Category: Motivation
New Year, New Goals: 2012
| January 6, 2012 | Posted by Lauren under Motivation, Running |
One thing that is equally wonderful and awful about having a blog where you openly chronicle your running is that it keeps you accountable for your actions…both your accomplishments AND your failures. Even though I logically understand that no one really cares if I don’t run a certain number of races or get a specific PR but me, it still can be tough to publicly set the bar high and then fail.
But I also think that being open about your goals can be a great way to keep yourself accountable for them, even when motivation might be lacking a little bit. Plus it helps you track where you were and how far you’ve come. My big goal for this year was to run a sub 3:20 marathon, and I’m happy to say that I did it – twice.
So now, 6 days into the new year, it’s time to finally put my goals for 2012 down on paper the internet. I have a feeling that it’s going to be a pretty fantastic year on all fronts.
The Main Goal
First and foremost, my most important goal for 2012 is to marry EC. This may not seem like it would be a very hard goal to achieve at this point, but let me tell you – figuring out a date is proving harder than I originally thought! No matter what else happens, if I get to the end of 2012 married to my best friend, I will be one happy girl.
Now enough with the sap. Let’s talk running goals, shall we?
Running Goals
Run a 3:10 marathon. Deep down inside I know I’d be happy with anything under a 3:15. But I might as well aim high, right? A 3:10 would be a pretty big PR for me (for comparison, I PR’d by a mere 9 seconds in my last marathon – this would be over 8 minutes!) but I think with some quality training and lots of dedication, I can do it.
Plus, Susan has a custom-made frame all ready for her post-Boston PR photo, and I really want to be in it with her.
Photo stolen from Susan
PR in the Half Marathon. My current PR was run in the middle of marathon training, through the snow, while I was sick. I’d like to think that in better conditions I have a sub-1:33 in me. And if I really train, I’d love to see a 1:30:xx (or below!) on the clock.
Run faster/PR in shorter distance races. I know I’ve mentioned before that I want to focus on other races besides the marathon, yet when it comes down to it, the allure of the marathon keeps drawing me in. Since I haven’t been able to give up on this torturous distance yet, I would like to train in a way that helps me get faster all around. I know I can’t expect to PR in every distance I run, but I would like to start really racing the shorter races, just to see how fast I can actually go.
Increase my mileage (slowly and safely) I’ve talked about how I used to run much higher mileage than I do now, but then had to back off because of how prone to injury my body can be. And although I still maintain that you can run a fast marathon without running 50+ miles and 6 days a week (my current marathon PR came off my lowest training mileage to date), I think every runner reaches a point where they realize they need to do more if they want to continue to get faster. I could tell during MCM that my endurance was not even close to where it needed to be for a 3:15/3:10 marathon. I think increasing mileage this training cycle can only help me run a faster this spring. And when I say increase, I still don’t mean anything crazy. You won’t see this girl running 70 or 80 mile weeks any time soon. But I would like to shoot for a couple of weeks that are close to/at 60 mpw. If I’m smart about it, I hope my body can handle it.
Run a competitive relay. My sweaty friend listed this as one of her goals for this year, and I need to jump on the bandwagon as well. I love the 200 mile relay more than any other race, and I have fun running them no matter how fast we go. But I’m a competitive person, and there’s a huge part of me that would thrive on being a part of helping a team place in a relay.
Hold myself accountable for each training run. I’ve never been great about tracking my runs. I know most runners are a bit obsessive when it comes to recording their data for each and every run, so I probably sound weird when I say I just don’t care all that much. I usually just make a training plan and then keep track of what I did each day by looking at what the plan said. Last winter I got myself into the habit of logging everything into Daily Mile, but then I just sort of fell off the wagon. This became a problem when I tried to look back at my last training cycle to analyze what I did (and didn’t do) and a lot of the data was missing. I am making myself stick to regular tracking this time around.
Keep strength training/core work a regular part of my routine. Though I’ll admit this has slightly less to do with helping me become a faster runner than it does with a certain exciting day that’s coming up. And there you have it – my vanity out in the open.
Professional/Life Goals
Become a certified running coach. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. The year after I graduated college, I worked as an assistant cross country coach and have been thinking about ways to get back into coaching ever since. I finally decided to take the plunge and sign up for an RRCA coaching class this spring. If all goes as planned, I’ll have my certification by the end of March!
