Third week of 50+ miles! The mileage is great. Now I've just got a few other details to work out. Amanda came to run 5 miles with me this morning. It was so great to see her. She told me all about Ragnar/WBR and how much she thought I'd love running those quiet miles out in the middle of nowhere. She and Derek are building another team for a Ragnar Relay out in the DC area in September. I would totally be game for that except it's the month before St. George. I'd really like to qualify for, and run in Boston 2009, so I think I'm going to keep it simple. But I look forward to running maybe the Marine Core Marathon with her or some other fun DC race in the next two years. She noted that I'd become a lot faster since our last run about a month ago. Our average pace this morning was 8:36. That has become pretty average for me in the past month. After she finished her 5, I ran another 5 on my own really thinking things over from yesterday. First, I need to make sure I can hold an 8:30 pace for my long Saturday runs WITH NO STOPPING. Second, I need to concentrate on my improved gait during that long run. I have found that going from 9:13 to 8:36 was a very simple matter of moving my feet quicker and having a more significant push off. I was told to use quick 'hot pavement' steps and that move alone made me faster without significant exertion. I have strong legs and I haven't been putting them to good use until recently. Also, I noticed yesterday, I waste a lot of energy in my shoulders and upper body. I need to let my legs do the work and relax a little up here. Third: I need to develop my own "I Can!" mantra-- one that to fill that space of mental weakness when the going gets tough. I actually know 'I can'. I needed something with a better psychological fit. So in a quiet space, while pushing mile 9 it came to me--it’s “I deserve" and "I am worthy" (to run fast). It's so corny and personal I can hardly believe I am writing this down. So anyway, I repeated these phrases to myself -- I was so tired by then, but I kept repeating them, and when I looked down, I had run a mile in 8:15--easy, like eating ice cream. It was not about punishment, but acceptance and gratitude. Now I've got to keep practicing those thoughts--together with "I can!"-- and then just never stop. Ever. To anyone reading these latest epistles, thank you for your wonderful comments and encouragement. I had no idea how much I could learn from others--of all things from running (because it's not just the running, is it?). It's nice to know you can be 40 and still have a significant, life altering attitude adjustment. Now to sustain it through practice and endurance. | 