The Key to Distance Running. Finding Your Muse

I was asked recently to share my tips about becoming a distance runner.  First, I had to wrap my head around that fact that I have become a distance runner.  I still remember the guy who wouldn’t run from the couch to the fridge let alone any running real distance.  But now, after running double digits miles several times in the last few weeks, I have to admit that I am a distance runner.

If I have learned one thing about distance running is that it is much more mental than physical.  So often, the key is occupying your mind for the length of time that you will be running.  Two hours or more is a long time to be alone with one’s thoughts.  An idle, non-focused mind will inevitably find its way to self-destructive thoughts: the heat, the pain, the hills, the whatever.   The non-focused mind will find a reason to quit.  I refuse to allow myself to have a non-focused mind.  I have learned to lock in to a comfortable pace and then focus my mind.

I focus my mind on my Muse, my perpetual source of strength.  When I get locked in to my Muse, a two hour run is no longer a test of endurance, but an opportunity to seek and find inspiration.  When I get locked in, my Muse whispers in my ear and reveals the answers to life’s mysteries.  My Muse allows my long runs to transcend the physical and enter the realm of the spiritual.  My Muse propels me ever forward like a tailwind on a down slope, encouraging me like nothing else can.  My Muse is powerful beyond powerful and when I am locked in, this power makes me unstoppable.  When I emerge from the run, my body is strong, my heart clear and my mind reenergized.

Do you want to be a distance runner?  It’s a mind game.  Find your Muse.  I won’t take a single step without mine!

Training Runs Completed
Monday (7/23) - 6 miles
Tuesday (7/24) - 8 miles
Wednesday (7/25) - 6 miles
Thursday (7/26) - 4 miles
Friday (7/27) - 14 miles

Why I'm Running a Marathon - Part 6

Because success begets more success.  Every time I do something hard, the hard things get easier.  Case in point, I ran a half marathon a couple years ago and I thought that was a big deal…and it was.  But in prep for this marathon, I will run a half-marathon or longer 10 times.  I’m not all apprehensive about a 13 mile training run, nervous like I was on the day of my half-marathon race.  I know it’s in the can because I’ve been there and done that.  That big thing (the half-marathon) got my mind right for an even bigger thing (the full Monty).  And now, I am even more confident I can run the marathon than I was in the half because I have built a track record of pushing myself in this way…and winning!

Success is a gateway drug.  I am amazed at how success in this area has spilled over to the other parts of my life.  If I can do this “hard” than why can’t I do this other “hard” in something completely unrelated?  The answer more often than not for me is, “there is no reason why I couldn’t do this, that or any crazy hard thing.”  I’m sky high off the rush I get from trying hard things and winning.

Why I'm Running a Marathon - Part 5

Because I want the workouts.  The marathon itself is quite a challenge.  Duh!  You are out there running for about 4 hours, maybe longer if you are a beginner like me.  But the bigger challenge is preparing properly to run a marathon.  By my calculation, I will have run more than 900 miles in a six month period in preparation to run those 26.2 (never forget the “point two”) in one shot.  I will have paid the price no matter what happens on the big day. 

Frankly, I am looking forward to putting all those miles on, paying that price, and seeing how fit my body looks as a result.  Is it wrong to be so vain?  If so, “Oops, I did it again!”

Why I'm Running A Marathon - Part 4

Because I want to stay motivated.  The enormity of the task used to keep me on the couch.  I’d get started working out after another long period of inactivity.  I wouldn’t get results right away – because I didn’t know what I was doing – and I’d be all sore from trying to be the Incredible Hulk right out of the gate.  So I’d be on my couch, still fat and still sore from a workout that happened 5 days ago and say to myself, “I have to do THIS for the rest of my life?  No thanks!”

It's hard to “stay up,” to stay motivated for the rest of your life. But you can stay motivated for short periods of time.  These days, I always, always have a short term goal.  The marathon will be a six month process for me by the time I complete it, but I usually try to working in increments of 90 days or less.  You can endure anything for 90 days, right?  If not, try 60.  If not 60, try 30.  It helps me to have a defined finish line so I don’t feel like I’m locked in forever.  I’ll push hard to the finish line, take a breath for a minute and then start another race.

This way I’m always active, but I don’t feel like I’ve signed up for a life sentence.  This marathon is my short term motivation.

I'll rest when I'm dead? Dead wrong!!

