Comments on: Couch to 5K: Almost there http://pedestriansaga.com/archives/2008/07/16/262/ Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:34:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Coach http://pedestriansaga.com/archives/2008/07/16/262/#comment-48837 Coach Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:38:03 +0000 http://pedestriansaga.com/?p=262#comment-48837 Let me just share my memories, since your body tends to act a lot like mine in salient ways. The first mile I whined, moaned, gasped, and hated Wanda who was cruising effortlessly beside me. My theme song? "WHAT was I thinking? How could I forget how much this hurts?" Mile 2 I hit my stride, relaxed, settled in, head up, shoulders loose, enjoyed the hose spray and waved at the admiring throng. Not running, really. Jogging. Waddling. Mile 3 Wanda whined, moaned, and gasped beside me as I shifted into "let's kick this bad boy's ass, baby" and started my sprint (I use the term loosely) for the finish. Always a quarter mile too soon. Utter collapse and the finish line, hand in hand, followed eventually by euphoria and a lot of water. You will live, remind yourself of this vital fact. If you can find the strength to let go of the anxiety and the fear so that your muscles that are working burn the available oxygen instead of the muscles that are worrying (neck, face, shoulders, fists, stomach busy tying half hitches), you will enjoy it more. Even I can jog a 5k. Remember it's not a term paper. Remember that I'm with you, rubbing your neck, petting your hair, quietly proud of my fine athlete. Remember when you are not satisfied that (as I told my Dad when he bitched about my roofing skills) you are a gymnast. The beam is not 5k long. Let me just share my memories, since your body tends to act a lot like mine in salient ways. The first mile I whined, moaned, gasped, and hated Wanda who was cruising effortlessly beside me. My theme song? “WHAT was I thinking? How could I forget how much this hurts?” Mile 2 I hit my stride, relaxed, settled in, head up, shoulders loose, enjoyed the hose spray and waved at the admiring throng. Not running, really. Jogging. Waddling. Mile 3 Wanda whined, moaned, and gasped beside me as I shifted into “let’s kick this bad boy’s ass, baby” and started my sprint (I use the term loosely) for the finish. Always a quarter mile too soon. Utter collapse and the finish line, hand in hand, followed eventually by euphoria and a lot of water.

You will live, remind yourself of this vital fact. If you can find the strength to let go of the anxiety and the fear so that your muscles that are working burn the available oxygen instead of the muscles that are worrying (neck, face, shoulders, fists, stomach busy tying half hitches), you will enjoy it more. Even I can jog a 5k. Remember it’s not a term paper. Remember that I’m with you, rubbing your neck, petting your hair, quietly proud of my fine athlete. Remember when you are not satisfied that (as I told my Dad when he bitched about my roofing skills) you are a gymnast. The beam is not 5k long.

]]> By: Barry http://pedestriansaga.com/archives/2008/07/16/262/#comment-48826 Barry Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:11:53 +0000 http://pedestriansaga.com/?p=262#comment-48826 Um, yeah... I ran once since I registered for the 5K a couple weeks ago. So, pretty much the opposite of your dedication and discipline. See you at the finish line...I hope! Um, yeah… I ran once since I registered for the 5K a couple weeks ago. So, pretty much the opposite of your dedication and discipline. See you at the finish line…I hope!

]]>