LSD
No, I'm not talking about some psychedelic drug. If you want to read about that, go here. I'm talking about Long, Slow Distance - and it's a necessary component of any running regime, no matter if you're training for a marathon or a 5K.
Sundays are my designated LSD days because church doesn't start until 10:15 a.m. and that means I can sleep in until 7 (yes, that's right. Sleep in until 7. If you're a runner and you also have a life to accomplish during the day, prepare to make some sleep sacrifices.) This Sunday I decided I would leave the dogs behind and run out towards Lanikai Beach Park. I used my sweet Nike+ to guide me and turn around at the 5 mile mark (bonus: the amazing little contraption counted up to 5 and then started counting back down again when I headed toward home. Epic.) I ended my run 1 hour and 25 minutes after I started it. If you do the math (which the amazing does for you!) that's averaging an 8:30 pace. Now, full disclosure: I stopped and walked and stretched it out twice - once right after the turn-around and once when I had to show the gate guard my ID when I got to the gate. Neither time was more than a minute by my estimation. But I may be being generous, next time I just won't walk and then there won't be a problem!
More full disclosure: It hurt. Bad. I felt like jell-o for the rest of the day (albeit jell-o with a great feeling of accomplishment!) So many times while I was trudging along on my way back, all I could think was: "This hurts. My legs hurt. My feet hurt. My left hip hurts. My back hurts. What was I thinking? I am unprepared for this. I'm going to be sooo late for church! How am I only on mile 6? 7? 8? 9? This is ridiculous. I think I'm going to do this for 26? I'm insane. I can't." I think a lot of runners out there know what I'm talking about. It could be a 2 mile run or 20. iPod or not, I couldn't get out of my mind. It was a real struggle mentally. I had a coach tell me once that my body can do so much more than my mind tells me it can. I tried to keep telling myself that, but around mile 7 it wasn't all that much help. Like I've mentioned before: sometimes running just sucks.
"So" you're out there thinking to yourself, "I have indeed been in that running situation. How should I deal next time I'm in agony and feel like quitting?" Well, this is what I did: I tried to counteract the negative thoughts with positive ones. I tried to concentrate on parts of my body that didn't hurt instead of the ones that did. I thought of Billy. I tought of how B.A. I would feel when I was done. I thought of getting to that tree up there. Now that car. Now that instersection.
It still hurt, but somehow, the miles kept falling away, and I kept getting closer to home and now I'm writing this a day later and I'm getting excited just thinking about doing it again. Something in my brain blocks out the hurtful parts and just remembers the motivational parts. The mind is a funny thing.
For those of you out there who don't think LSD is for you, think again. Long, Slow Distance runs are nothing more than longer, slower runs than anything that usually do. Add 1/4 mile or 2 miles...it doesn't have to be major. I found a great article on the LSD run on Runner's World (my go-to source. Can you tell?) Read it here.
And, to wrap it up, here's a shot of my ideal post-LSD meal:
The Weekly Weigh-In
Apres my long run, I stepped on the scale. 139.6. Brilliant! No, wait....something is amiss. I weighed myself on Tuesday and it's only Sunday. NO way did I lose 5 lbs in as many days. Talking to beautful Teresa, she informed me that the best way to weigh yourself is as such:
*once a week
*first thing in the morning
*you can pee first, but NOTHING else
It's not really fair to weigh myself after I've sweated out all my water weight, I guess. "But, but, but..." I lamented, "That's when I'm the skinniest, is after my long run!" Doesn't count. Skewed reading. Boo. So on Tuesday Morning, I'm going to try again. First thing. Before a run. We'll see how my ego takes it. I'll keep you posted.
All in all, I'm feeling great about training. Taking 2 days off in a row last week felt like heaven and I'm glad my motivation is staying up. I'm looking forward to training at altitude this week when I head to Utah for my little brother's wedding! I haven't run in Utah in years, it seems. I'm sure my beautiful mother will kick my butt and show me how it's done - but I still can't wait!
