Sunday, September 9, 2018

“It’s not about how you feel, it’s how you feel about how you feel.”

“It’s not about how you feel, it’s how you feel about how you feel.”

I heard this saying in a podcast I was listening to within the past year, and I can honestly say that it really intrigued me from the first time I heard it. I scrolled back and listened to it several times actually. It stuck in my head, very much so in fact.

The saying was in reference to endurance sports but in thinking about the meaning I realized it applies so much so in life as well.

On the surface it sounds confusing, but in reality upon analyzing it, it makes all the sense in the world. The premise is simply you choose your own destiny.

In endurance sports you will most likely get to a point where things are not only physical, but also mental. Fatigue, GI distress, aching muscles, a sore this or that—surely if you’ve run long distances you’ve encountered one, if not several, of these items. These items are how you feel—the first part of the saying. If you want to push onward though, how do you respond to these issues? Do you ignore the issue, do you adapt and change something to address things, or do you simply give up? That is the second part of the saying—how do you FEEL (respond) about how you feel (what you are experiencing?)

Now does the saying make sense?

Endurance running is definitely about the physical, whether it’s 26.2 miles, 50K, 50 miles, 100K or 100 miles, there’s no doubting you have to be in good physical shape to cover such long distances.

It is those aforementioned issues though… or more specifically how you respond to them that largely impacts how successful you are and whether you meet your goals.

I have experienced this for sure. As of one week prior to this posting, I competed in my latest ultramarathon, the Labor Pain 12 Hour Endurance Trail Run. It was a very humid day and once the sun came out midday the temperature rose too. The course was a muddy mess at two spots that required running through 2-4 inches of wet slop. Granted it could have been a lot worse than this but it made the day more difficult.

My main goal was to complete more miles than I ever had before. My previous best was 50 miles the past two years, so this year would have required doing 55 miles, as the course is a 5 mile loop course. I really was shooting for 60 miles—and in a perfect world 62 miles to hit 100K, but 55 miles was my first goal.

I was fine the first 25 miles or so despite having gone out too fast on the first lap (and after reviewing splits my second lap too) but I slowly was not feeling as good as the early miles. It was not so much sore muscles or tightness or anything like that, but instead mental boredom. I began to feel like the second twenty miles was much more monotonous than the first twenty. My mind started to wander, all that came to me was how many more times I have to run through that slop, slog up the ensuing hill, and weave through the meandering turns after the aid station. It felt like a chore. Like boredom. Somewhat of a punishment almost.

The thoughts were turning negative. Fatigue starting compounding the thoughts. Then add in that dose of heat and humidity with some scorching sun. I wanted to quit basically.

But there was still a part of me that remembered—you came here to do this. You wanted to push yourself and see if you could run past 50 miles. You wanted to use this distance event as a primer of sorts to see if you wanted to tackle even longer races.

My watch showed me that I had plenty of time. I was ticking off 5 mile loops in just around one hour every loop. Despite conditions, you were executing your game plan and achieving things so far.

This is where the mental aspect comes in. I could have chose to quit or slow down since it was hot and I was tired but I chose to press onward. And that’s again what I mean by “it’s how you feel about how you feel.” It really is how do you respond to what you are experiencing! Are you comfortable with being uncomfortable? Or does be uncomfortable make you feel uneasy and unsure of yourself?

You don’t have to be in a race to experience this. I’m sure life has dealt you these cards at least once in life.

Regarding the running, I had trained on hills since I knew I’d be facing a prolonged incline every hour or so depending how fast I ran. I had even specifically ran in the heat of the day to get used to running when it was really hot and knowing how I would respond and learning how much and how often to drink.

To quit early in the race when I was feeling down would have meant that training was a waste. I didn’t want to do that. I knew I could pull through it. I knew the discomfort was temporary, but the accomplishment would be permanent!

