Dearest Yellow jacket, we had some GOOD TIMES! You will forever be a part of my half marathon glory! :lol:
You can bet your behind that they believe they are strong!
I wonder what their mantra is?
I was so inspired by this man who looked to be in his 70’s finishing 13.1 miles!
I wanted to quit so many times during this race because I had sharp stomach pains (i think it was from not eating early enough!). I stopped and walked a lot, and I just felt defeated. I had to keep repeating the note that was on my back just to get through the race.
I was never more happy than to cross that finish line (race recap can be found here).
When you think you can’t do something, remind yourself of a time when you reached a goal.
Today I struggled on a 10-mile run and I had to keep reminding myself of times when I did succeed with this distance.
I had to tell myself, ‘You are so much stronger than you think’ over and over until I believed it again.
The run:
- Distance: 10 miles
- Total ascent (hill climb): 1121 feet
- Avg heart rate: 162 bpm
- Max heart rate: 179 bpm
- Avg pace: 9:21 min/mile
- Time: 1 hour 33 mins.
Mile Splits:
- Mile 1: 9:06; ascent- 121 ft
- Mile 2: 8:52; ascent- 100 ft
- Mile 3: 9:04; ascent- 108 ft
- Mile 4: 8:55; ascent 141 ft
- Mile 5: 9:14; ascent- 110 ft
- Mile 6: 9:53; ascent- 105 ft (my water ran out and I had none the rest of the run)
- Mile 7: 9:33; ascent- 117 ft
- Mile 8: 9:41; ascent- 113 ft
- Mile 9: 10:11; ascent- 117 ft (I struggled SO much with this mile!)
- Mile 10: 9:04; ascent- 89 ft (My goal was to finish strong!!!)
I’m not going to pretend like saying those words will instantly make it easy because that just isn’t true, but thinking about times when you have succeeded at something provides HOPE and inspiration. Maybe it was a piano recital that you rocked or your first 5k race or the time you headed to the gym in the dark even though your 8 month old had you up all night.
Each of us have victories each day that we often pass by without recognizing.
When you are struggling, think of the good times. Think of the times when you made a positive step in the right direction and think about the feelings you felt. Connecting the memory to the positive feeling will motivate you to want to feel those same emotions again.
Today’s run was not easy and I wanted to QUIT many times- I was feeling tired from lack of sleep and doing a lot of physical work this morning. Aside from that I was bored after mile 6- I was looping the neighbourhood and did not play any music on this run. However, by believing in myself I was able to push past my mental block and remind myself that sometimes the obstacle is more in our mind than on the pavement.
I’d love for you to tell me about a time when you succeeded that sticks out in your mind- it could be rocking a presentation, a race, a speech, beating an illness, an exam, a job interview, getting through a training workout, helping someone out, etc. Share your glory!
One thing that sticks out in my mind, and will forever, is when I passed my Oral Defense for my Master’s degree. It was quite possibly the most grueling 3 hours of my life and also the most anxiety-provoking thing I have ever been through. Whenever I am anxious about a meeting, speech, or other anxiety-provoking situation, I remind myself of the oral defense and how I overcame my fear. I tell myself, if I could get through that, I could get through anything.
Not a moment, but a few quotes that have helped me through everything from injury, to losing my job to really tough workouts and sports competitions:
-The pain is only temporary, so never give up. – ?
-Pain is only temporary, but quitting is forever. – Lance Armstrong
I had a successful and triumphant moment 2 weeks ago when I finished my spring semester. This semester was especially grueling…I had an intense course and workload, was living in and taking care of my first apartment, writing for 2 newspapers, taking yoga, spin, and weight training classes, AND applying for summer and fall internships. But what made all of that even more horrifying was coming down with mono…which peaked just before midterms. Perfect timing, right?
Well let’s just say, when it rained…it POURED. I have never experienced such a dark time in my life before. It was bad enough having to deal with the pain and exhaustion that accompanied the illness, but it seemed that everything else in my life fell apart. I faced MANY setbacks (some not related to being sick) and I was at the end of my rope.
But I stuck it out. I just kept telling myself that “this is all temporary “and that eventually, good things would start happening. Sure, it took a couple of months and ocean’s worth of tears, but I made it through.
