THE GREAT SOUTH RUN – UPDATE
Who would have thought that in just 5 weeks, running three times a week, it would be possible for a 55-year old to go from 5 x 2 minutes running to 2 x 15 minutes running with just 2 minutes brisk walking in between? Well I certainly wouldn’t have believed it! However, I’m extremely happy to report that on Saturday, I did just that – 2 x 15 minutes running and, what’s more, without my coach. Now, although I still continue to focus on the week at hand, it seems that there may be a possibility of me being able to complete the run, without having to do much walking. We’ll see.
OBSERVATION:
When I first begin a running session, I can feel quite breathless and, as time goes on, my breathing settles down. I questioned my coach and other runners on this and they all reported the same thing. Whether this is entirely physical or whether there is a psychological element to it, I’m not sure. Either way, it’s useful to be aware of it.
TIP:
Like any activity that we do, it’s important to have the right thoughts. For non-runners, running is physically challenging and therefore it’s easy to have negative thoughts about it. Here’s a really simple tip for you. Did you know that the word “yes” is probably one of the most powerful words we can utter? Well try it. If you repeat the word under your breath as you run along, it becomes a mantra and your body responds to it positively, increasing your strength and stamina. Since the mind and body are inextricably linked, this must be so. But don’t take my word for it, try it out for yourself.
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