I ‘plan’ my runs a week or two in advance, but by and large, the weather, my brain, and my legs determine what is going to happen. Today was supposed to be 4 easy miles but it was sunny, cool, low humidity, and I felt happy so I just let my legs do whatever they want. It was not easy. But it was a delight, and that makes me want to do it again :)
For years, I concentrated on running fast. In my younger days, I had a string of twelve first-place finishes in my age group. The week before the race, I had a stuffy head, so I took Contact or something else three days before. Not realizing an antihistamine dries you out, I should have been pushing the liquids. I wasn't. Have you ever been in a race where you were floating on air, and EVERYTHING was going your way? I had only four runners ahead of me and could see the finish line. The next thing I knew, someone was asking me what my name was. Tongue-tied and unaware of what was happening, I just lay there. I saw my wife a while later and asked her, "What the Hell happened?" She said the paramedic on a bike saw me fall, get up, and start running before falling again. To make a long story short, I was dehydrated and allergic to contact. I was stuck there until I urinated. After that, I realized I was immortal. I still want to be first in anything I do, but I don't set out to do a P.R. every time I lace up my shoes. I go out to have a good run and push myself hard the last half mile. You can't run fast unless you practice doing it and find out your body's limits. With my Apple watch, I can look at my splits and heart rate because I never want to see the inside of an ambulance again. It's too humiliating!
I am thinking about this a LOT these days as I prepare to "pitch" my first novel. I've worked hard on this one--getting up at 3 am to write for years--all while I maintained my day job. I KNOW there will be rejection. I KNOW what the odds are in terms of getting a conventional publishing deal. And I also know I can't control the ultimate outcome. So what I've had to do is (and it was HARD! Like thumb-sucking hard!) is focus on the journey, what I learned, why I had (and I mean HAD) to write this book. This post definitely resonates--and as always, thanks for the care (and time!) you put into this great community you've built. One foot in front of the other.......
I have been thinking about this newsletter since I read it and now have shared it widely. The hang alone is worthy of so much thought! Thanks for writing!
That’s a pretty darn good way to look at it! Wow! I like that.
On the last thread, someone mentioned trying out a theory along the lines of “it’s really warm in this bed BUT if I get out there and run, I’ll feel so much better”. Soooo I tried it, and did it! I was laying in bed talking myself into staying but kicked myself out! I had to say OUT LOUD “Get out of bed, Jennie! Get out! Get out!” 😂 and I was so glad I did it too! One day at a time…
Congrats on your run today!! Let’s keep at it together…WE’RE DOING THIS!! 💪🏼
“I do think that writing is very much like running,” he says. “Writing anything–certainly as a songwriter and musician–is a muscle that you need to exercise. If you let those muscles atrophy, it’ll take you a while to get back up to the level and the quality of work that you were able to do when you were exercising those parts of your brain more frequently.”
Interesting article on Trail Running and Music that I thought you might enjoy, if you haven't seen it already!
My best way to overcome mental hurdles is to eliminate other hurdles - I sometimes put my running gear on so that, when it’s time to do a run, I’ve got one list thing I need to do before I actually go out
Nice "write", particularly like the Viggo movie quote - while we may only be a little part of this world, we still can have some say - if only in the things we can actually do! Great thought...
We're running today: January 19, 2023
I ‘plan’ my runs a week or two in advance, but by and large, the weather, my brain, and my legs determine what is going to happen. Today was supposed to be 4 easy miles but it was sunny, cool, low humidity, and I felt happy so I just let my legs do whatever they want. It was not easy. But it was a delight, and that makes me want to do it again :)
For years, I concentrated on running fast. In my younger days, I had a string of twelve first-place finishes in my age group. The week before the race, I had a stuffy head, so I took Contact or something else three days before. Not realizing an antihistamine dries you out, I should have been pushing the liquids. I wasn't. Have you ever been in a race where you were floating on air, and EVERYTHING was going your way? I had only four runners ahead of me and could see the finish line. The next thing I knew, someone was asking me what my name was. Tongue-tied and unaware of what was happening, I just lay there. I saw my wife a while later and asked her, "What the Hell happened?" She said the paramedic on a bike saw me fall, get up, and start running before falling again. To make a long story short, I was dehydrated and allergic to contact. I was stuck there until I urinated. After that, I realized I was immortal. I still want to be first in anything I do, but I don't set out to do a P.R. every time I lace up my shoes. I go out to have a good run and push myself hard the last half mile. You can't run fast unless you practice doing it and find out your body's limits. With my Apple watch, I can look at my splits and heart rate because I never want to see the inside of an ambulance again. It's too humiliating!
I am thinking about this a LOT these days as I prepare to "pitch" my first novel. I've worked hard on this one--getting up at 3 am to write for years--all while I maintained my day job. I KNOW there will be rejection. I KNOW what the odds are in terms of getting a conventional publishing deal. And I also know I can't control the ultimate outcome. So what I've had to do is (and it was HARD! Like thumb-sucking hard!) is focus on the journey, what I learned, why I had (and I mean HAD) to write this book. This post definitely resonates--and as always, thanks for the care (and time!) you put into this great community you've built. One foot in front of the other.......
You're learning, Terrell! Focus on the now, that's all there really is. . .
Glad you got out there, but better than that, I'm happy you feel good about it!
I have been thinking about this newsletter since I read it and now have shared it widely. The hang alone is worthy of so much thought! Thanks for writing!
Great post. Right now, I feel myself no matter how I feel before I run or whatever else is going on, the only run I regret is the one I didn’t do.
That’s a pretty darn good way to look at it! Wow! I like that.
On the last thread, someone mentioned trying out a theory along the lines of “it’s really warm in this bed BUT if I get out there and run, I’ll feel so much better”. Soooo I tried it, and did it! I was laying in bed talking myself into staying but kicked myself out! I had to say OUT LOUD “Get out of bed, Jennie! Get out! Get out!” 😂 and I was so glad I did it too! One day at a time…
Congrats on your run today!! Let’s keep at it together…WE’RE DOING THIS!! 💪🏼
Saw this in Women's Running
“I do think that writing is very much like running,” he says. “Writing anything–certainly as a songwriter and musician–is a muscle that you need to exercise. If you let those muscles atrophy, it’ll take you a while to get back up to the level and the quality of work that you were able to do when you were exercising those parts of your brain more frequently.”
Interesting article on Trail Running and Music that I thought you might enjoy, if you haven't seen it already!
https://www.womensrunning.com/culture/whats-the-connection-between-running-and-playing-music/
My best way to overcome mental hurdles is to eliminate other hurdles - I sometimes put my running gear on so that, when it’s time to do a run, I’ve got one list thing I need to do before I actually go out
Nice "write", particularly like the Viggo movie quote - while we may only be a little part of this world, we still can have some say - if only in the things we can actually do! Great thought...
My first thought is that the journey is more important than the destination....