Search Results for: confidence

The Running Infection: Spreading and changing lives

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Running changes lives. It seeps into every facet of our lives, our being, our personality. What running grants upon us isn’t purely the physical…but let’s be honest, runners have ROCKING legs! Legs concrete hard, calloused from all the miles we force upon them. The workouts that toughen our muscles as much as our minds. A runner’s brain is hard-wired for work and dedication. Numbers as benchmarks, goals we hold steadfast too. A runner’s mind is a powerful weapon. We see obstacles not as impossible but merely as challenges. It’s fun to watch new runners ‘transform’ into one of us, one of us ‘crazies’. Eventually there comes the day where they scratch their head and say, “I used to dread this stuff, but now I go crazy if I DON’T run!” Running is infectious. Confidence. That is the big one. Self-esteem comes from knowing you are STRONGER than most. Stronger than most non-runners even care to bother wondering if they could handle. We push our own limits. Eventually runners see our own physicality different. We are not just ‘things’ to look at, our bodies, our legs, our arms, our glutes, our core is a vehicle for DOING. This running infection, it percolates into every pore, oozes into our ‘real life’, makes us more resilient for all of life’s other tests. Life will test us. But when you’re a runner you’ve been there, been tested plenty. You’re concrete hard and will PERSEVERE through anything. Bring it. 1) What physical body part are you most proud of? Legs. 2) What personality trait are you proud of that has grown stronger through running? Determination. 3) Running seeps into all of life’s other areas, my friends make fun of me when….[finish the sentence] I do my funny lunges and squats in front of the house Continue Reading →

Runner’s Strip: The ‘J’ Word

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I’m a runner. You can call me every insult in the book and I really won’t care. I will probably even laugh. But the second you call me a JOGGER…all bets are off. ——— Make your running even FASTER…posts HERE, HERE, and HERE. More Runner’s Strip comics and cartoons HERE. ——— 1) What’s something that non-runners say or ask you that may annoy you? 2) Do you use runner and jogger interchangeably or do you definitely keep the adjectives in line? 3) How do you usually react to insults? Usually I do end up laughing.

Brain Warp: Running mentally tough by changing how your brain interprets those pain messages

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A runner’s brain is constantly being flooded by sensory input information. Feedback from the muscles, skin, lungs, eyes, ears, feet, nerves from everything. It’s a matter of taking all of these messages and warping them into what is in the runners’ best interest. The Physical Messages Typically the loudest feedback responders are going to be from your muscles and lungs. Here comes relays from your cardiovascular system and lactic threshold responders. The muscles announcing they are being worked, those mitochondria are breaking down glycogen and supplying your energy to run on; they are attention mongers demanding to be credited for their work. These are pretty basic, primordial messages to your brain. Instinctual. You can’t change that these messages will be sent and that they are mostly containing shouts of pain, complaints, and fatigue. You can’t control what messages are coming in while you are running but you CAN control how you interpret them. A runner that is mentally tough is able to manage and get as close to ignoring certain sensory feedback as they can. * Anticipate: Incidentally the ability to manage what your legs and body are telling you while you run starts before the first step. This is anticipating the uncomfort in pain. It is a reality, but it is one we must both accept and deny. Accept the race and workouts will hurt but deny that we will let that pain break us. Anticipating the pain is a lot different from fearing it. * Realize: Once you realize that EVERYONE will hurt when they push themselves running, not just you, a runner doesn’t feel alone. Admitting pain is present is not a weakness, admitting that these workouts are tough isn’t a weakness…it only becomes a weakness when you start to believe you can’t do the workouts. * Continue Reading →

Combat Excuses and Run Mentally Tough Even When Things Suck

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It’s ‘easy’ to run fast when everything is going right. Ideal conditions, you’re hitting perfect splits, the legs have POP. The thing is though, the real test of a runner and their mental toughness is how they respond to all the other days. There will workouts in heat, wind, and rain. Runs where, for whatever reason your legs just don’t ‘show up’…they are flat. Other times you’ll be left gutting out a really tough workout but forced to run it solo. But you can’t take those things as EXCUSES. FACTORS, certainly, perhaps you’ll have to adjust the workout, but don’t start looking for a cop-out. See, your mind is an expert manipulator. It’s already looking for ANY kind of excuse, viable reason to tell you to stop this silly running, ease up, slow down, cut yourself some slack. A runner’s constantly working against that sort of ingrained human trait, to push past the limits the mind is imposing on the body. A runner must combat the voices of doubt and complaining already…think of it like a basal level of white noise in the background that you must ignore just to get out the door and running the first few steps. Hard workouts up the ante, taking that constant background chatter and giving it a megaphone; you’ve got to not only ignore it but COMBAT it by telling it to, “Shut the h*** up!” Gearing yourself up to run hard takes extra mental reserves, through the course of the workout the amount of positive self-talk escalates as you tire, as the pain REALLY sets in. Running that hard workout when things are all falling into place, the momentum of hitting the splits and you’re clicking, is infinitely easier than when even ONE thing is off. (ex: it’s hot out) That single Continue Reading →