Not only did I get my stride back, but I successfully finished the semester with a 3.9/4.0 grade point average. Trust me, this is a TREMENDOUS accomplishment considering I was so close to giving up and was thinking of taking an incomplete in a couple classes.
I’m SO glad I stuck it out. I now look at myself differently and give myself MUCH more credit for not only what I can endure, but for what I can accomplish when the weight of my world is crushing me.
the weird thing is the first thought i had of these pictures was “a rose amongst the thorns” thats what u remind me of.. ur such an inspiration! <3
You are very brave!!! :) Positive thinking is very important! Loved the idea of that note on your back!! And the 70year old man is so inspiring, yes, made me think about a lot of things to each I said that I can not do it, and I remember now the words that my father always says to me “There isn’t I can’t-it’s only I don’t want to try” !
Awesome run!!
I have a t-shirt from my local running store which, on the back, says “Good enough never is.” I try to repeat this over and over, whether it’s in the middle of a 3-day calculus studying session or in the middle of a really tough run.
At first I thought I don’t have anything really to be proud of. But then I have.
I was shy and introverted, and I spent a year in the UK during my studies, I had to step out of my comfort zone to go and speak to people in a language that wasn’t mine (still isn’t, sorry for the mistakes!), and it worked. Best time of my life.
Also one of the worst because I was deep in my eating disorder (binge eating). One year later I had recovered, by myself. And I’m proud of this, I was my own therapist and looked deep inside of me to find the roots of this ed, hard and dark times, but I did it.
Also I started my first job in a Belgian company in Paris, France, then I moved to Belgium for this job. And the company went bankrupt. No income from one day to the next, no way to pay the rent anymore, no Belgian ID or title of residence, no social security. And no way I was going back to live with my parents ;-) So I stayed and bounced, and I found out I was stronger than I thought.
Oh, and I started working out a few years ago after believing all my life that moving my behind was not for me! Not to mention yoga, which helped me realize how amazing and beautiful a human body is!
it’s definitely hard to keep a positive mindset…im recovering from an ED right now
and i think i’ve been to rock bottom
its so easy to think that you’re working to get better and healthier and to think about
what that will feel like but its so hard to actually get there..
I’ve been to treatment centers, thrown dishes across the kitchen, broke down in the middle
of the grocery store and woken up screaming and tears streaming in the middle of the night..
and then the time when i wasnt feeling at all…i couldn’t cry no matter how hard i tried..
but when i think about what it does to my body in terms of child bearing-i want it more than anything…and to finally feel better about myself..overcoming this, for me, is about reminding myself everyday that i’m worth the commitment to myself, and that im strong enough to do it.
thinking positive really does have amazing power and also to write down things you are thankful for…
p.s. your wedding video on the about page is beautiful! I like 1:22 :) cutee
I am so with you on this, Sara. I’m going through a pretty low low right now (such bad timing, before my finals?!) but I’m trying to recover the best I can. And yeah… child bearing. My mom was so sad and heartbroken when she found out I didn’t have my period. We’re still trying to get it back.
Keep fighting girl! I’m cheering for you :D
Wei-Wei
My mantra? Survivor, survivor, survivor. Not from the Destiny’s Child song, but because of my mother. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 11, she died EIGHT years later when I was 19. She SURVIVED for eight years and lived a beautiful, complete life. Her strength took her through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Her will to survive allowed her to learn to walk again through excruciating pain after the cancer invaded her spinal column and collapsed a vertebrae in her backbone. She said she got her survival instinct from her father, a holocaust survivor, and I know I get my drive to push through things and accomplish things, my will to survive from her.
The hardest thing I ever had to do was watch her die, but she did it with so much beauty and grace that I use her as a point of inspiration instead of sadness.
Angela YOU are amazing and I have no doubt that regardless of your run today, you’ll be GREAT in your half :)
I think my greatest glory was graduating nursing school last year, AND THEN passing my boards! to have that glorious RN after my name at a ripe 22 years old :) after that, it’d probably be landing a job at duke medical center.
angela i totally needed this after today. thank you SO much.
