Yesterday's run (10mi) was an incredibly intense physical exertion paired with an equally enormous psychological battle.
Some background: for about the last week I have been experiencing extreme pain in my lower left leg while walking or running.
When I set out to make the ten mile run happen, I said to myself that I would go as slow as was necessary to get through the entire run. After about mile 2, I broke down completely, the pain had become too much, so I began to walk. I was so angry, with myself, with my body, and most of all that I would not be making the full run. Then, something happened, I realized that the training is SUPPOSED to hurt, if it wasn't painful, everyone would run marathons. For some reason this realization brought with it new resolve to finish the run. I began running and sped up from my previous pace, I ended up finishing the ten miles faster than I had finished my previous ten mile run only a week earlier, and with very little pain. The psychological demon has been defeated.
This run is no longer up to me, it is becoming something I am using to inspire others because I want everyone to know that we are all able to achieve great heights with time and effort. I hope that everyone will be able to find that motivation within to fight through the pain and discomfort to find their inner strength. I believe we all have what it takes, we simply must trust ourselves to DO what it takes to get where we want to be in this life.
Positive thought for the day:
Pain is temporary, achievements are permanent.
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Great start on your blog! I have to say though, I'm a little concerned about the pain part. Uncomfortable is one thing, but real pain is your body's way of telling you something isn't right and you may be setting yourself up for a serious injury. There are two difficult hurdles in a running career, one is to get past the mental blocks and discomfort, the other is learning when to hold back. You have conquered the first one, but if you don't learn the second one, you will end up flat on your face.
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