Runners With Sights on the Boston Marathon

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Runners have a love affair with the Boston Marathon. Rightfully so, even if you’re not a marathoner, heck, even if you’re not a runner you’ve heard of the famed race. The hills have names, the stories of races past are epic. I recently wrote a piece for Competitor.com: Four Boston Marathon Tips From Dick Beardsley. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this one for a few reasons, 1) the 1982 Boston Marathon, coined the Duel in the Sun, between Alberto Salazar and Dick Beardsley defines mental toughness 2) Dick Beardsley was one of the most supportive and inspiring people to me after my car accident. He had multiple accidents that left his legs mangled, yet he is a runner today. He’s one of the sweetest, most positive people and his encouragement through my recovery meant the world to me. In the article Beardsley noted how his parents, both non-runners, had gifted him with ‘to Boston Marathon’ funds upon his graduation from high school. When he finally did get to the starting line he recounts, “I’ve never been to a race where when you step off the plane you can feel the excitement in the air! I’ve spoke with Olympians that have told me they would rather win Boston then a Olympic medal!” Racing brings out that electricity, the nervous excitement of hopes, aspirations, goals every runner has. The goals they’ve staked so much of themselves in, sweat out the miles, the grueling hard workouts, this brings anticipation. The anticipation is mixed with a bit of pressure (you need a little self-inflicted pressure, just enough, not too much though) because the day is finally here. Be it Boston or any race, a runner needs thrives off of that energy, the nerves, it ups the ante, and can fuel your performance. The Boston Marathon Continue Reading →

Runners Managing Emotions: When the human in you is being tested

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Running can be emotional. Ask the injured runner how it feels to be on the elliptical stationed behind the row of treadmills and you’re putting yourself at risk for a major @$$ whooping. 😉 On the contrast, approach the runner who, physically spent after crossing the line after a new PR is miraculously able to overcome full lactic acid overload and jump around like a giddy school girl. Something about all those endorphins coursing through a runner’s veins can sure bring out the emotions. Running just makes everything else feel more ‘real’. ‘Normal people’ can’t quite understand the unique ecstasy experienced after a run that was just ‘on.’ Conversely, ‘normals’ can’t wrap their heads around why a bad run can put you in such a crappy mood. “It’s just a run, right?” they ask scratching their heads. But it’s not…it’s more. At least it FEELS like more. Running isn’t most of our jobs, it doesn’t make us billionaires, it won’t snuggle us late at night (but we can spoon with our Nike running shoes), but dang-it it sure brings a nice sense of purpose to things. Running is black and white. It’s a constant when all other things may feel totally off the wall chaotic. It’s about working towards something, watching progress, seeing hard work PAY OFF. Not in the monetary sense, the worth of miles is, as MasterCard can tell us, ‘Priceless.’ I often say running keeps me sane. It’s reliable. You can always count on the run being there, it’s YOU that has to show up. Injuries are unavoidable, as are set-backs, but eventually the run will be there for you. It’s like the welcome mat that never gets tossed out. Dealing with the emotional side of running is what tests the HUMAN in us. Struggling with an Continue Reading →

Running and Bunhuggers: All part of sensing it’s GO time

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Runners, when the bunhuggers come out it’s GO time. People not in the sport of track and field, or non-runners, have asked, “Why in the world would you want to run in those?!” I’ve heard little kids giggle and balk, “She’s running in her underwear!” Even body conscious women have sneered, “Oh, look at her, who does she think she is?” Let me explain…bunhuggers are not * worn in an attempt to steal your boyfriend. * meant as some kind of ‘in your face, runners are HOT and we know it!’ statement. * stupid. Think of running in bunhuggers like running in your spikes. You know the second you slip your feet into those spikes, lace them up, and head to the line it’s RACE TIME. I’m sure there is the element of wind resistance, and yes, bunhuggers are comfortable. Trust me, there is nothing worse than racing with a wedgie…or running with shorts that bunch up in the front. My friend used to have a term for ‘those’ kinds of shorts, “My thighs eat them.” A large part of racing is mental. Part of distinguishing a RACE from any other run is making it FEEL different. The energy, the electric buzz of the spectators, the nerves, the excitement, the competition, all of the feed into the race atmosphere. Running your warm-up is just as much physically preparing your body as it is MENTALLY prepping you, getting into the zone. When you kick off those bulky training shoes and slip on the spikes, you FEEL the race coming. As you strip off those sweats to the bunhuggers underneath you SENSE it…it’s almost here. Run that final stride, poised and set at the line, it’s ON! “Look good, feel good.” 1) Female runners, what do you prefer to race in? Do Continue Reading →