This week was my "rest week" for the marathon training. Of course, this doesn't mean that I didn't run at all, just much less than last week.  But my so-called "rest week" made me start thinking about the concept of resting.

"I'll rest when I'm dead."  That used to be my attitude.  This body was just a shell and I wanted to ride it hard.  As the saying goes, I wanted to skid into my coffin sideways and shout, "Wow, that was a wild ride!"  But I've learn a thing (maybe two) about rest since then.


Rest makes me stronger - I didn't truly discover this until I tried P90X for the first time.  I was getting results, so I was all geeked up and ready to lift more weight.  When the first rest week came, I was mad.  I was saying to myself, "I don't need no stinkin' rest!"  But I listened to Tony Horton and rested.  And when I came back, to my surprise, I was much stronger.


Rest makes me smarter - Sometimes when you are driven or when you love what you do, you're tempted to keep pushing past all reasonable limits.  If you are anything like me, you need to force yourself to take a step back in order to take two steps forward.  I've learned over the years that I only I get dumber is it gets later.  I can be much more effective in half the time when I'm fresh rather than tired. So often, rest is the most effective use of my time. 


The Real Decision - It comes down to this for me, one decision.  Every day we must decide between what we want right now and what we want the most.  The most successful person - the person I want to be - puts the highest priority on what they want the most.  That means looking at the big picture.  That often means getting your butt to bed rather than running the streets.  And that sometimes means checking your ego, putting the weights down and resting. 


It took me a minute (or 40 years) to learn this, but I think I grasp the concept now. :)


Training runs completed
Monday (7/16) - 4 miles
Tuesday (7/17) -  4 miles
Wednesday  (7/18) - 4 miles
Thursday (7/19) - 6 miles

Why I am Running a Marathon - Part 3

Because it’s the next step in the progression.  There was a time in my life, not that long ago actually, that I wouldn't have run across the street in the rain to avoid oncoming traffic.  And now I want to run 26.2 miles?  It blows my mind to think about it sometimes.  But it’s also the next step in the progression.  I have run three 10K races, and a half-marathon, so the marathon is simply the next logical challenge.

Every time I complete a challenge, I seek a harder one.  In the case of running, I either want to run the race faster or run a longer race.  I have also tried a couple workout programs (p90x and Insanity) were the stretch goals are embedded in the program.  They are designed for you to push yourself harder every week. 

I have truly amazed myself with how far I have come by simply trying to do just a little bit more every day.  Trying to gain an inch every day so when I look back I'll be miles ahead.

Why I'm Running a Marathon - Part 2

Because I want to be able to say “I did it.”  Most people consider running a marathon a daunting task, something beyond their capability to do.  They would say that there has to be something exceptional about you to run a marathon.  I want to be exceptional.  I want to be in the Top 1%, in the exclusive club, behind the velvet rope.  I believe I’m worthy and if I work hard enough, I can do it.  I want the satisfaction of knowing that I did something that most people consider too hard to try.

Why I am Running a Marathon - Part 1

Because I’m a little scared.   There was a time when I was afraid to speak in public.  I had had a couple “high profile failures” along the way and I was afraid of being embarrassed again.  Today, I speak in public for a living and rather enjoy it.  But I had to get over the fear.  Frankly, I still get a little nervous every time I am about to speak in front of an audience.  But I chose to address the fear because I wanted what was on the other side of that wall.  I wanted to be an excellent speaker and all that comes with it.   

The same is true about running a marathon.  I want what's on the other side of fear.  I want what’s beyond the finish line of that marathon.  I'll write about a number of those things beyond the finish line in my next few blogs. 

Going Where This Man Has Never Gone Before

It's on!  I am in full blown marathon training mode.  And I'm not saying I'm Captain Kirk going "where no man has gone before," but I am certainly going where this man has never gone before.  Yesterday, I ran 12 miles and soon I will be running 14, 16, 18...definitely longer than I have ever run before.

All sorts of emotions running through my head right now.

Fear - Can I really do this?
Ambition - I want to do this!
Pride - Look at me.  I'm doing this!
Excitement - Wow, I'm gonna to do this.
Confidence - Damn right I'm gonna to do this!

I'm big on making public proclamations when I have big goals so you and the universe can keep me accountable.  Here was the running schedule for last week.  Please keep me on track!!!

Training runs completed
Monday (7/9) - 6 miles
Tuesday (7/10) - 8 miles
Wednesday (7/11) - 6 miles
Friday (7/13) - 4 miles
Saturday (7/14) - 12 miles