See you again TOMORROW! (I'm determined!) On Saturday I ran in my new running skirt and I can't wait to talk to you about it! Maybe we can get a discussion going on feminism and athleticism in the 2000s ;) Love it!
"Pure Inspiration", I don't know if you have read it before but the book Born to Run. Its unbelievable, I'm just over mid way through it and I can't begin to tell you the amount of motivation i get out of it!! But I will say that after reading this I will definitely ass an LSD day. I am trying to get to that Marathon someday and what better way to start than this!! There is one slight problem being here, whiney ass Airforce individuals that for some reason get so upset that your able to run for so long. Than they hop there over worked ass on the treadmill, and WALK.. Nothing is more frustrating than that. But I just happened to see this post on here and thought it was from a doctor until it hit me!! Your motivation (BILLY) hahah but keep up the work and congrats on the run. Take care be strong and stay safe. Before you know it the FOUR of us will be sippin margaritas on the beach!
ReplyDeleteSo inspiring! I want to be a runner so bad. I got the BOB jogging stroller for my toddler and my Nike+. Now I just wish I could run half a mile without stopping! Love reading your blog for tips and motivation! You go girl!!!
ReplyDeleteYes girl, yes! Loving the motivation and stamina on your LSD! You are so right that being "in your head" is the biggest enemy to running, not the physical part. I've noticed that my brain gets super bored, then transitions to panicky when I realize I've only run a mile. lol Have fun in Utah and running with your mom, and I can't wait for the discussion on running skirts!
ReplyDeleteKale - I CANNOT wait! Drinking margaritas on my own is not nearly as fun. You know...you too could spend the next 5 1/2 months training for the Honolulu Marathon...just sayin ;) Hang in there and tell those Air Force pansies to suck it up and shut up. When it's 118 degrees in the shade outside, a runner's only discourse is to hit the treddie. No walker's allowed!
ReplyDeleteLeah - DO IT! Being a runner is nothing more than putting one foot in front of the other for an extended period of time :) I'm going to see if I can find some good beginner's literature for you.
Flo - always, i LOVE you! thank you for your continued support. do you have a Nike+ yet? works better than your droid, i'm sure and WAY more fun to play with ;) xoxoxo
I can relate to the pain and 'can my body really do more?' feeling. I get that every summer when I do the 'death march' up to Lake Agnes and the 'death march cross country ski' every winter. It probably wouldn't be so bad if I worked out between the 'death marches'. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're right about your body being capable of so much more than the mind says it can. When you remove those mental blocks you can accomplish amazing things. For example, I decided that I wanted to deliver my baby "naturally" & prepared mentally for that, even when other people told me that was nuts &/or didn't think I'd be able to do it (which honestly only made me more determined) & I was able to have the delivery I had hoped for, no drugs! It wasn't easy but what an awesome feeling of accomplishment! Why can't I get past those mental hurdles when it comes to exercise!? That is a real problem for me - to push myself hard enough for the effort to start to make a difference & to keep consistent when I don't feel like it...which is often. ;-) My good news is that I did the "fit test" on day 15 of my exercising & compared my results from day 1 on the same test & all my numbers had increased. That's encouraging, even though I haven't lost any weight yet really. I feel better & I'm going to continue on. I like reading your blog - it helps keep me accountable for some reason. You're hanging in there so I will too! Thanks for the motivation, you Sexy Bitch you.
ReplyDeleteWOW, what a good read! I have been trying to get motivated about running again, but this damn heat will drive you into insanity. Keep up the good work on the blog. And give Tree a kiss for me! Suck it up Ash cause I can't. I will be looking for more posts and motivation. From the end of the earth.......D's OUT!
ReplyDeleteSo wait...the LSD, you just run longer and slower than you usually do? I'm pregnant, forgive my stupidity :) hmph. I'm storing all of this up for next um...ohhhh...March/April!
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