Given’r
On my last lap on the track or 100 metres on a trail run... I always give'r... often times I'm running so hard I think I might barf (but I don't). After the run... the exhaustion is quickly replaced with an amazing adrenaline high but even more important a proud feeling of accomplishment that I pushed myself.
When I’m training with people I’m constantly chatting about tips on running I’ve learned through fellow runners or magazines that I’ve found help me run better, faster and avoid injury.
When I run alone most times my brain turns on auto-pilot and I daydream… but today every lap I had to convince myself why I run, not that I was in pain but because I was tired from a restless sleep last night. I wanted a good run time… so I kept reviewing all the techniques that I know would help me have a good run: stand up tall, keep my breathing steady, engage my core, keep my glance up and ahead, keep my pace consistent on each lap.
Then when I got tired, I focused on my arm swing because it’s easier then trying to convince my legs to keep moving. I tried not to slouch… but I’m sure if I could have saw my reflection I was a little bit.
The most important thing I always do on the last lap… is really give’r. The lap times below are proof that I always try (like George Kostanza) like to “finish on a high note”.
Lap 1 1.13
Lap 2 1.19
Lap 3 1.21
Lap 4 1.23
Lap 5 1.15
Lap 6 1.19
Lap 7 1.20
Lap 8 1.20
Lap 9 1.18
Lap 10 1.18
Lap 11 1.17
Lap 12 1.18
Lap 13 1.18
Lap 14 1.20
Lap 15 1.20
Lap 16 1.19
Lap 17 1.19
Lap 18 1.18
Lap 19 1.20
Lap 20 1.18
Lap 21 1.09 (now that is what I’m talkin’ about)
I’m consistent… but I’m still too slow for my upcoming races (I need to run 1.05/lap to get my time down to 23 minutes). The 5K time this morning was 27 minutes 37 seconds (1.18/lap). How can this be? *sigh* especially considering I wanted to barf the last 5 laps and I almost did when I sprinted to the finish!
Even though I am disappointed by my overal 5K time… I feel great about my last lap… but it kind of scares me to think I need to shave time off even that lap to win my upcoming races!
When I was given’r… I was telling myself… “you can do it… you need to move faster… see how fast you can finish this lap” and look what I did… my last lap was my fastest one… not that you would know it by the time… but by the last lap I was completely exhausted, needed water and didn’t know how I could possibly sprint the finish… but I told myself I had no choice and I owed it to myself to try to have a fast time… that’s why I did it and shaved 9 seconds off my average lap speed.
Props to Devin and Jon for your tips and help you’ve offered me… there is no question you are two of the strongest runners that I know. On every run, I think about what all my fellow runners teach me… even the things I learn from my students!
Why do I give’r? I believe that if there isn’t the look of pain on your face when u cross the finish line then why do you even bother? But that’s just me… I am an adrenaline junkie!
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