Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Fighting my own thoughts

Well, I'm finishing up week 1 of my marathon training and so far, I'm right on target. However, I have discovered what may be my biggest obstacle: MY MIND.

I'm not referring to my mind while running, as I'm actually able to stay pretty focused on my running form. I'm referring to my state of mind when I wake up in the morning - or the state of my mind a few hours before I'm supposed to start a run. My mind is a vicious, self-centered, cruel being that tells me all the reasons why I shouldn't run:

"Your knees will hurt."
"You don't really know how to correctly run with this new running technique - why bother?"
"Sleeping would be so much better for you."
"No one will care if you don't run today."
"C'mon... you can skip a day. It's fine!"

and the worst one... "You're never going to able to actually finish that marathon. Stop wasting your time."

This is what my mind says to me before runs. But so far, I have told my mind to shut up, and I've managed to get out for those runs. I've just got to keep trying... and hopefully my mind will start coming along for the joy ride that is running.

Now... I'm off for a 7 mile run. Hooray!

Signed,
Your crazy minded runner,
Kelly


Countdown to NYC Marathon: 119 days!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Running in Pennsylvania

After hours of packing, frantic last minute projects for work, and bittersweet goodbyes to the children and parents I work with...I have officially relocated to Pennsylvania for the next 4 months! Translation = It's time for me to start officially training for the marathon.

(Inner thought: "Holy Macaroni, Batman. I'm really doing this.")

Things have started off quite well, though! I arrived on Thursday afternoon, unpacked, settled in... and managed to get my first run in at 7 am on Friday morning! :) I ran again on Saturday morning - and then scored my first PA long run on Sunday morning! It was only 6 miles... but it was the longest I've run in about a month, so it was a big accomplishment for me.

The wonderful discovery I made, was that on Sunday, after I ran the 6 miles, I had to work an entire day of Celtic Fling (the festival going on this weekend at the Ren Faire). I assumed that by the time my duties were finished, around 8 pm, I would be EXHAUSTED. I was wrong! :) Not only did I still have energy at 8 pm, I was able to stay out for the final concert and then even catch a beer at 10:30!! Mind you, I fully expect to be completely dead after I run my first 10+ mile run... but at least now I know that 6 miles is no longer "killer" for me.

We start rehearsals on Tuesday, so it will be interesting to see how I'm able to keep up my training with rehearsals... but I know I can do it. It's a marathon, gosh darnit! It will be one of the greatest accomplishments of my life! I think that's worth a couple of months of hard work... :)

Until next time....

Your-central-pennsylvania-runner,
Kelly

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Am I really a "runner?"

So today, I was part of an exclusive running clinic held in at a high-end gym here in New York City.

Wait a minute. Hold the phone.

I would like Kelly Morris, the girl who grew up in Lynchburg, VA and thought that Roanoke, VA was the "big city" because it had a mall with two stories, to reread that first sentence. I don't think she'd EVER believe it.

First - she would still be in awe of the fact that she did anything on a "high-end" level in NYC. But more importantly, she'd do a double take that she was ever included in a RUNNING clinic. Never in her 23 years of pre-NYC life would she have believed that she would become a runner.

So, here I am. Kelly Morris, the girl who now lives in New York City, has been running for over a year, completely 12 different road races, and is currently signed up for the NYC Marathon on November 1st. I've met more celebrities than I can count, I've worked everywhere from high-end business offices, to infamous desert cafe's, to people's homes changing baby diapers. I have learned since moving to this city that if I commit myself to something and put in the time and effort - I can accomplish it.

In short, I am a COMPLETELY different person than I was just a few short years ago. And today confirmed it.

Back to the point... I was included in a running clinic held by Dr. Nicholas Romanov, the creator and premier teacher of the POSE Method of Running. It is the same method that is taught at La Palestra, the gym owned by a father that I work for, and I was given the chance to participate thanks to an invite from that same father. Trying to explain here what the POSE method is would be impossible for two reasons: 1 - there are several aspects to it and it takes quite a while to actually adapt to your own body, and 2 - I'm really just barely grasping the concept myself. The basic idea though, is that it is the first ever method of running that can work for EVERYONE - regardless of age, experience, body type, etc. It is also a way to run that has been proven to nearly eliminate injury for those that use it's methods. So you can see why I was interested!

Long story short, I did feel like I gained a great deal more knowledge about the POSE method and I'm excited to slowly begin to work on applying it to my marathon training. I wish I had time for more, but I'm grateful for any help I receive! And I think the thing that actually hit me the most today was the answer to my question:

Am I really a "runner?"

For the first time today, as I watched myself running on tape, and surrounded by other experienced runners... the answer is, yes.

Yes.

Yes!