Training for a half marathon? Challenging.
Training for your SECOND half marathon? Harder then you thought.
I can't deny it - some strange section of my brain was taking for granted the fact that since I had already run a half marathon, the training for the SECOND half marathon was going to be a breeze.
Needless to say, I've been humbled - er well that part of my brain that was being so cocky has been humbled.
And even saying it or writing it down makes it so so obviously true that I'm wondering how that part of my brain actually got control of my thoughts anyway - how were all the other smarter brain cells not strong enough to overpower them? What? Too much red wine you say? Ok well when you put it like that...
Regardless, I'm all caught up now - yes, it IS actually just as hard, if not harder to 'get back on the horse' so to speak and go out there and train for something.
After a dismal 14km 2 weeks ago, I was a bit nervous about the 16km this past Saturday. But this, people, is clearly what my the smug part of my brain needed - a little reminder that IF THIS WAS EASY people would be running half marathons to work.
And as I was treking along this Saturday - with bit more focus, a little more fear and a lot more hydration - my thoughts suddenly went out to people who do sporty things for a living - or even not a living, but lets say ohh I dunno THOSE OLYMPIANS WHO WERE JUST IN TOWN.
I couldn't imagine training your whole life to attend your first Olympics. The rush, the buzz, the exhilaration of being there. All of these potentially in the back of your mind when you go there the first time.
The second? Well, you're expected to perform. And think about the language we used when we talk about the Olympians that have already won medals in previous competitions when they appear to be fading a bit the second time around, what's happened to them?, what's wrong with them?, they appear to be blowing it big time.
I am in no way shape or form comparing my amazing 'athletic prowess' (insert guffaw here) to an Olympian. I get the massive gap between their skill and my skill.
It's simply that I've been given a little insight into how much more difficult it is to try and do something the second time, especially if you have little portions of your brain that need a swift kick off some sort of neuro-pedestal.
My training is back on track, thanks to some proper preparation on Friday for a Saturday run. And I don't know that I'll be taking for granted the fact that I'm working towards doing something a second time.
Actually, the opposite. I feel that crossing the finish line for this half will be just as rewarding as the first. And, that's something I wasn't sure I'd get to feel again. So hey, sometimes the hardest lessons to learn come with the best rewards.
Training for your SECOND half marathon? Harder then you thought.
I can't deny it - some strange section of my brain was taking for granted the fact that since I had already run a half marathon, the training for the SECOND half marathon was going to be a breeze.
Needless to say, I've been humbled - er well that part of my brain that was being so cocky has been humbled.
And even saying it or writing it down makes it so so obviously true that I'm wondering how that part of my brain actually got control of my thoughts anyway - how were all the other smarter brain cells not strong enough to overpower them? What? Too much red wine you say? Ok well when you put it like that...
Regardless, I'm all caught up now - yes, it IS actually just as hard, if not harder to 'get back on the horse' so to speak and go out there and train for something.
After a dismal 14km 2 weeks ago, I was a bit nervous about the 16km this past Saturday. But this, people, is clearly what my the smug part of my brain needed - a little reminder that IF THIS WAS EASY people would be running half marathons to work.
And as I was treking along this Saturday - with bit more focus, a little more fear and a lot more hydration - my thoughts suddenly went out to people who do sporty things for a living - or even not a living, but lets say ohh I dunno THOSE OLYMPIANS WHO WERE JUST IN TOWN.
I couldn't imagine training your whole life to attend your first Olympics. The rush, the buzz, the exhilaration of being there. All of these potentially in the back of your mind when you go there the first time.
The second? Well, you're expected to perform. And think about the language we used when we talk about the Olympians that have already won medals in previous competitions when they appear to be fading a bit the second time around, what's happened to them?, what's wrong with them?, they appear to be blowing it big time.
I am in no way shape or form comparing my amazing 'athletic prowess' (insert guffaw here) to an Olympian. I get the massive gap between their skill and my skill.
It's simply that I've been given a little insight into how much more difficult it is to try and do something the second time, especially if you have little portions of your brain that need a swift kick off some sort of neuro-pedestal.
My training is back on track, thanks to some proper preparation on Friday for a Saturday run. And I don't know that I'll be taking for granted the fact that I'm working towards doing something a second time.
Actually, the opposite. I feel that crossing the finish line for this half will be just as rewarding as the first. And, that's something I wasn't sure I'd get to feel again. So hey, sometimes the hardest lessons to learn come with the best rewards.
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