“Each of us have victories each day that we often pass by without recognizing.” — hear, hear. i often forget to pat myself on the back because i’m always so impatient to move onto bigger things.
my greatest glory is (as of one month ago) having healed constant brain fog/poor concentration by diagnosing and experimenting things on my own, without the help of anyone except my own research. i cut out all sugar (including fruit sugar and even large doses of carrot juice) and the brain fog/headache that i had for the past year has cleared up magically. i am so proud of myself for taking alternative healing seriously when no one else believed in me.
thank you, once again.
I would have to say psychologically and emotionally the hardest thing I have ever been through was spending 2 years apart from my then boyf (now husband) in separate countries (not my home country either), both with low paying jobs, running up $300/month phone bills, getting rejected from several visa applications and then finally getting approved for one. Without some amazing women in my life I would have quit on my relationship and gone home. Walking through that airport gate and seeing my boyfriend made it all worthwhile.
I run every afternoon after work. I honestly hadnt packed enough to eat today, so now (about a half hour before its time to leave and head for the lake), I just talked myself into skipping my workout, going home, having a glass of wine and EATING. Reading this definitely made me decide to push myself for at least a short 3-miler. I’m stonger than I think and I know I can make it – it’ll be worth the mental push! Perfect timing on this post :)
One of my roadblocks is a “run,” too, except proooooobably on a different level from you guys: I improved my mile time (yes, the mile run in PE! Don’t you miss high school? :D) from 9.59 to 9.15! I thought of you guys the whole way. If Angela can do it, SO CAN I! Just another example of how much you’ve inspired me. ;)
Wei-Wei
good work!
A month ago I ran my fourth half marathon. It was HOT especially for April in St. Louis. There were more inclines than I wanted when combined with the heat is not a fun thing. There were many times when I thought to myself “I am so tired, I don’t even feel like I’m running that fast, I could just walk…”
I powered on, ran the whole time, and had my best half marathon time ever. Sometimes when we feel the weakest is really when we are the most strong.
oh wow – what a fantastic effort :) 10 miles??? IMPRESSIVE!!!! I never cease to be amazed what our strong legs and determined minds can accomplish :)
About a year ago I went through an experience where someone truly violated my trust. This had never happened to me in this way and I was faced with telling someone that I loved and cared for deeply that I was hurt, angry, and had lost all trust in us. It was one of the worst moments I had ever been through and I did not know how to even open my mouth at first. I tried to act normal and be my smiley self but on the inside I was desperately wanting to run away and crawl under the covers.
I had to use all of my belief in myself, my positive attitude and experiences to provide me the comfort I needed that day. And I did what I had to do. I was honest and real- no matter how hard I knew it would hurt the other person and me!
But I am now stronger than I ever ever ever have been. A beautiful lesson indeed!
Aw I love your mantras. I made it through a studio final. People stay up for multiple days at a time and never sleep to finish these projects. I was lucky enough to pace myself and never have to stay later than 10:30 at night and I finished it :)
10 miles! I don’t think I have ever ran that far in my life!!!
Competing in my first figure competition was a huge goal for me on so many levels but mostly b/c I rarely have the discipline to stick things out. That discipline followed me through the entire year as I also wrote an entire rough draft of a screenplay. Now I just wonder where all that drive and discipline went! ;-)
Your blog today was truly fitting!!! I went on a run this morning, and STRUGGLED!!! I didn’t even make it to three miles. But remembering times we’ve blasted through truly is the best “sports psychology!!” Reading your blog today reminded me of a year ago when I was very sick with Mono, a full time nutrition student with strenuous classes, and working a job I truly disliked. I lost weight and was down to 100lbs, but through all the stress, I found comfort in running, and blasted through 4-6 a miles almost daily (yes even with Mono, I know… shame shame), but THIS will be my reminder when I go running tomorrow!! Thank you for the reminder of being stronger than I feel sometimes!! And with just having graduated, I now know I am totally capable of conquering anything!!
Love your attitude and that mantra! I keep being more and more amazed by the role of mental strength in achieving goals that seem physical at first (like a long run).
I wonder if some day you would tell a little about how you prepared for/handled your Masters Defense? I have a similar kind of oral exam coming up, and it scares me more than anything!
I did mock defenses with Eric over and over and over. Practice makes perfect. I made sure everything was memorized to a tee so in case I was super stressed I wouldnt fumble as much. I knew that presentation inside and out so it really helped me.
Definitely a good plan – prepare, prepare, prepare! Thanks for the reply!