Today's workout was brutal (for me at least).
2 miles easy
2 x 20 minutes at tempo pace (7:42 min/mile) with 10 minutes easy in between
2 miles easy
The first 20 minutes was semi-okay: while I didn't die at the end, the last three laps were definitely a struggle. I felt like I was all elbows and feet, kicking myself in the ankles every few steps. The second 20 minutes was even more unpleasant (it was probably even more unpleasant to watch - at least I do it in the semi-darkness). About a mile into it I knew I wasn't going to hit my time goal; at one point I thought I'd be as much as 6 seconds slow. But I told myself my favorite mantra ("dig deep")and pushed it hard for the last lap. And I did it! What a pleasant surprise, almost as good as meeting a goal in a race.
My happy ending today reminded me of something my college coaches tried to drive into us. A big part of my time at Brown was spent at the boathouse rowing hard. Our coaches didn't believe in steady-state, only 100%, balls-to-the-wall, puke-at-the-end effort. While I eventually got burnt out, I did appreciate learning how to train myself mentally. In running as in rowing, I learned that you cannot get to the starting line of a race and expect to be tough without having practiced being tough. That's what today's workout was for me: a way to hit the wall then push past it. Hopefully, when I run my next race I'll remember today and think, "If I could do it then, I can do it today."
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Hit a point around mile 3 last night where I felt like I just couldn't take one more stride and I just stopped and walked a bit. My inner monologue went something like this...
"I thought you were hard core."
*blink* who said that?
Then I remembered the spin classes where my buddy Rob (ex-marine ironman) was teaching... I really mean berating... a room full of innocent fitness seekers (myself included). Realized he must have penetrated my subconscious somehow.
Not only did those simple words get me trotting again, I also found the courage to increase my pace and break out of my comfort zone. Even pushed out more mileage than originally prescribed on my schedule.
Point is, it's hilarious how simple rememberances can make amazing things happen. You're a rockstar for making it through your brutal routine! I'm so jealous - Can't wait to get to that point :-).
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