Getting Motivated for 2008

So I’m in the time of year when of course I start thinking about next year. What races we’ll do, how I’ll train differently, but most importantly how is the motivation.

Motivation is obviously the key. Without it, I got nothing. I’ve come to the conclusion over the years, that what most motivates me is improvement. With running improvement can be easy to sense most of the time. If you run faster, you are improving. This works for about 75% of the races.

So I’m using the down period to reassess everything for 2008. What am I motivated for? I’m at the point where a couple of minutes of improvement is huge. Do I train for an entire year for 5 minutes quicker, or 3 or 2? I know I can go faster, but it comes down to wanting it. A nice thing about training for something like a marathon is that you can peak at a more mature age. Time is not the enemy yet. Priorities of course can shift, but for now I think I’m looking at several more years of hopeful improvement

So I’ll spend this next while coming up with the plan for 2008. Tanya and I will discuss future goal races (and maybe vacations around them). I think motivation is at an all time high (for running) so we’ll see. I know one question that’s important as well is “Can I work harder than I did”. That answer is yes, an easy yes. So it should be a good year!

30 Minutes After the Manitoba Marathon

This is my favorite marathon photo of all time (thanks Tracy). I look at it a lot and have it blown up. It was taken 30 minutes after finishing the Manitoba Marathon. It was not cold that day.

I had to dig really deep in this marathon (went out to fast) and I guess this is what happens. I didn't feel that bad, but don't look so good either. The paramedics came to see me and everything...

Breaking the Habit

Since New York, I wanted to take a bit of a break from training. This is all normal, just part of the cycle. In all my years of competing, I’d never done something so late in the year. It has brought new challenges from falling temperatures, no daylight, change of seasons, etc. I ran so much in the early morning darkness that I began to have that zombie feeling. That feeling is where you momentarily forget if it’s morning or evening. You can’t remember if you are supposed to be going to work, or going home to sleep. Everything just feels the same – tired.

So I don’t feel that way right now, things are all a little “too normal” right now. I’m still running, but a few times per week just to keep the body used to the pounding. So this morning I thought I’d run to work, cause I guess I’m lost that “loving feeling”?

Into Perspective

When I was mountain bike racing I remember reading an interview with the current World Champion. He was very open and spoke of how after he won his World Title, he just felt the burning question “now what?”. He had poured his entire life into reaching his goal, achieved it, but felt lost after it. I think he was missing the point and more so, an opportunity.

I am only a decent local runner. To the World of running I am a minnow in the ocean. My times are good for here, decent for Canada, but not much else after that. I will never be a true elite at this, not even close. I don’t run to make the Olympics, I don’t run to break records, I don’t run to even win races. I have perspective how good I am, and how good I’m not.

It comes down to being very personal. I want to go faster, to push, to see what I have in me. I just want to improve, to learn, to experience more of this. I love the discipline and life style that comes with the training. Running is a raw sport. It’s just you and the course and clock. No real equipment, no teammates, no drama, no faking it. Your legs do all the talking for you. I love that.

The only way to improve is to embrace being uncomfortable, especially in our environment. We have terrible weather, no real interesting place to run, no hills, and not even someone to run with. If you are not disciplined you got nothing. Discipline is sacrifice and through that you begin to learn and understand other areas in life. I hope to blog about those.

Welcome to my blog!

BLOG Post #1. Welcome! This is something I’ve been thinking about doing for years, and have finally signed up. I’ve want to do this for a few reasons.

1) Show a little into the life of what I and Tanya go through on these marathon preparations.
2) Hopefully give a little inspiration. One thing I’ve learnt since began running is how many people can connect and are moved by the marathon experience. 26.2 can become much more then a number if you allow yourself to see and feel it.
3) Hopefully create a bit of a community
4) This ones personal. I’ve come to enjoy journaling, so here I would create a nice record of these experiences.