Find a new job Yes, that whole job hunt thing is still ongoing. Luckily, recent events have made it look like I might get a few additional months at my current position (which makes things a little less stressful), but it’s still only temporary. By the end of the year, I would like to not only have a new job, but one that I actually love (yes, I know, this may be idealistic, but a girl can dream, right?). Bonus points if it helps me move out of Rhode Island.
Start actually saving money. I love running. And racing. And buying new running clothes. The problem with all that is that it’s sort of expensive. Since chances are I won’t be winning the lottery any time soon, it’s time to start redirecting some of those race funds into a savings account. Unfortunately, when you have some persuasive running friends, this is easier said than done.
So there you have it – my main goals for 2012. While there are a few other things that I’m hoping to get/do within the year, those are a little more out of my control. More than any recent year, I’m really excited to see what 2012 has in store.
And as for something that’s more short term – this weekend I’m running my first ever 10K. It seems weird to say that I’ve been running for over half my life and have yet to actually race a 10K. (Can you tell I avoid them like the plague?) My goal for the weekend: to not die. As long as I survive the race, it’ll be an automatic PR. Win.
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What is the one goal you are working toward above all others this year?
Taking the Good with the Bad
| October 4, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Marathon Training, Motivation, Running |
Anyone who has been in a relationship with running for a period of time knows that you don’t stay in the honeymoon phase forever. Being in a lifelong relationship with the sport means that you are committed to a life of ups and downs. Sometimes the “up” phases (or down phases) can last for months – other times the rollercoaster ride is all part of the day to day.
It won’t be any surprise to you all when I say that my relationship with the marathon training part of running has been in a bit of a “down” phase this summer. While I’m still committed to toeing the line in DC at the end of this month, something has changed within me (name that musical) this summer. For whatever reason, I’m just not loving the process of training as much as I have in the past. It’s not the marathon itself that I’m struggling with – it’s the training. (Yes, I know you can’t get to one without the other.) As a result, I’ve already started dreaming up new goals for after this race is over. (Something I plan to talk more about in a future post).
Despite a marathon training cycle that has been a bit lackluster, my summer of running has not been all bad. In fact, I’ve experienced some pretty high highs – starting with a new 5K PR when I least expected it and finishing with two relays within a few weeks of each other. For all my problems with sucky runs, overall, running has definitely made for a very fun summer.
But more than anything this summer, I’ve learned to take the good with the bad. To appreciate the gift of the great runs, and to tough it up during the bad runs. I know this is all just the nature of this sport.
The thing that’s a little harder to accept is how that can change from one day to the next.
Last week was the perfect example of that. On Wednesday morning, I found myself with a very limited amount of time to run. I realized I could squeeze in 5 miles – if I kept a speedy pace. After a moderate warm-up mile, I figured that since I was going so short anyway, I might as well turn my run into a bit of a workout. I really wasn’t sure what my legs were up for, so I just dropped the pace below 7:00 minutes/mile and started running. I ended up getting faster with each mile (finishing up at 6:34) and ended feeling like I could have run faster and further. That day, I was over-the-top in love with running.
A similar thing happened again on Friday evening. Do you ever get the feeling that if you could just run fast enough, wings will sprout from your shoes and you’ll fly away? (No, just me?) Well that’s how I felt on Friday. The plan was to just go out for a run and not think about pace. After about a mile, however, the only thing I wanted to do was run fast. Since this doesn’t exactly happen everyday, I figured I might as well embrace it. All I wanted was to feel like I was flying. I was pushing the pace, but I wasn’t tired. I was floating in the clouds. It was one of those runs that left me thinking – THIS. This is what running is all about!
And then the weekend came. I slogged through a recovery run on Saturday, cutting it shorter than my original goal because my legs just weren’t feeling well. And on Sunday, when my goal was to run “just” 13 – 15 miles, I woke up with a head that was not in the game. Despite my awesome runs from earlier in the week AND the cooler temperatures, going out and running for a couple of hours did not sound the slightest bit appealing. But the miles had to be run, so I dragged my butt out the door, thinking that if I could run 20 the week before without any real problem, I could certainly run 15.
