Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Half of Running is 90% Mental
I just read a book that Bill bought me: The Non-Runner's Guide to Running a Marathon by Whitsett and Dolgener. The writers are actually professors at UNI, which is sort of cool. (One, maybe both of them, are retired now.) I'm not, at this point, training to run a full marathon, but I got some stuff from the book--mostly about mental training and flow.
I've been using some the techniques to get through longer runs on the treadmill. Hopefully I'll need them less running outside, but it's nice to have them in my repetoire. The books teaches you to make up and play mental games, most of which seem ridiculous, but they work to keep you focused and get you into what I call "the zone." They call it "flow." A colleague of mine does research on flow and I thought it was completely uninteresting until I realized I could relate it to running.
The book also focuses on positive thinking in life and in running. It discusses internal locus of control, which is related closely to one of my professional research interests (mastery). Overall, a pretty good read. I'm glad I took the time to read it. If you looking for something on biomechanics and technical running, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a way to get through and even enjoy marathon training, read this book.
Running is going really well. I hate to be overly optimistic, but the IT bands are doing great. I stretch, I ice, I massage, and so far that's kept the pain at bay. I need to thank Bill for helping me out with that. I'm not doing great with getting out of bed to run before work. I'm a little disappointed in myself about that, but I should give myself a break. I get my runs in after work--without fail--and a run at 6 p.m. is as good as a run at 6 a.m., although for some reason I want to be a 6 a.m. runner. Maybe simply because it's difficult for me. I've never claimed to be a morning person.
I haven't missed a run since I started my training plan about a month ago. I've followed it to a T. The only exception is that I modify the tempo runs and speedwork a little, but I feel good about how I am running. Of course, I'm still a tortoise, but I'm a damn consistent tortoise.
On another note, my stepdad, Dennis, was in a little bit of a freak accident this week, but it looks like he's going to be just fine. I'm grateful for that. I know he's in pretty intense pain right now. Hopefully that passes quickly.
I've been using some the techniques to get through longer runs on the treadmill. Hopefully I'll need them less running outside, but it's nice to have them in my repetoire. The books teaches you to make up and play mental games, most of which seem ridiculous, but they work to keep you focused and get you into what I call "the zone." They call it "flow." A colleague of mine does research on flow and I thought it was completely uninteresting until I realized I could relate it to running.
The book also focuses on positive thinking in life and in running. It discusses internal locus of control, which is related closely to one of my professional research interests (mastery). Overall, a pretty good read. I'm glad I took the time to read it. If you looking for something on biomechanics and technical running, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a way to get through and even enjoy marathon training, read this book.
Running is going really well. I hate to be overly optimistic, but the IT bands are doing great. I stretch, I ice, I massage, and so far that's kept the pain at bay. I need to thank Bill for helping me out with that. I'm not doing great with getting out of bed to run before work. I'm a little disappointed in myself about that, but I should give myself a break. I get my runs in after work--without fail--and a run at 6 p.m. is as good as a run at 6 a.m., although for some reason I want to be a 6 a.m. runner. Maybe simply because it's difficult for me. I've never claimed to be a morning person.
I haven't missed a run since I started my training plan about a month ago. I've followed it to a T. The only exception is that I modify the tempo runs and speedwork a little, but I feel good about how I am running. Of course, I'm still a tortoise, but I'm a damn consistent tortoise.
On another note, my stepdad, Dennis, was in a little bit of a freak accident this week, but it looks like he's going to be just fine. I'm grateful for that. I know he's in pretty intense pain right now. Hopefully that passes quickly.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
After the cabinet fell on me....
I have to admit I've been off of my game a little bit in the last week. It all started when the cabinet fell on my head...I've gotten all of my runs in, but haven't been good about getting them done in the morning. I've had early meetings and somedays I have no excuse--I just haven't gotten out of bed. So more and more of my runs have been after work, which I guess isn't the end of the world, as long as I'm getting the miles in.
Tonight I did a 6 mile tempo run, and I noticed I am actually getting a little faster. Paces that seemed really quick a few weeks ago don't seem quite as quick. I've done 9 miles two straight Saturdays, and that's what I have this Saturday as well. Then I have a week where my mileage is cut a little--an easy week for recovery.
I should add that the cabinet falling on my head has led to a few hours of paperwork. Seriously?
Tonight I did a 6 mile tempo run, and I noticed I am actually getting a little faster. Paces that seemed really quick a few weeks ago don't seem quite as quick. I've done 9 miles two straight Saturdays, and that's what I have this Saturday as well. Then I have a week where my mileage is cut a little--an easy week for recovery.
I should add that the cabinet falling on my head has led to a few hours of paperwork. Seriously?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Elaine's No Good, Very Bad Day
Today could have gone better. I didn't sleep well last night because Murphy whined all night...we are trying to transition him out of the bedroom and he's not liking it. He and Gus-Gus go into the computer room when we go to bed. Bill and I moved to the bed upstairs so his whining wouldn't keep us up but I could still hear him. I planned to run in the early morning, but when the alarm went off I just couldn't do it. I took the extra hour of sleep instead.
When I got to work, things didn't get better. I had only been here about 5 minutes...I got into my cabinet/book shelf to grab something and the whole thing started falling on. The top shelf came out and hit me in the head. Some cans of soup (clam chowder) also nailed me in the forehead. I'm not even sure how it happened. I'm fine--a part of my head is a little tender--but I had to fill out an incident report (which, of course, I made a mockery of) on the insistence of my secretary and department head. I had to teach right after, but luckily we were watching a video part of the class so I could sit down for a while. I also managed to somehow spill a whole 32 ounce water bottle of pink Crystal Light all over my office this afternoon. I am trying to get a grip on cleaning that up before the janitor sees it. The good news is that I did avoid the computer.
So now I am debating on whether or not I should run this afternoon. I should be home about 3:30 or so, and I'd have plenty of time, but I may opt out, which makes me feel like a lazy sack of crap. After the bookshelf fell on me, I'm not sure I want to test my luck.
I did get in my 5 miles yesterday. It was an easy day but I pushed the pace just a little. IT bands are still tight but no real pain. Tomorrow or today I need to get in a tempo run or speedwork.
When I got to work, things didn't get better. I had only been here about 5 minutes...I got into my cabinet/book shelf to grab something and the whole thing started falling on. The top shelf came out and hit me in the head. Some cans of soup (clam chowder) also nailed me in the forehead. I'm not even sure how it happened. I'm fine--a part of my head is a little tender--but I had to fill out an incident report (which, of course, I made a mockery of) on the insistence of my secretary and department head. I had to teach right after, but luckily we were watching a video part of the class so I could sit down for a while. I also managed to somehow spill a whole 32 ounce water bottle of pink Crystal Light all over my office this afternoon. I am trying to get a grip on cleaning that up before the janitor sees it. The good news is that I did avoid the computer.
So now I am debating on whether or not I should run this afternoon. I should be home about 3:30 or so, and I'd have plenty of time, but I may opt out, which makes me feel like a lazy sack of crap. After the bookshelf fell on me, I'm not sure I want to test my luck.
I did get in my 5 miles yesterday. It was an easy day but I pushed the pace just a little. IT bands are still tight but no real pain. Tomorrow or today I need to get in a tempo run or speedwork.
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