But there is one thing that I'm really really good at. And that is listening.
I hear what my body tells me. I pay attention. I know when it's my BODY saying, "whoa, sister, slow the eff down." Or, "not today, I need some more rest please." Or, "I FEEL FUCKING AMAZING! KEEP GOING!"
I know the difference between my BODY telling me it needs a break and my HEAD being the lazy bitch that she is.
I use me training plan as a weekly guide. I am not a slave to it. I get my weekly miles in, but not usually on the prescribed days, and I am 100% ok with how it goes. In the last 8 weeks, I've managed only 1 where the runs all happened in the right mileage and the right pace on the right days.
All of this? (plus a little luck I'm sure!) All of this has kept me relatively injury free. THAT is what's important over all.
***
Reading all things running, I see a lot about the importance of mental training. Many recommend mantras as a way to keep your mental edge when things get tough.
I've thought a lot about this, and tried to find a mantra that works for me. But nothing really sticks.
I don't run with music very often. Because of this, I end up with 1 or 2 songs on a constant loop in my brain when I run. I can remember that first amazing 10 miler this year I had Paradise by Coldplay stuck in my head. But it's not the whole song, just a line or 2 over and over. But it worked.
The last month, it's been Back and Forth by the Foo Fighters.
You've got a lot of nerve
Now show a little backbone, why don't you
I guess I like to listen to songs that yell at me a little. As a mantra, it works when I'm wimping out better than trying to "encourage" myself with positive words.
Whatever works, right?
It is awesome you are so in tune with your body. Definitely helps keeps the injuries at bay! :)
ReplyDeletemy mind is a lazy one too
ReplyDeleteI am curious about what inspired this post. Were you feeling bad about not following your plan 100%? I hope not! You have been kicking butt. Look at how much you are running, the pace and how well you feel.
ReplyDeleteI found some good songs for me yesterday that make me full pushed! And... that is my 5K mantra - push. (Also, pump - as in, your arms).
Not at all! I actually feel really GOOD about the training that I manage to get in :) I just think that sometimes it's easy to get caught up in what your training plan is telling you to do instead of remembering that life happens! I remind myself constantly that my plan is a GUIDE. I want others to remember that too - what your body tells you is way more important than a piece of paper with a bunch of numbers on it, you know?
DeleteFirst up - GREAT song - I've worn that whole album out on my iPod over the past few months. Second - good for you listening to your body and doing the smart thing. That's a lesson I'm still trying to learn. Cracked me up with the 'lazy bitch' comment about your head.
ReplyDeleteYou and I approach training the exact same way! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat song! I'll have to add it to my playlist!!!
ReplyDeleteI admire that you are able to listen to your body so well. I am still working on the mental training and being able to REALLY listen to my body. For me, momentum can be overpowering where I'll mentally be feeling good on a run but my knees are hurting, and even though I should probably stop I push myself to just do one more mile... just one more mile... etc etc etc. Bad, I know!
Part of me taking the focus off running this summer and doing other things is to keep me from feeling guilty when I don't run all the time. I can feel that guilt nudging me already, and it's a fight to not let it suck me in! I do believe in a mantra, or a special song. I ran my last half marathon in November, and used instrumental new agey music to keep me calm for the first 8 miles or so--and it worked! Then I switched to my playlist for running fast to keep me going when I was starting to poop out.
ReplyDeleteughh, this is what i am struggling the most with right now!! I can't tell if my body is tired, or my mind is tired!!
ReplyDeleteVery well said. it can be a fine line between the body and the lazy mind for me sometimes ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou have a very healthy attitude! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
ReplyDeleteI find my mind shuts me down long before my body does. You're definitely doing a ton right if you're staying injury free. WTG!
ReplyDeleteI totally do the same thing. Most of my long runs "playlists" become a few songs on repeat that are particularly motivating on that day!
ReplyDeleteAs far as your training "plan" I agree with you 100%, it's supposed to be a guide! I think that's why many people give up, because they think if they skip a run they will be doomed. Not so!!!
I am pretty cruddy at following a training plan. I plan to work on that though. For sure. Soon.
ReplyDeleteI am the same with songs! I love to hit "repeat" over and over!
It's been so fun to watch you improve over the last year. You are doing AMAZING things!! I always have one or two lines from songs running through my head to. Lately it's been "It's Raining Men" by the WeatherGirls. I have no idea why that one is stuck on replay!
ReplyDeletei have several Mantra's - "life is too serious to take seriously" is one. Helen Kellers - "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing ..." is fav. Yet, went it come down to it - "kickin' the asphalt" works well.
ReplyDeletelove The Foo Fighters.
You've won the battle so many people fail at. Great job!
ReplyDeleteVery cool! Usually I have to take a few minutes to figure out if my body is just trying to get out of something or really hurting...though I'm not as good at listening as you seem to be. Great songs definitely make a huge difference, too!
ReplyDeleteI think one of the biggest mistakes beginning distance runners make is sticking to the schedule no matter what, because they're afraid that missing 1, 2 or even 5 runs will derail their training. I think it's amazing that you've always been able to listen to your body and to adjust your training accordingly.
ReplyDeleteKeep being the awesome you you are!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not good at listening to the body....well, I'm not good at listening to it at older than dirt age. I don't like all the creaks and moans it has now that I'm getting older and been at this for so long :(.
If people knew some of the stupid songs that pump me up, they'd laugh so hard. Whatever works though is right!!