Runners: Get Faster Because Speed Goggles DO Exist

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‘Normal people’ have their beer goggles, runners have their speed googles. 😉 Long has the debate gone on over whether or not times have any sort of effect on the ‘hotness’ factor of a runner. Regardless of if a faster PR scores you more points with the runnerdudes or runnerchicks respectfully, there is no arguing over the fact that a new PR will ALWAYS up the confidence factor! Few things are more rewarding than beating the ‘old you’…all that hard work pays off. Let us have a toast to a speedier you! HERE are some workouts to hone your speed. HERE is how to overcome track phobia…yes, it does exist. HERE is why you should improve your speed…even if you’re not necessarily racing. HERE is how hills can make you faster. HERE are mental games to get through those tough interval workouts. HERE are my own little prattlings on my love/hate relationship with quarter repeats. HERE is a post on 3 important things to remember if you’re racing to win. So regardless of trying to impress the ladies or the men, regardless of whether a new PR will rank you higher in the hotness factor…the REAL reward comes with that rush right after you cross the line, look at the watch, and feel the overwhelming urge to shout, “I OWNED that race!” 😉 [editors note: you don’t have to shout that, but if you’re fast enough you can pretty much get away with doing anything you want…so give it a whirl…lol.] —– Catch more of my Runner’s Strip Comic HERE! —– 1) Do you think speed goggles exist? Do faster times make runners more hot? 2) What is your favorite speed workout? 3) What is your least favorite speed workout? Why? Is it because it’s your weakness and therefor need Continue Reading →

Warning: Runners in mirror are stronger than they appear

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Don’t mess with me, I’m a runner. Looks may be a bit deceiving, I’ve had people call me ‘hummingbird arms’ or ‘wishbone’ but I can pack a punch. Runners come in all shapes and sizes, a few of us (okay, probably more than a few) could be dubbed scrawny…but don’t ever confuse that with weak. I do my weights, core work like a good little harrier, am no stranger to the plyometrics. I’ll admit that it sometimes feels like I have to choke that stuff down because I’d rather gobble up more miles BUT I know all these ‘extras’ will make me a stronger runner. If you want to be fast, (or at least less slow…hehe) you’ve got to have a core that can keep you standing tall when you’re tired. You can’t have feeble little arms swirling around like a ribbon-dancer if you want to be efficient either. Those arms can be slender but darn tooting they should be long, lean, and muscular. Okay, we may not ever bench the same amounts as those gym-goers with the permanent protein powder shaker bottles in hand, but that’s not our aim. Distance runners lift for higher reps and lower weight, duh. It’s all about the endurance. Want to see us be a little more explosive? Then come to the track after a workout and we’ll show you our plyometric routine. Granted it may not be on par as the sprinters but for distance runner standards that’s some POP! You’ll see that same POP come the last lap of our 10k’s…all that explosive power translated into speed is something beautiful, I’ll tell you what! It’s even more beautiful to swing wide and pass that poor fool who neglected working on that power and speed. Not all of the ways we build speed Continue Reading →

The Complimented Runner: Why numbers will always trump words

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What’s the ultimate compliment for a runner? Good form. Stellar kick. Awesome smile atop that podium. A little old lady remarked to me as I set off on my run this morning, “You look cold.” “I’ll warm up fast,” I replied. “You look cute though!” she then yelled at my back. I thought to myself, “Okay, well, thanks, I guess?? But really, wouldn’t any runner rather hear: ‘You look fast’?” Admittedly I know I didn’t look fast today, so maybe she was just scraping the bottom of the barrel in regards to compliments and could only come up with ‘cute’. The thing is, sure, aesthetics are nice and all that jazz but there really is nothing better than the compliments that come from the watch, you know? Well HELLO there, Mr. PR! DAAANG, I like what you’re spitting out, keep more of those kind words numbers coming!! How about chugging through an endless set of intervals, each one faster than the next, sure the countdown to the last one started three prior, rounding the bend of that homestretch you’re swearing on your life that THIS is going to be the last one no matter what…and then you finish, look down and BAM yet another negative split!! Booyaah, that recovery jog, the lactic acid cripple shuffle, goes by way too fast but with that validation compliment from the watch you’re taking off with as much gusto that is humanly possible for yet another interval. Words are nice. Words are great. I’m a writer so I’ll even go so far as to say words are fan-freaking-tastic. But you want to know something? Numbers, namely the RIGHT kind of numbers, to a runner are way freaking better. There is no validation compliment like a PR. 1) What’s been one of the best compliments, Continue Reading →