Run: Signs of a good race

"In running, you're successful just by doing it. You learn how far you can take yourself and how to compete with yourself." -- Sue Stricklin

Image © Ilona Meagher | NITRO Trailblazer 5K - June 25, 2011

Challenge: PROVE it to yourself

Can't say enough how much I love this bolt of motivation:

Train: Brain training for runners-week 5

As an intro to this week's workout log, here's a quote from Brain Training for Runners on embracing training pain:

Fatigue-related pain is the subconscious brain's way of trying to convince the brain's conscious decision-making center to voluntarily slow the pace of running or stop entirely. The conscious mind has some leeway to reject this message and keep the proverbial pedal to the metal. But the only way your conscious mind can really reject pain's message ("Slow down!") is to accept the pain itself, because more pain is the inevitable price paid for not slowing down. All available evidence suggests that "mentally tough" runners accept race pain -- to the point of even welcoming and embracing it -- more than other runners, and that this acceptance enables them to run harder.

Of course, the pain he's talking about is the 'I can't go on...I need to slow down...pushing so hard hurts' type -- not the injury type. I worked on copping this attitude this week, with some good results.

Train: Brain training for runners-week 4

What a difference a week makes!

After last week's anemic training, I wrapped this one up with my first strong age group finish at a local race, the NITRO Trailblazer 5K. I nabbed second place, while a friend grabbed 3rd in her division.

Share: Winter Survivor Series - Race #3

Completed a pretty challenging 15K winter trail race yesterday...the most technically difficult event I've participated in so far (it's not called the Winter Survivor Trail Series for nothing).

I may have a little extra hitch in my giddy-up now; but, I survived!

In extended, I've reposted the text of my dailymile post for yesterday's Willow Creek Trail 15K. Lots of support over there as you can see by the many comments (thank you, DMers!). If you're looking for help with sticking to your exercise program, come join us!

After signing up, don't forget to connect w/me.

Run: Get out of your comfort zone

A quote from author Anne Lamott sums up my feeling about my recent application to be a part of dailymile's Team 2011: “It’s good to do uncomfortable things. It’s weight training for life.”

I'm not the swiftest runner. Or the sharpest tool in the shed. But, I ♥ dailymile and the community built around what I believe *is* the sharpest tool for tracking and honing your exercise progress.

Thanks, dailymile, for the chance to flex outside of my comfort zone on this, and every run I log. And kudos to those chosen for the team.

Everyone's a winner at dailymile.