I pressed onward and made it to 55 miles. I met my goal of setting a new distance record despite some adverse conditions. While it was definitely challenging I’m glad I was able to see my goal I had in mind and fight through the fatigue and boredom.

What I didn’t fight through was the risk of injury. I had my left hip adductor muscles sporadically cramp on me during the 10th and 11th laps and I did bow out before the clock ran out on me. The race official said I still was able to go out for another lap if I wanted to. I had thought about this during the 11th lap but I didn’t feel like the risk of  continued cramping and possible injury was a smart move. I called it quits at 55 miles. I have another ultramarathon coming up I want to do and did not want to risk not being able to do it at all just to get in 5 more miles at this race. It was a tough decision but I feel for the long term it was the right one.

I hope that if you desire to push your limits you start practicing a positive mindset. Realize what you are feeling and use past experience to learn how to get through a tough time. Learn to train your mental game. Endurance running is not just physical! Remember, It’s not about how you feel, it’s how you FEEL about how you feel!

Sunday, July 1, 2018

The First 10,000 Miles

What does 10,000 miles mean to you? It’s all in what perspective you’re talking about, right? 10,000 miles of flying in an airplane isn’t that far. 10,000 miles of driving in a car is basically one year, and in terms of the car it is just breaking it in.

But 10,000 miles on foot is a little different, and I recently achieved this distance in running regarding lifetime miles. When I started out running 12 years ago, I never really had any goals in mind other than to just be more healthy. I never thought it would lead me to races and reading and listening to podcasts on the subject. I never thought it would lead me to double digits in distance and then marathon distance and eventually ultramarathons too. I never dreamed I would learn so much about myself through running and become a different person

10,000 miles has taken me to new levels of exploration—to new races, parks, and towns; to new trails, roads, and paths I never knew existed; and mostly—to new exploration of myself.

I have learned so much about myself through running. I’ve experienced thoughts, feelings, and emotions I never knew existed within me. And I have grown from experiencing all of these.

I’ve learned that I have more abilities in me than what I thought I had prior to running. I’ve learned that I have more of a love of nature and the outdoors than I realized. Because of that love of nature I’ve learned I have a growing interest in photography as well.

I’ve learned that I can get through tough situations in life by breaking them down and relating them to running. Here is one prime example of that.

Upon deciding to go back to college to learn a new career, in many aspects, it was putting things in a running perspective that got through the tough times of only working part time (and having bills and owning a house) while also being a full time student. I had already run a marathon at that point, three actually, and viewed schooling as a marathon. Starting out by taking my general education classes at a community college to start earning my credits was like the first 10 miles or so of a marathon. Easing into things and getting a feel for how this will all go. The core classes for the PTA (Physical Therapist Assistant) program I was enrolled in was the meat and potatoes, so to speak, of miles 10–20. Then after all of the classes there was clinicals. I viewed this as miles 20–25 of the marathon—that’s where you really have to put everything together and apply what you learned previously to get you through and believe you actually have what it takes. Finally studying for the State Board Exam to earn my practicing license was like the last 1.2 miles where you’re still not at the finish line yet and you just have to gut it out until you have actually finished and you get to say you did it!

I love the way running can make me feel. That is especially true when it comes to trail running. That aforementioned love of outdoors is evident with trail running. I never know what is up around the bend in the trail—perhaps a lookout, the sunlight shimmering across a lake, the beautiful butterfly, patch of flowers, or some woodland dwelling critter. When I’m out running on the trails I seem to forget about every thing else. My worries and cares and fears seem to go away. It is calming, peaceful, and meditative all at once. In large part, it has become my escape. I don’t feel invincible in the real world but out on the trails everything just seems to flow and I feel like most anything is possible.





I guess most of all I just like the enjoyment I get from everything running related. I like the challenge of creating a training plan to run an ultra. I enjoy reading on what others are doing and how it inspires me to push myself. I like hearing from time to time that I have inspired someone else. That is something I never ever thought would come from running. Not in wildest dreams did I imagine someone else would look at what I’m doing or did in the past and tell me they wish they could do the same or find it within themselves just to attempt it. In part, that fuels me for the days I don’t feel like running—because yes I do have those days. Eventually I miss it or know it’s time to head out and explore and progress.