Unfortunately I had already set myself up to fail before I even started running. And even though I really focused on changing my attitude at the beginning of the run, my body was just not cooperating. My breathing felt way too heavy, my heart was racing, and my legs were filled with lead. Why, when I was running a much slower pace, did my body feel like it was working harder than it did when I was running sub-7:00s earlier in the week? Why was this cut-back run feeling so much harder than my 20 miles did the week before?
If someone had been following with a camera on my long run, I’m sure this is what I would’ve looked like.
I never did settle in or find my groove during the run. Instead, highlights of the morning included: forcing myself to run for an hour before taking a break, stopping in front of a random stranger’s house and half-heartedly pretending to stretch out my tight calves while I stewed about the situation, and tricking myself into taking the long way home – which gave me 5 more miles for a total of 13.1 for the day.
I know we’ve all been there. Sometimes, for no real reason, running is tougher than we want it to be. But other times, everything falls into place and you feel like you could run forever. Part of being a runner means learning to take the good with the bad. Not every run is going to feel effortless, just like not every run is going to be torturous.
This summer I must sound like a yo-yo – one day I’m talking about how tough running is, and the next, I’m loving it.
But that’s the reality of the phase I’m in right now. I’ve gone through long stretches of time where every run feels great, and I’m more in love with the sport than ever. But sometimes my motivation and desire to run changes every day, and I can’t really figure out why. All I can do is take things one run at a time, knowing that each time I lace up my shoes, I’m stronger for it.
Despite that, I can admit that it’s not really fun to feel this way – I wish I could ride the high of running forever. And sometimes the fact that I don’t actually makes me feel like an imposter. Because real runners love running all the time, right??
Sure. And dark chocolate doesn’t have any calories…
An Exciting Opport(nuun)ity
| June 23, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Motivation, Running |
We interrupt our regularly scheduled blogging for a brief announcement:
I’m In!
No, I’m not suddenly running the NYC Marathon (just wait till 2012), but I like to think that I have the opportunity to do something even more exciting -
I’m running Hood to Coast this summer with Nuun and one two teams of fabulous female bloggers!!
When I started scheming up ways to get on a team with Becky and EC after watching the Hood to Coast movie, I never in one million years thought I’d actually get the chance to run the relay a short few months later. To say this is a dream come true is an understatement.
I am still jumping up and down and giddy every time I talk about it.This is without a doubt the coolest opportunity that has come from my blog since I started it last year. And I know I couldn’t have gotten it without your help.
So thank you (so very much) for your outpouring of support, both for this contest and always. The community of bloggers is one of those great, unexpected perks of blogging – I never realized such an awesome community even existed before I started my own blog. And now it’s one of the best things about it.
I absolutely cannot wait to visit Oregon for the first time with Nuun in August. I can’t think of a better way to see this scenic state than by foot (and while crammed into a smelly van)! And I’m so excited to be running this truly epic relay with some bloggers I’ve already met (like Emily and Susan) and a group of bloggers I can’t wait to get to know.
Of course I’ll be updating you throughout this experience (both on the blog and via Twitter), but for now, if you want to read a little bit more about what the weekend will entail, you can find it on Nuun’s blog here.
I hope you all are ready – the relay excitement is growing stronger than ever!
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In other news, I was able to borrow a computer, so hopefully I’ll be back to regular blogging tomorrow.
When Motivation is Missing
| June 13, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Motivation, Running |
Lately, my motivation to run has seemed to drop with every degree that the temperature rises. I find myself using the heat and humidity as an excuse to cut things short, or not run at all. Add to that a schedule that’s been getting busier and busier over the past few weeks and well…I’m sure you can imagine where this is going.
So last week, I had a mission. I wanted to ramp up my mileage by running consistently through the week and doing a long run over the weekend. The scary fact is that marathon training is starting up again, and I’m feeling less than prepared. Every time I train for a marathon, I vow to keep that level of fitness up so I won’t have to start building up my base from the beginning again. And every time I find that taking a break from intense running and long runs seems so much more appealing than being in awesome long-distance shape year-round. But I digress…
In order to get through my week of running, I had to pull out the big guns. Here are some of the strategies I use when I’d rather hang out on the couch in my sweats than sweat outside on the run.
