' Psyching myself up for the long run. | Adventures with FitNyx

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Psyching myself up for the long run.

Dear Other Endurance Athletes,

What in the WORLD do you do to get yourself going for the long distances?!  I mean, obviously, the reason we're all running is that we see some benefit in it...  And for certain, I have some great reasons to go run, which have been pushing me to try harder than ever to keep a running schedule.  But I cannot for the life of me convince myself I am comfortable with setting off on my long distance day!

Maybe it's my sprinter background.  Maybe it's that I'm lazier than I want to admit.  I just cannot seem to find that boost to start extending my runs.  I have no problem popping out for a quick two-miler, or even for spending an hour shuffling as far as I can, but when I think about pushing to six miles, ten miles, that half marathon in *two short weeks*...  I kinda freak out.  Is that normal?  Will that feeling go away once I've done a few - just as the 5k used to intimidate me, but I tried anyway and now love it?

I set my goal today for six miles, but that's two miles longer than last week!  Can I make it?  Will trying this be a disaster and make me hate running?  Am I going to be able to move afterwards?

*sigh*

At the end of the day, I have to decide how badly I really "want it" - so I'm heading out to run.  See you on the road!

<3, Amanda

4 comments:

  1. I just started this long-distance thing in April when I registered for the Marathon, and I completely freak out with every increasing long run I do. This week? FIFTEEN MILES. HOW?!
    I don't know, but I know I'll do it somehow.
    And I know you will, too!

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    1. Once it's DONE, it's like, "why was that so intimidating?" We'll make it habit before you know it!

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  2. Just keep setting goal races! It's scary how quickly your frame of mind changes... six miles will soon be "just" six miles. It's all relative. :)

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    1. Yup, after doing the 11.5 miler this weekend, anything less seems almost... lame! I can easily see myself making 6-10 mile runs a normal routine in the near future, which is something I never would have imagined when I started running back in May!

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