My 6-month run challenge: week 8 (a PSA on running vs. racing)

As month two of my 6-month run challenge rolls onward, I have been really thinking.  About my goals. About racing. About *not* racing. About what is propelling me with this run challenge.

I’ll tell you what’s *not* propelling me forward. And that’s the idea of a race, or two, or three, or many. Nope. The more I think about it, and the more I look around at race dates, locations, courses etc., the less compelled I am to actually sign up for any of them. Why? Because I still firmly believe that for me, I am a runner, but I am NOT a racer. And friends, that is okay. That is more than okay.

But sometimes I just need to remind myself, amid reading the many blogs that focus on running and races and all sorts of fun stuff, that just because this is what they are passionate about doing, doesn’t mean that I have to be or should try to be.  If it’s not for me, well, it’s not for me. My goal with this run challenge was to find my love for it again, to reinvigorate my running mojo and sure, to increase my pace a bit and as Bald Guy Running says in his blog…allow running to ‘be its own reward.’ Because it damn well is!! And as soon as I released myself from the pressure I was putting on myself to find another half marathon to gain vindication over my last two failed attempts, voila…my running started to flow again, I started to enjoy it again and that passion that I always wanted for running but never quite had, came on with a vengeance.

I write this in part because I read blog from Bald Guy Running proclaiming ‘no races for 2012‘ and reading that was such a huge breathe of fresh air for me and made me realize that ya know what? That just may be my mantra for this year too. Sure, I am aiming for 13.1, perhaps, but that doesn’t mean I gotta do it as a race. I do it because I want to do it, prove it to me, and only me. I also write this after reading Alicia’s blog and Ronda’s blog about the pressure and anxiety training for a race or goal of some kind can be…because it really really can, especially if your heart isn’t truly in it. It’s not just about your body being capable, your mind and heart have to be right there with you as well. And for me? My heart says go for the gold…for you, and only you, and see what happens from here.

*end PSA*

😉

Now that I got that little diatribe off my chest, let’s discuss this little run challenge I got cooking, shall we? As I am just part-way through week 8, I will say that staring out at a snow-covered ground makes the thought of running outside downright treacherous. I hope it clears for the second barre n9ne rundate on Saturday however, because I am *so* planning on hitting the pavement on Saturday so long as weather permits, along with some other fabulous ladies!! I hit up 5 miles today (and my cross-training yesterday) and it was a mental battle for every.single.mile today. My mind was whining ‘I don’t wanna, don’t make me, no, no, no’ and my body was pushing and almost gave up, but I got ‘er done (that’s what matters!) and feel great, now that I did. I am planning another tempo/hill/interval thingie for tomorrow (that’s the technical term) OR my long run (making that a game day decision!) and whatever run I don’t do tomorrow, I’ll do Friday, capping the week with my barre n9ne rundate!

What say you, friends? What are your get-active plans this week? Ass-slap to ya’ll for getting a little sweat on, whatever you are passionate about doing (running, walking, yoga, you name it!).

And what do you think of my little PSA? I guess for me, it’s ‘to each, his/her own’ and for me, it continues to hold true…I am not passionate about racing. So why do it?  I *am* passionate about running. Thus, I run. For me.