I also learned that next time I do my 7.5 miles in the middle of the week, I will start later when the sun goes down a little bit more. The sun is a KILLA! Plus, I need to get more GU!

Saturday I have to run 13.1 and I’m looking forward to running. See, I’m already off to a better start!

What helps you get through a hard run/workout? Do you have a mantra?