Confidence
“Your toughness is made up of equal parts persistence and experience. You don’t so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them, and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your head.” – Joe Henderson
Running can be difficult one day and easy the next. Three weeks ago I had one of my toughest long runs yet and it got me thinking about my goals.
Two years ago I ran the Boston Marathon. I remember someone asking me “what next? You going to run an ultra marathon!” I immediately said no way. 26.2 miles is enough right ?
I ventured into all kinds of distances that year and by the end of racing season I had to set a new goal. Triathlons. Since the age of 18 I have always wanted to become an Ironman. So first step is becoming a triathlete. 2009 I did just that and became a Half Ironman.
2010 rolls around and my goals were simple. Get faster. Run a 5k with avg pace under 7:00 miles. I wanted to run a half-marathon and also a marathon with times of 1:40 and under 4:00 hours for the marathon. I didn’t quite make my times but I have gotten faster and I’m not going to run a marathon this year. I feel like every week has a purpose. A bigger purpose than a marathon.
All of a sudden about 2 months ago something popped into my head. I want to become an UltraRunner. What ? Yes, I want to run over 26.2 miles. I think my experiences with the 70.3 challenged me more than physically. I think it started me on the journey of learning to deal with those stupid running voices in your head. This year in my quest to get faster I’ve noticed that those voices are almost non-existent during the run.
After my crappy run a few weeks ago where those voices shouted at me very loud they all of a sudden disappeared. Gone. That is when I realized something. I’m ready to conquer something very few people have. Run 50 miles in one day under 12 hours and gasp maybe even a 100 miler (leadville anyone).
Why all of a sudden ? Confidence ! I am now so confident in my running. I run with ease now. I’m running and continuing to increase my mileage with no race at all on my calendar. I am so confident in my running that I know that I can run 50 miles in 10 hours or less. I also have the confidence that my Ironman goals is that much closer. If you don’t challenge yourself to do something then what is the point. I could continue to do the same distances, improve my speed and enjoy triathlons, but my thirst for more is what being an endurance athlete is all about. I want to get faster, go longer and do different types of races. I’m confident I can do anything I put my mind to. Conquer the next challenge, break through all the walls, climb all the mountains and enjoy every minute.
This past weekend I ran 15 miles on Sunday bringing my total miles to 35 for the week. I’ve run farther in a week before but this week seem to be a turning point. This run wasn’t as good as last weeks, but I started out running strong. In fact the first 10k was run at basically my 10k race pace and then I slowed down due to the heat. No worries, I just needed to relax and enjoy the run. My mind was clear, my legs felt strong, my arms were swinging with ease, and I felt fantastic. After about 11 miles I hit the wall, but I dug deep into myself and pushed hard. Of course the music certainly helped. I climbed the wall with all I had and once over I ran stronger and more powerful. It hurt, but not once during the whole run did I think I couldn’t do it.
It is a long journey to become an UltraRunner or an Ironman but I’m going to enjoy the trip.
I found an awesome race that would be a fantastic introduction to the ultra running.
Here’s the description :
As challenging as it is beautiful; what better way to see this gem of the Caribbean than to run over a good portion of its rugged mountains and along its stunning shoreline?
The course is an out and back from Christiansted to Frederiksted and back, ending at The Buccaneer. With heart pounding climbs and quad screaming descents, it is sure to be as challenging as it is beautiful.
Start at the fort in Christiansted and after a fairly mellow 5 mile warm up over to salt river, turn left onto the scenic drive. (The first hour and a half will be dark, so plan accordingly. Each runner will be responsible for providing his/her own light source with extra batteries and a backup.) Run up, up, up, following the scenic drive along the rolling ridge where the road goes dirt (even the paved part is a bit rough at points). Enjoy the views as you head west, crossing the top of “The Beast.” The road is a mix of asphalt and concrete sections for a while before returning to dirt. The descent to Hams Bluff is paved again with a mix of concrete and asphalt. You will then turn south (left) and head into Frederiksted, turn around, and head back the same way you came. Once back in Christainsted continue to the entrance of The Buccaneer and head on in. You’re almost there! One more hill up the main drive of the resort and down to the finish at the beach.