The journey has been interesting in those 10,000 miles. Going from mostly a complete novice to a seasoned runner I’ve learned how to make gains in running by how to train, how to dress, how to eat, how to drink, how to have the right mindset—and how to put them all together to become a better runner.

Upon starting to run I never knew I eventually start doing races. It was in fact finishing the very first 5K I ever did that truly made me start thinking of myself as a runner. I had put a lot into training for that once difficult distance and laid the groundwork for being a consistent runner. After finishing the race and driving home, I asked myself “now what?” I liked the race. I liked the challenge of working to achieve it. I like how I felt during and after the race. After eating lunch I went to the computer and start looking for another race. I haven’t really looked back since that first race. Something has been inside of ever since that day. I hope it never leaves.

One thing through the years I’ve also learned is do what works for you. Become a runner, and every other runners seems to tell you to try this or that for virtually everything. But you have to find what works best for you.

I have run all 10,000 miles without ever having earbuds in my ear or headphones on my head. Listening to music/audiobooks/podcasts while running just isn’t my thing. I don’t consider it safe to do that when running on the roads and when I’m on the trails I prefer the songs of birds or water over the rocks in the stream.

I have run all 10,000 miles outside. I’ve never had a gym membership and just haven’t looked into getting a treadmill—even though one would be nice in some of the cold Pennsylvania winters. I don’t know how many others can say they’ve run every single mile outdoors but I consider myself slightly lucky as I have gone over 9 years without ever missing a calendar week of running, so Mother Nature must be on my side.

I also know that I will continue to learn. I don’t feel you ever know it all with running. I still feel like I don’t do well with hydration and that in particular is one area I want to improve and learn more.

Moving forward, I don’t know where the next 10,000 miles will lead—or if there will even be another 10,000 miles. I sure hope so and can’t right now imagine life without at least some degree of running, but perhaps other interests, experiences, and opportunities will present themselves and just like I didn’t set out to become a runner I will learn to grow with those opportunities as I did with running. Perhaps eventually my body will start to give out on me and running frequency will slow. Again, I hope doesn’t but we never know what lies in store for us.

Much of what I’ve accomplished in running so far I never knew was in store for me. But it has been for the positive. I just hope to progress. My ultimate goal, though I know will challenge me in all aspects of not just my running but also in overall general sense of me, is to complete a 100 mile race someday. I hope to write that in my words about the first 20,000 miles. Wish me luck!… and good luck to you! Now get out there and explore!

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Managing Self Imposed Expectations

I think it’s safe to say a lot of runners are goal oriented. Sometimes those goals are more external, influenced by either an individual or group, but I’m willing to guess that most of our goals are the product of internal factors. I’d also venture to say that we runners put a fair amount of pressure on ourselves to reach our goals.

I’d like to discuss that pressure, or expectation, we impose on ourselves, for personally, I am experiencing that right now.

For me, 2018 is so far turning out to be a year that is not what I envisioned in regards to running. I was hoping to increase the distance of my ultramarathon races this year to work toward my ultimate goal of a 100 mile race. The idea I had was to try something of the following: 100K, 12 hr, or 24 hr event—or several of them. I did sign up for a 100K race (my first of that distance) and was considering some of the same ultras I had done in prior years, but also wanted to try a few different ones too, again with the focus on distances at or beyond the 50 mile distance.

One reason things haven’t gone as planned is the changing of race events. I was looking at a fairly local event that had a 12 and 24 hour option but found out from the race website that due to low participation the prior year they are no longer holding the race again in 2018, so that option was a no go. Another event with 12 and 24 hour options changed the date to a week or two after a 50K that I planned to run, and I felt there was not enough recovery time for me to compete well in both events. So I eliminated that event from my potential races as well.

