I am in the process of psyching myself out.
I need the next two runs to be amazing. Week 6 of the 5-10K program NEEDS to be great. I need to make it great. I want to finish my run on Wednesday and have the adrenaline and momentum to carry me through the next few weeks. Otherwise, I feel like I’m going to feel dragged down, and the added negativity is the last thing I need.
Week 6 training started on Saturday. No more recovery. The plan called for a twenty-five minute steady run, and I decided to implement it on the bridge.
Oh, yes. I was back for the bridge.
At 6 AM, I had my stuff packed and was waiting for my running buddy and ride.
Oh yeah. It’s still super dark at 6 AM.
The wind was nonexistent on Sunday, which made running ten times easier. I still didn’t think I was going to make it to the top. I fixated on a road sign, just a few yards shy of the summit, and told myself that if I could make it that far, I could walk the rest of the way up.
But when I got to that sign, I saw that i just had a few more light poles to go, and dug deep. Before I knew it, the road stopped climbing and we were headed down. It was the best feeling in the world. I just couldn’t believe I made it.
Disappointingly, I wasn’t able to run back up, but I did my best. And next time I hit this bridge, I’ll work on the backside.
Step by step, right?
After the bridge, we did a brisk cool down walk through a nearby neighborhood, which was a great way to get some stretching in. It was a great way to kick off Saturday. I’m not entirely sure I actually ran a straight 25 minutes, but I think uphill counts for extra minutes. We’ll call it even.
Coming up, I have a 27 minute speedwork session and a 50 minute long run. Both are pretty intimidating, and I am just visualizing finishing strong. I hate having the pressure that this is it for a while, and I hope it doesn’t make me tighten up physically or mentally. My plan is to put one foot in front of the other, breathe deeply and evenly, and just try to get it done as best I can.
Wish me luck!
Do you ever psych yourself out? Build up a run or a training session in your mind and then completely muck it up? How do you combat that feeling?
You’re killing it! That bridge is no joke! I’m going to have to meet you out there one morning, it looks like (brutally torturing) fun.
I try not to think about what I have to do for a run — I try to remember two things that I read in Train Like a Mother (I think..)
1 – Don’t think; just go.
2 – I am here now.
Don’t worry about what’s coming up or what the rest of the run entails, just be present in the moment and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Kristin Smith @ A Mom on the Run recently posted…Too Much, Too Soon?
I am so excited to get on a regular bridge rotation with you. I think you’ll really enjoy it!
My brain is so bad at “not thinking.” Unfortunately, the only big thing on my brain right now is Thursday’s procedure, and thinking about that give sme anxiety attacks, so I’m screwed this week 🙂
Fortunately, today went well. One more day!
Great job on that bridge! It looks tough! You can do it girl! Believe in yourself and you can accomplish anything! 😉
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I’m believing and believing and believing!
And yeah. She’s steep, that bridge. I can’t believe I was able to walk afterwards.
You can do it!! That’s awesome that you made it across that bridge to begin with, you’re gonna kick booty the next time around. And oh my, I love how colorful your shoes are… how fun!
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I hope so! I love being able to quantify the results of my goals and reaching the top of that bridge was huge. Huge.
Thanks! I love my shoes, but I think I’m ready to switch to the blue/pink version. I am almost to my miles, and they will look so much better with my #sweatpink laces!
I do my best to not think too much before a workout and right before it vision how I want it to go. You never know how your going to feel right before your run or race or weather conditions. All those things play into how it might end up. If I think too much and the first mile doesn’t go well they all end up going terrible. One step and mile at a time. When all else fails I try to remember why I started and that usually helps when all I want to do is stop. Good luck with your workouts coming up 🙂
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Thank you. It’s so hard to shut my brain off. It’s the worst. You’re right, though. So much goes into how runs turn out, from weather to how one is feeling and it’s really impossible to predict.
Great job! Stick with it! Your body will surprise you one day and you’ll be searching for another bridge!
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Oh, I’m ready for another bridge, for sure! Once I’m cleared to work out again in a few weeks, I plan on alternating between this one, and the two bridges in the nearby downtown area. It will be good for me 🙂
Great work. Hills totally psych me out to. I was terrified before Nashville because I heard the whole course rolled up and down. Way to conquer your fears bit by bit.
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I don’t think I ever could run a super hilly course (that many hills usually imply some level of altitude and I am useless high up, with no way to prepare myself), but it’s good to get some variation on flat when it comes up.
Plus, the Gate River Run is coming up in March, and that’s THREE bridges (including one called The Green Monster), so… you know. That’s enough to make me want to continue my hill training.
It’s awesome that you keep taking that bridge on. I’m always looking for ways to bypass doing hills, but you head right for them! Keep it up, you’ll conquer that bridge in no time!
I tend to psych myself out when I have long runs coming up. I feel guilty if I have to stop and rest. But any running is still running, and that is an accomplishment in itself.
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I know there are going to be hills in Disney (aka overpasses) and I want to be ready. I’m ok if I have to walk, but I want to at least be prepared.
You make an excellent point. Running is running, either way. Thanks for that 🙂
You can do it!! 🙂 I was talking to the friend (who lives on the other side of the continent in Alaska now) who got me running, and she was telling her husband I signed up for a marathon. He was like “Wasn’t she still walking the runs when we moved?” Little by little. Step by step. 🙂
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