Yes...I said 'scary clown'. Who doesn't think clowns are just a "little" bit on the freaky and unnatural side of things?? ( Anyone growing up watching ' Are you afraid of the dark' and 'goosebumps' knows this to be true!)
The weekend scares me because while Saturday will be the usual 3km run, which I hope will be even faster and easier than it was today, Sunday will be a 6km run...a distance I have never travelled at a speed quicker than a walk. I am taking the advice of running websites, books and other athletes...to find some running buddies to motivate, keep things fun and a bit more interesting.
This is a great link to a 'beginners only' discussion forum on the Runner's World online magazine
http://beginners.runnersworld.com/ They discuss a lot of issues that have pertained to my own struggles - breathing, pacing, motivation, etc.
I admit to being more than a little discouraged by my current running route . In the city it can be hard to find 'mappable' running routes, where you can track the K's, so I have just been running a route parallel to a main street ( which means noise, people, distractions and ugly scenery). The one nice thing about Sunday, is that we are running in the valley where they have some really nice paths. 6K's of 'nice' is at least better than a view of buildings and the smells of traffic and exhaust.
So far I average 22 minutes for my 3km runs...which I hear is pretty much average for a beginning time. I have friends running it from 12 minutes to 27, so I figure my time isn't all that terrible. When I stop to catch my breath and pull my lungs back into my body ( ha ha ) I take a moment and think about the overall distance I have to run. How the HELL am I going to make it 21 K's when I can barely make it 1.5 K's without needing to rest? From this point on my mind spirals downward into a pit of runner's despair - everyone running will be faster, I wont finish in time, I'll puke all over myself or pass out, I'll not train enough to even make it, etc, etc.
I understand ( more and more every day) that a large portion of this battle is psychological. If you don't believe you can do it ( or the little voices inside your head tell you you can't :p ) then you wont succeed. I am finding out as I run and carry out my training schedule that I am running a little bit on empty on the 'mental' side of things. Since I've never tested myself physically I am completely unaware of my potential...so it leaves me unsure, a little confused and wondering if I'm under training in every way.
Telling people I was doing this insane and crazy run was part of my initial plan for forced motivation - if I declare myself publicly then I'll be tarred and feathered if I back out :p. It's been interesting to see, though, that my friends and family have really stepped up and encouraged me as I go alone. Awesome bonus - motivation to avoid public humiliation and automatic support group.
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