In this instance, my expectations were derailed by external factors that I had no control over so it was just something I had to deal with and find a similar substitute regarding my events/races. There was nothing I could do to change those circumstances so accepting them and finding a workaround was fairly easy—it was the only choice. Right now I am looking at finding some new races that are either in the summer or fall timeframe.

Finding races later in the year leads me to my next point about managing expectations, and the one I really wanted to write about.

Again what I’ll talk about is a topic out of my control (largely), but for whatever reason has been one I’m finding much more difficult to deal with and accept.

In 2018 I’ve found it to be difficult to stay healthy for any extended time. It’s not something major or significant regarding health, but instead several episodes of the nagging, annoying, something that you just get sick of being sick type of unhealthiness. Starting at the first of the year, I had a head cold for a week or two having congestion, stuffiness, coughing, and fatigue. Then a week of a stomach bug cropped up which really draining my energy. Upon getting rid of that, another head cold that hung on for several weeks got me again. By the time that disappeared, so had the month of February essentially!

Having exceptionally cold temperatures in January made motivation for getting out to run difficult as well during my bout with having a cold. Upon looking back I wonder if running in very cold temperatures led to the head colds hanging around for so long. I have no way of knowing, I guess just looking back I wonder what I could have done differently.

I had been running the entire time with these ailments but at a decreased intensity and not really building up my mileage that much either. By the time I built up my mileage again to build toward my long-term goals, I again developed another head cold. I finally decided to see a physician to get cleared up and while I have been able to stay healthy overall since that I still don’t feel 100% yet.

This has lead to a few things. While I have been able to build up my mileage, I notice myself tiring quicker and thus I haven’t pushed myself as hard knowing I’ll increase my likelihood of developing a running injury from the jump in mileage to soon. To compensate I’ve been running as far as I feel I safely can and immediately follow it with hiking so that I can extend the time on my feet without wearing myself out too much. This slower paced hiking is good for training anyway as I will have spots that require hiking in my eventual ultras.

I also fear pushing myself too far will compromise my immunity and I’ll get sick again. I’ve been more diligent with dressing so I don’t overheat and subsequently sweat too much as I’ll often then get chilly quickly. I just find it very hard mentally and psychologically to push myself at my true limits fearing it will bring about another round of sickness.

All of this has lead me to rethink and adjust my ultramarathon goals for 2018.

I have a 50K coming up in one week and to date my longest long run has been 16 miles. If I include my hiking I’ve got up to 20 miles but that is by no means where I feel I should be for a 50K. For that event, I’ve come to the conclusion that I won’t set a PR and will have to “settle” for just getting it done. While I feel I can do it, I know I will be slow and the distance will more than likely feel very tough. I’ll and take pride in knowing that I can enjoy some of the views and scenery instead as when I’m racing I don’t notice the surroundings near as much.

Regarding my 100K I had signed up for, I will be contacting the race officials and withdrawal from the race, letting a more ready and deserving candidate enter. That 100K was six weeks after my 50K and I know there’s no way I’d be reading to double my distance and feel anywhere near ready for it. I will shoot for the same race next year. There’s always next year I tell myself.

While I don’t like what hand I’ve been dealt, I realize it’s fairly minor in the grand scheme of things. My running is essentially, an albeit important, hobby to me and waiting another year to run a race I really wanted to attempt will not kill me. I want to keep running a long time so if slowing down in the short term with aid me in staying healthy for the long term then that is what I need to do and how I’m approaching things going forward.

Overall, I’m trying to take a step back and look at things from a broader perspective. Some of my aspirations, even within running, yet alone my entire life, are evolving and changing, so I’m taking this one piece of my life and looking at how if fits into a bigger puzzle.

If health will allow I’ll progress beyond what I done in the past but for right now I need to just put myself in the position to attempt a greater goal. Sometimes that’s just what needs done.