An Amateur Runner. I failed To Run A 5 Mile Today.
What I learned about my biggest weakness.
There is always a first thing in life. It keeps life interesting and fun.
I am training to run a half marathon using the Nike run club app training plan. It’s a 14-week training plan and at the end of week 3, you have to run a 5 mile/8K run. While I was on track on all runs so far, I failed to complete the 5-mile run.
What is my biggest weakness in running? Focus.
Not the only one, but the biggest weakness. I have overcome the dreaded ‘Running is boring’ phase. However, keeping my focus in the long run is hard.
In the intro video, Mike Bennett, head coach says:
“We want you to train for 14 weeks for the half marathon. Your goal is to run the half marathon but more importantly, your goal is to learn to be the coach of yourself. ”
Self-Coaching is based on the premise that no one knows you better than yourself.
Knowing yourself starts with reflection and self-discovery. Learning from your failures is the greatest source of self-discovery.
I started my training and ran indoors on the treadmill. It happens to be the first time I ran outdoors. There is a huge difference between running indoors and running outdoors.
Running indoors on the treadmill I learned that my easy running pace is 12 mins/mile. When running outdoors, I realized later that i ran the first two miles at ~9 mins/mile pace. There was no treadmill or smart running watch telling me my pace. I didn’t pay attention to my effort, breathing, and body. I was completely exhausted at the end of 2.5 miles.
Showing up is important. More important is being present.
I have my eyes on the future to run a half marathon. I had clear intentions to run that day. I showed up. I was not present.
Remember we can only breathe in the present, not the past or the future.
One of the important aspects of doing a long run, like a 5-mile run, is to start easy, running at your easy run pace. Not running hard, running easy.
Running easy means being patient with yourself. Running easy means in complete control of your breath and form.
P.S. There is an exact science and specifics about breathing and heart rate zones, which is a good running form. Maybe for another article.
Focus = Setting Intentions + Being Present + Having Patience.
Setting your intentions will help you show up. Being present in the moment will help you be attuned to your current situations and adapt. Having patience will help you to have those small wins and have fun in what you are doing.
Your small wins is the positive feedback loop to motivate you to show up and be on the starting line again.
“There art two cardinal sins from all other spring: Impatience and Laziness” — Franz Kafka
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