Fighting Inertia (i.e. How to Get Your Butt Out The Door)
Pack a bag and drive straight to the gym. If I set my car on a straight path to the gym instead of going home, I eliminate a lot of the excuses that crop up when I get home first. Excuses that often appear in the form of a wide-eyed furry face who is tired of being alone.
See – he’s practically begging me not to run with those eyes…
Make a new playlist. Yes, you all know how much I love running with music. But what you might not know is I’m that person who makes one long running playlist, and then listens to it over and over (and over!). My current playlist has been cycling into my ears since the National Marathon (and even that one was almost the same as the I had made for the Hyannis Half in February). While it was a playlist powerful enough to push me to run my fastest marathon to date, after so many miles, it was getting a little tired. I hate to admit it, but even Mumford & Sons has stopped moving me as well as they once did (sorry boys).
So before I set out on my long run yesterday, I downloaded some new motivation-enhancing tunes. Nothing makes me more excited to run than a fresh set of songs to dance to run to. On the list: The Show Goes On (Lupe Fiasco), Hello (Martin Solveig), Party Rock Anthem (LMFAO), and Give Me Everything (Pitbull), along with some new Adele. I can’t have a running playlist without songs that speak to my emotions, can I?
Obviously this is exactly what I look like when I’m dance-running
via Jordan Matter
Go exploring. While my new neighborhood has more delicious food options than I’ve ever had before, the running options are less than stellar. Because of this, sometimes going out for a run seems so unappealing. On days when I’m really struggling to find the motivation, I try to change my perspective first. Instead of going for a run, I head out for a little adventure by foot. Running is my favorite way to explore, after all. So I strap on the watch, pick a direction and just run. Making up a new route as I go never fails to help the run go by faster.
(Source)
Join a running group, or find a running buddy. Okay, so in the spirit of full disclosure, this is something I haven’t actually done yet. I have my eye on two local running groups to join, but have been a little nervous to take the plunge. I will join though (I’m writing it on the blog, so it now it has to happen!). Not only will running with faster people help me get faster, but it will also give me extra motivation to do speed work – something I never feel like doing when I’m not actually in training (and sometimes even when I am). I like running for the sake of running – speed work is just a necessary evil I need if I want to run fast. And in the summer, when things start heating up, my motivation to run fast drops even lower. So I’m determined to do something about it.
Sheer force. Yes, I know this sounds awful. But sometimes my lazy mind is way louder than my will to exercise….even when I know it is best for me. And the only way to get it to stop over-analyzing or complaining is just to take back control and force myself out the door. I bargain with myself, tell myself I only have to do a mile or two, or give myself permission to walk if I’m really feeling awful. Usually I find that once I start running, I’m okay. It’s just getting out the door that’s the tough part.
And when all else fails, don’t run – try another form of exercise instead. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – there’s nothing wrong with taking an occasional break from running. I’ve been running seriously for 13 years now, and the only thing that has kept me going strong all these years is having times when I’m not stressed about my weekly mileage, or my mile splits, or getting in that long run. When I went to visit my family over Memorial Day, I didn’t run once. On a walk with my Mom, she asked me if I missed running when I took these mini breaks from it. I surprised even myself with my answer: NO. I love training. I love the structure, I love the progression, and I love watching my times get faster and my endurance get stronger. But sometimes I just need a break. Not feeling guilty for NOT running is what helps me attack my next training cycle with a renewed vengeance.
That being said, I’m ready. I’m ready to start following a schedule and increasing the intensity of my runs. It’s been a fun couple months filled with races and running for enjoyment but I’m starting to feel the itch to train again. Hopefully that will keep me motivated through the heat and humidity of the next few months.
Hood to Coast: the Relay Movie for Runners Who Love Relays
| February 12, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Motivation, Running |
If you’ve been reading HOTR or following me on twitter for any significant amount of time, you may have come to the conclusion that I’m obsessed with relays. And I probably wouldn’t try to convince you otherwise. The truth is, the 200-mile relay race is probably my favorite race of all. If someone were to come out of the woodwork tomorrow and tell me that they wanted to sponsor me so that I could run relays for a living, I would jump at the chance (any takers?? 
