Archive for February, 2012

Not Quitting

// February 16th, 2012 // Comments Off on Not Quitting // Being the Best You, exercise, Mental Training, Physical Training, Progress, Ultra-marathon

I ran 11.5 on Monday.  That was a boost to my spirits after I’ve not been able to put in much of any distance since my left knee revolted.

Today I was 6 miles into a 19 mile (wishful thinking) run and had to call my father to come get me.  That “hurt”.  I intended in testing my fitness that was so strong just a few weeks ago.

I could hear the scams swirling in my mind telling me to stop this nonsense, that I should be satisfied with playing baseball this year, that there’s no way I’ll be ready for the race in July.

What I do know is:

I resolved that I’d run 100 miles in less than 24 hours and I will be faithful to the training I can do.

My body is not cooperating–or better, my mind isn’t fully cooperating with my body.

After I called Dad to get me, I radically changed the way I’d been running and…no pain.

I have 5 months left to train.

Tell me, what goal is so important in your life that it’s worth striving for–even if you don’t achieve it?

Not In the Cards!

// February 8th, 2012 // Comments Off on Not In the Cards! // Being the Best You, Doing What I know, Progress, success

Well you want to talk about mental training…  In earnest I headed (nowhere!!!) “out” on my run on the treadmill.  3.5 miles in my knee wasn’t having it.

I stretched for 5 minutes thinking I’d be good for another 3 or so before I’d have to stretch but I only made it 8/10 of a mile and that was that.  I was bummed but decided to give the stars a try (I’ve got a stair climb race up the Corning Tower in Albany, NY in a month).

Really odd but I ran 46 floors twice in succession, after my knee wouldn’t have the running, with no issue at all!  Anyway, I had a good workout, not what I wanted but last Tuesday I couldn’t run 10 yards.  I’m in rehab mode and doing some significant stretching.  Lesson learned.  Some people won’t learn any other way.  Man, I’ve got to get out of that camp!

It’s Been A Week…

// February 8th, 2012 // Comments Off on It’s Been A Week… // Being the Best You, Just an Update, Progress, running, success, Ultra-marathon

It’s been a week since I hurt my knee and I’m feel good about things so I’m gonna go for a long run.

The plan? 19 miles—on a treadmill.  O dread of dreads!

Man, I don’t like being on a treadmill for 10 minutes, let alone 2 ½ hours!  Ridiculous.

I didn’t pack the right clothes (I thought it would be warmer and I could run with a few layers/no hat).  I just bought a pair of shorts, so I could get going.

Is this post a delay tactic or penance for a long lag in my writing or just the desire to get an update in?

Just get running, Ron and think about it there.

Okay.

The Two Jims or Mentors Aren’t A Dime A Dozen

// February 3rd, 2012 // Comments Off on The Two Jims or Mentors Aren’t A Dime A Dozen // Being the Best You, exercise, Mental Training, stretching, Training, Ultra-marathon

I went to my local running store yesterday to pick up a couple of things, to include The Stick, to help me stretch my thighs and hamstrings.  I’m looking forward to healing from the injuries and “almost injuries”, and hope this stuff will help.

I was psyched that at least one of Jims (both informal mentors) who work at the store was there.  Jim 1 (a helluva guy, and a great runner) told me about Jim 2 (a freak of an ultra runner and “the man” as I call him) who had just run 50 miles in 6:28.  What the…?!  There’s inspiration.  Man I need that.  I need to hear what others are doing so I can be inspired to do my best or to beat them!  Now I aint beating Jimbo anytime soon but I can see what’s possible if I apply myself.  And that’s cool.  Crazy…Jim 2 is going to be running the Vermont 100 with me though for only about 2/3 of the time.  The rest of the time, he’ll be eating, sleeping or whatever he wants; I’ll be still hustling!

After ordering some sneakers and gawking at all the cool stuff, I got some sage advice from Jim 1 that I knew but needed to hear.  All jacked up about getting going and putting in more milage (and after telling him about what my injury was) he told me to chill.  “It’s ok, Ron.  You’ve got a long way to go and you WANT to heal.  Don’t run, it’s okay.”  I’m sighing as I write.  Permission!  I need to cut myself some slack.

Man we all need mentors who will tell us when we need to stop loafing and when it’s ok to “be still”.  Isn’t that wisdom though, to know the season you’re in (by choice or foist) and to respond thoughtfully from there?

Thanks Jim 1 for the permission slip!

 

Knee Isn’t Having It

// February 2nd, 2012 // Comments Off on Knee Isn’t Having It // endurance, exercise, Mental Training, Progress, stretching, success, Ultra-marathon, Uncategorized

My knee felt fine yesterday (resting after 22 miles and a messed up knee) so I was feeling good about doing my 6.5 mile sprint.  I stretched at home, jogged out front to warm up and I didn’t get 20 yards when my knee made its point clear, “There will be no running today.”

I’m going to have to hit the running store and get “The Stick” which I’ve heard helps stretch muscles and a stuck facia really well.  I may be on “forced leave” for a few days.

Enter mental training.  I’ll do some visualizing of the race and my strong, healed body for some of the time that I would have run.

Not part of my plan and I knew that something might go “off”.  I’m not too worried.  Not my preference, particularly as next week will be tough to get out and run a long while but…I’m not worried.  Even the training is an endurance process not an event.

Thinking this way is progress for me.