Running Rewards

A little snippet from Coach Robbie:

Hope you’re all having a great week and enjoying the cooler weather. I love this time of year because it really makes it easier to train. And with the increases in mileage, there’s a bit less guilt during the holidays…(hehe). Of course, we still have a long way to go so I wanted to share something I think will help those of you who have never done the kind of mileage we’ll be doing in the next few months.

You may have heard me say that running is as much mental as it is physical. Those of you who have a ½ Marathon or Marathon under your belt already know what I’m talking about. There is a point, especially in a Marathon, where you’ll hit what is known as…

“THE WALL”

Now that’s not to say that they actually put up a wall and you run into it. It’s just that there comes a point in the race where you’ll feel like you can’t go any further. That’s why they call it the wall.

So how do you overcome this thing you wonder? Well, you must train your mind as much as your body. Sounds very Zen-like huh? Sounds like I know what I’m talking about too. I have no idea what Zen is. But what I do know is how to overcome the wall. So have a seat and I’ll tell you a little story.

In 2006, I decide to do my first Marathon. I’ve done two Half Marathons and, like Thomas The Train, I say to myself – “I think I can, I think I can”. So I begin training on treadmill, in the gym. And I do my weekly runs on the treadmill and my long runs on the treadmill. I know that sounds crazy but remember that I’m not all there…Ha Ha. Anyway, as I get into doing the 12 milers and 14 milers and 16 milers, etc. it dawns on me one day that I’m burning one heck of a lot of calories. So one day, I decide to “REWARD” myself with a nice, cold, Starbucks Java Chip Frappachino for successfully completing my long run. And I end up doing this after every long run thereafter. 16 miles = Frappachino. 18 miles = Frappachino. 20 miles = Frappachino. And I begin to look forward to the Frappachino every week. And what goes through my mind? Long Run = Frappachino. No Long Run = No Frappachino. And you know what? It worked. I never missed a long run and on those days when I was having a tough time finishing the long run, I pushed through to get that damn Frappachino!

So the point I’m trying to make here is that you have to have a target or a REWARD. Something that keeps you focused on finishing your long runs. So between now and Saturday, try to think about what kind of REWARD you want to give yourself after the long run. For some of you it might be a bubble bath, or a massage. For others it may be pizza or chicken wings and an adult beverage. Or you might be like me and want some sinfully delicious dessert. Whatever it is, you need to find something that works for you.

I have more secrets to tell, but that’s all you get for now! I mean really, if I told you everything you’d have no reason to keep reading my silly newsletters! So I leave you with this cliffhanger – What’s Your Mantra?