)
You may not believe it, but I wasn’t always this way. EC actually got into relays first. He ran one the summer before we started dating and was instantly hooked. A couple months into our relationship, he was already trying to convince me to sign up with him for next year. I was hesitant, not only because I wasn’t even sure our relationship would last that long (sorry, EC but it’s true!), but also because the concept didn’t exactly sound like fun. Spending over 24 hours in a smelly van with runners I didn’t know and having to run three different times on no sleep and limited real food? Not exactly the makings of a fun weekend.
But deep down, I couldn’t escape the feeling that this was going to be a crazy experience, and one that I should try at least once. So after a few months of convincing (and once it started to seem like EC might actually be a keeper) I signed up. And the rest is history!
So when I got the opportunity to see the encore presentation of Hood to Coast, I was super excited. The HTC relay is the largest 200-mile relay in the country — it’s the race that started it all. In the 27 years that it’s been running, the relay has literally exploded in popularity. Now over 1,000 teams compete every year. If you want to be one of them, you need to either place in your age category, or enter the lottery that is open for only one day a year (this race is harder to get into than the NYC marathon!). It’s definitely a dream of mine to be one of the lucky ones competing in this epic relay one day.
But for now, I was happy to at least be able to experience it through film. On Thursday night, EC and I met up with Becky, Lizzy, and Corey for a screening. In short: the film did not disappoint! I loved it (minus the Bart Yasso runway commentary at the beginning. Sorry Bart, I love ya but what were you thinking with those green glasses?!) and couldn’t believe how accurately the documentary captured the entire spirit of the relay. The movie followed four different teams on their journey through the 197 miles from Mt. Hood to the Oregon coast. Each team had a unique background, but they all shared a common goal. Their stories were moving, quirky, and inspirational. At the end, my only regret was that they didn’t show more – I would’ve loved the event to go on for another couple of hours!
What I found just as interesting as the movie, however, were our different reactions to it. Of the five people in our group, only Corey had not done a relay before. And while Lizzy had completed one Ragnar relay, from the sounds of it, the weekend was not such a great experience. Going in, I had thought that a movie about a 200-mile adventure race would easily make anyone who loves running instantly obsessed. With every scene, every conversation, Becky, EC and I found ourselves getting more and more excited about our upcoming relays. I think the only things that came out of my mouth the entire time were either, “Oh my gosh! That’s so true! That’s exactly how it is!!” or “Oh my gosh! I want to run this race so bad!!” Clearly I have an addiction…
I don’t think Lizzy and Corey were quite as sold, however. While both really enjoyed the movie, I think it’s pretty safe to say they weren’t left with the same crazy feelings of excitement for running a relay as Becky and I. In fact, it may be hard for many people to truly understand our extreme love for these things. Even I don’t know if I can completely explain it. I’ve written a little about adventure relays and my love for them in the past, but as Bart Yasso says in the film — it’s one of those things that you will never fully understand until you’ve experienced it yourself. The camaraderie and bonding that happens when you’re supporting 11 other people through a crazy, extreme challenge; the feeling of running at night while the rest of the world sleeps, with only the sound of your own footsteps keeping you company; and the crazy high you get from accomplishing something so difficult — these are all things that make the race so unique. You may be tired, you may be sick, you may question yourself many times throughout the relay, but in the end, I can guarantee that you will feel incredibly, completely alive.
Becky perfectly summed up her reasons for loving the 200-mile adventure relay here. I couldn’t have said it better myself. However, if you want to read an unbiased review of the Hood to Coast movie from a sane person, you should probably read Corey’s thoughts on the film.
So what does all this mean? Do I think you should see the movie? Yes. But can I guarantee that you’ll love it and be inspired to do a relay yourself? No. I think the Hood to Coast movie is an awesome film for runners. It’s a tale about the triumph of the human spirit – a tale about ordinary runners accomplishing an extraordinary thing. But I know that running a 200-mile relay doesn’t appeal to everyone. And that’s okay!
However, if you’ve watched the film or read reviews and have somehow caught relay fever, I have a proposition for you. I’m starting the process of putting together a team for the 2011 New Hampshire Reach the Beach Relay (you can read my recap here). If you’re interested, let me know. Leave a comment on this post or email me at lauren[at]healthontherun[dot]net and I can send you more information. I realize that September seems like it’s a long time away, but this relay fills up extremely fast, so we’ve got to sign up soon.
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